LONDON, United Kingdom — The Metropolitan Police made 52 arrests during the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, May 6, 2023 as tensions between authorities and anti-monarchy demonstrators escalated in central London.
The event attracted thousands of celebrants and protesters alike, with some shouting “Not My King” and wearing yellow T-shirts to voice their disapproval.
Britain’s largest anti-monarchy group, Republic, claimed that police arrested its organizers without providing any reason.
Republic’s director, Harry Stratton, said that six organizers were detained and searched by police around 7 a.m. (2 a.m. ET) and later arrested, with hundreds of their “Not My King” placards seized.
Stratton described the police’s actions as reminiscent of a “police state” and expressed concern over the lack of explanation for the arrests.
Despite these challenges, he noted that the crowd reaction to the protest was “overwhelmingly friendly.”
Environmental activist group Just Stop Oil also experienced arrests on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, with several members seen handcuffed.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests and defended its approach, citing offenses such as affray, public order offenses, breach of the peace, and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
Commander Karen Findlay, who led the police operation, emphasized their duty to intervene when protest becomes criminal and may cause serious disruption.
She acknowledged that the coronation was a “once in a generation event” and a key factor in their assessment.
Human Rights Watch criticized the coronation arrests as behavior more expected in Moscow than London. Republic had anticipated up to 2,000 people joining their protest in Trafalgar Square.
The Metropolitan Police’s approach to coronation protests has sparked scrutiny, with the force announcing its low tolerance for disruption and “robust” response to anyone undermining the celebration.
Over 11,500 officers were deployed for the event, marking the largest one-day deployment in decades.
The introduction of controversial legislation, such as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act, has fueled concerns over the growing power of police to stifle dissent in Britain.
Human rights group Liberty warned that these Acts have made it more difficult for people to protest without risking criminalization.
