The Metropolitan Police have arrested two individuals in Central London after they shouted slogans calling for 'intifada' during a demonstration. The incident marks a significant shift in the force's operational stance towards such language at public protests.
Arrests Outside the Ministry of Justice
The arrests occurred on Wednesday evening outside the Ministry of Justice building in Westminster. Approximately 100 people had gathered for a protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop the War, among other groups.
Officers moved into the crowd to detain the two individuals accused of using the chants. A third person was subsequently arrested for obstructing police during the initial detentions. All three were taken to waiting police vans.
A New Assertive Policing Stance
This enforcement action follows a major policy announcement made earlier on Wednesday by both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police (GMP). The forces declared that anyone using controversial slogans like 'globalise the intifada' at future events should expect arrest.
In a joint statement, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson directly linked the policy change to recent terror attacks. They cited the Bondi Beach attack and the Heaton Park synagogue attack in Manchester on October 2 as pivotal events altering the threat context.
'We know communities are concerned about placards and chants such as ‘globalise the intifada’', the statement read. 'Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed – words have meaning and consequence. We will act decisively and make arrests.'
Recalibrating the Threshold for Action
The senior officers explained that previous advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) indicated many inflammatory phrases did not meet legal thresholds for prosecution. However, they stated that due to the 'escalating threat', both forces would now 'recalibrate to be more assertive.'
The two individuals arrested for chanting were detained on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences. This specific charge underscores the police's interpretation of the impact such language has on communities, particularly the Jewish community in London.
The move signals a more proactive and interventionist approach by UK police to rhetoric deemed to incite violence or cause alarm, setting a clear precedent for the policing of protests in the capital.
