Rosalind Evans
A senior officer of the Metropolitan Police has informed Members of Parliament that the force faced no political pressure to halt the anti-monarchy protests during the Coronation. During the Home Affairs Select Committee hearing, Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist stated that the police had received intelligence regarding potential disruptions. Criticism was directed at the police for detaining six members of the anti-monarchy group Republic and three volunteers advocating for women’s safety.
Republic, however, stated that their intention was not to cause any disruptions through their protests. Twist informed the committee that the police had received information about a “concerted attempt to disrupt the Coronation procession” on May 6. Consequently, they alerted Home Secretary Suella Braverman and London Mayor Sadiq Khan on the eve of the celebrations. In preparation for the Coronation, the police were granted additional powers under the controversial Public Order Act of 2023.
As a result, protesters, including Republic’s chief executive Graham Smith, were held in police custody for nearly 16 hours before being released on bail. They were later informed that no further action would be taken against them. Similarly, the three arrested women’s safety volunteers were released without charge. Westminster City Council has requested an apology from the police on behalf of the Night Star volunteers, who distribute rape alarms.
Committee chairwoman Diana Johnson questioned Twist about potential political pressure to make arrests during the Coronation. In response, Twist clarified that he only felt pressure to ensure a safe and secure operation due to the event’s significance for many people. He emphasized that the process involved protecting 312 individuals, who had to be escorted in and out of the Abbey within approximately 90 minutes. Twist maintained that the pressure he felt needed to be more political.
During the hearing, the proceedings were momentarily disrupted by activists from Just Stop Oil, who wore white t-shirts with the group’s name prominently displayed. Chaos ensued, with voices heard in the chamber and calls for security intervention. Eight members of Just Stop Oil were subsequently arrested in Parliament Square. Following the interruption, Twist assured the committee that the police believed the threat to the Coronation was genuine. He acknowledged the short notice between the act receiving Royal Assent and the police being informed but expressed confidence in the preparedness of the officers.
Protester Matt Turnbull informed the committee that police officers displayed interest in the luggage straps used by Republic to secure their placards. Smith explained that their group had brought 600 placards in a van, necessitating trolleys and straps. Arrests were made after officers discovered 12 heavy-duty straps with combination locks sealed in plastic bags. Conservative MP Tim Loughton asked Twist if he had seen luggage straps with combination locks employed to fasten protest signs, to which Twist responded that he hadn’t but acknowledged that it was a possibility.
Suzie Melvin, a volunteer for the Night Stars safety scheme who was arrested during the Coronation weekend, also provided testimony to the MPs. Melvin recounted how she and her team, wearing hi-vis jackets with the Metropolitan Police logo and carrying backpacks, were stopped by officers as they approached Soho Square in central London. Despite presenting emails and leaflets from Westminster City Council and referring to the Night Stars website, they were arrested and taken into police custody. Melvin claimed that the arresting officer specifically targeted individuals associated with her organization, which could be linked to their distribution of rape alarms as part of an “anti-spiking kit” for people enjoying a night out.
The Metropolitan Police had previously stated that they received intelligence regarding plans to utilize rape alarms to disrupt the procession. Melvin was released the day after the Coronation, leaving committee chairwoman Diana Johnson speechless. Additionally, a complaint was filed by royal fan Alice Chambers, who was held in custody for 13 hours after being mistaken for a Just Stop Oil protester while waiting on the Mall to witness the Coronation. The Metropolitan Police expressed regret that Chambers could not attend the event and confirmed that no further action would be taken against her.
In total, 64 arrests were made during the policing operation for the Coronation, with 52 of them related to concerns of potential disruptions to the event, according to the police.
The Metropolitan Police’s assistant commissioner, Matt Twist, assured the Home Affairs Select Committee that there was no political pressure to curtail the anti-monarchy protests during the Coronation. While the force faced criticism for the arrests of Republic members and women’s safety volunteers, Twist maintained that their actions were driven by intelligence suggesting a potential disruption to the event. As the fallout from the arrests continues, questions remain about the balance between maintaining public safety and protecting the right to protest in a democratic society.
