The Metropolitan Police today confirmed that a total of 64 arrests were made during King Charles’ Coronation – but are facing a probe over its ‘heavy-handed’ treatment of anti-monarchists.
Dozens were arrested during the crowning of His Majesty on Saturday as Scotland Yard clamped down on those suspected of causing trouble in London.
Breach of the peace, sexual assault and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance were among the various grounds for arrest over the course of the royal event.
Several Just Stop Oil protestors were arrested in addition to Animal Rising groups who were also linked to the Grand National chaos last month.
Campaigners of the anti-monarchist group Republic, including its chief executive Graham Smith, were apprehended during the day too.
Just over 30 people were arrested for conspiracy to cause a public nuisance
Today Caroline Russell, who chairs the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee, suggested that it was ‘really worrying’ that some arrests had happened.
Her concerns follow the arrest of two women and a man following accusations of a plot to throw rape alarms at horses during the Coronation.
She told BBC Radio’s Today programme: ‘It seems absolutely extraordinary that those people who were volunteering, they were out there handing out flip flops to people who could no longer walk in their high heels because they’d had a bit too much to drink and handing out rape alarms.’
Scotland Yard revealed that 32 people were arrested for conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, who have all since been bailed.
Another 14 others were arrested for a breach of peace who have since been bailed.
Among others bailed include a person arrested for handling stolen goods, another on suspicion of sexual assault and another individual arrested for common assault.
Just four people of the 64 arrests made have so far been charged with offences, Scotland Yard revealed yesterday evening.
Ms Russell continued: ‘It just seems extraordinary that they got caught up in the Met’s safety net. How? It just feels very odd.
‘The Police and Crime Committee, we question the mayor, Mopac (Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime) and the Metropolitan Police, we meet every fortnight, so of course we will be questioning this because I’m sure members of all parties will want to have their questions answered.’
Metropolitan Police officers claimed they arrested three people in Soho on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance at around 2am on the morning of King Charles’ Coronation.
The force revealed that numerous rape alarms were seized and the three people were taken to a south London police station for further questioning.
Scotland Yard also arrested 14 people for the breaching the peace on Saturday May 6
Metropolitan Police arrests come amidst concerns surrounding the right to protest in the UK
A 47-year-old man among the group was also further arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
A statement read: ‘There was particular concern from military colleagues that this would scare their horses involved in the procession and, as a result, cause significant risk to the safety of the public and the riders.’
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan also added: ‘The intelligence we received led us to be extremely worried about the potential risk to public safety. We are aware of and understand there is public concern over these arrests. However, the matter is still under investigation.’
Patrick Thelwell – who tried to egg the King during a visit to York on November 9 last year – was also arrested on Saturday.
The 23-year-old was convicted of threatening behaviour at York magistrates court last month and sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £600 in court costs.
Caroline Russell, who chairs the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee, suggested that it was ‘really worrying’ that some arrests had happened
Meanwhile, two people were charged for possession of class A drugs during the royal event on Saturday, while another was charged under Section 5 of the Public Order Act.
Scotland Yard charged the final person with a ‘religiously aggravated offence’ under Section 5 of the Public Order Act.
All those charged will appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court over the course of this month.
Following arrest concerns, Commander Findlay added: ‘We absolutely understand public concern following the arrests we made this morning.
‘Protest is lawful and it can be disruptive. We have policed numerous protests without intervention in the build-up to the Coronation, and during it.
‘Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation. We also have a duty to intervene when protest becomes criminal and may cause serious disruption.’This depends on the context. The Coronation is a once in a generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment.
‘A protest involving large numbers has gone ahead today with police knowledge and no intervention.’
MailOnline has approached the Metropolitan Police for further comments.
