Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
There will be an increased police presence in central London on Saturday with two protests due to take place.
A protest organised under the name ‘Stop the Isolation’ or ‘Unite the Kingdom’ in support of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson), will form up in Sandell Street and Cornwall Road, off Waterloo Road outside Waterloo Station, from midday.
It will march from there to Whitehall via Westminster Bridge. A static assembly will then take place in Parliament Street, at the Parliament Square end of Whitehall.
A protest organised by Stand Up To Racism will form up in St James’s Street, south of Piccadilly Circus, from 11.30am.
It will march from there to Whitehall, via Piccadilly Circus and Haymarket. A static assembly will take place at the Trafalgar Square end of Whitehall.
Pedestrian access in the middle of Whitehall will be restricted with officers deployed to ensure both groups are kept apart. Anyone in the area, not involved in the protests, is encouraged to use other routes to go from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square or vice versa.
Commander Louise Puddefoot, who is in charge of the policing operation, said: “We are well prepared for these protests, having been in discussions with both sets of organisers in recent weeks.
“We have officers deployed in significant numbers to provide reassurance to the wider community, and to give us the capability to intervene swiftly and decisively if incidents of crime or disorder occur.
“Decisions on our policing style at protests, including the types of uniform worn by officers and the protective equipment available to them, are taken on a case by case basis. It allows us to be ready to respond quickly and decisively where we need to.
“Our assessment for tomorrow’s protest, based on the information available to us, is that an additional level of preparedness is required.
“What our officers are wearing or the protective kit they are carrying doesn’t change their role at these events. They are there to ensure all involved can exercise their right to protest peacefully, without causing serious disruption to the life of the wider community and without risking the disorder that could take place if groups with opposing views come together.”
Details of conditions
Stop the Isolation/Unite the Kingdom protest
Participants must form up in the blue shaded area in the map below – Sandell Street, Cornwall Road and Wotton Street.
They must not then deviate from the route shown on the map below:
On arrival at the end of the march, they must only assemble in the area marked in blue on the map below:
All those in attendance must disperse by 17:30hrs.
Stand Up To Racism
Anyone taking part must form up in the area shaded in red on the map below:
They must not then deviate from the route shown on the map below:
On arrival at the end of the march, they must only assemble in the area marked in red on the map below:
All those in attendance must disperse by 17:30hrs.