The Met have banned a pro-Palestine march from gathering outside the BBC’s headquarters next weekend, due to its location near a synagogue.
Protesters were planning to gather outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House in Portland Place on Saturday, January 18, before marching to Whitehall.
The original route was publicly announced on November 30, by a coalition including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the Muslim Association of Britain, the Palestinian Forum in Britain and Friends of Al-Aqsa among other groups.
But, last night Scotland Yard said it had imposed a Public Order Act to prevent the demonstration from gathering in the area as it risked causing “serious disruption” to a nearby synagogue.
The Central Synagogue is located in Great Portland Street, a few hundred yards from Broadcasting House in Portland Place.
Commander Adam Slonecki, leading the policing operation, said: “A protest forming up so close to a synagogue on a Saturday – the Jewish holy day – when congregants will be attending Shabbat services, risks causing serious disruption.
“We have reflected on the views of local community and business representatives, including those of the congregation at a synagogue located a very short distance from the proposed ‘form up’ point in Portland Place.”
Commander Slonecki said he wrote to the PSC to inform them of the decision on Tuesday.
In a statement published on Wednesday, the PSC said it “utterly condemned” the use of “repressive powers”.
The statement read: “The Met police have acknowledged there has not been a single incident of any threat to a synagogue attached to any of the marches.
“Any suggestion that our marches are somehow hostile to Jewish people ignores the fact that every march has been joined by thousands of Jewish people and addressed by Jewish speakers on the demonstration platforms.”
According to the statement, the route had been agreed with the police nearly two months ago.
The PSC said it remains in discussions with the Met but calls on them to “immediately abandon” the order.
Commander Slonecki said the PSC have refused to change their position, and were “continuing to encourage protesters to form up in Portland Place”.
He said: “In those circumstances we have no choice but to use the powers available to us.
“We will continue to engage with the PSC and we hope they will rethink and put forward an alternative proposal in the coming days.”
The commander said police had taken into account the “cumulative impact of this prolonged period of protest”, with events often taking place on Saturdays and near synagogues.
He said: “We know this has been a cause of increased concern for many Jewish Londoners who have altered their plans, avoided parts of central London and reduced attendance at religious services.”
Pictured top: Women held a sign calling for a ceasefire at the protest last year (Picture: Claudia Lee)