Around 4,000 police officers were deployed in London on Saturday amid fears that football hooligans would join a march led by Tommy Robinson on FA Cup Final day. The Metropolitan Police described it as one of its biggest-ever public order operations, with armoured vehicles, armed police units, mounted police, dog teams, and riot-equipped officers on the streets.
Police helicopters and drones monitored the Unite the Kingdom march and a pro-Palestine counter demonstration marking Nakba Day. Live facial recognition technology was used for the first time in a public order operation, targeting individuals on a watch list in Camden borough. At least 11 individuals were banned from entering the UK to join the protests.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said: 'Taken together, these factors give us significant cause for concern as we head into the weekend and require a policing plan that provides us with the most assertive grip on the movement of large numbers of people, large groups, and the potential for serious disorder.'
Speakers engaging in antisemitic, anti-Muslim, or other hate speech face arrest, and organisers may be prosecuted under new powers. Chanting 'death to the IDF' or 'Globalise the Intifada' will also lead to arrest. Police can force removal of face coverings and issue dispersal orders.
Around 50,000 people were expected for the Unite the Kingdom protest and 30,000 for the Nakba Day march. Tens of thousands of football fans also headed to Wembley for the FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester City. The operation, costing £4.5 million, involved 660 officers from other forces.
