Close Protection World News
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Organisers of the Campaign Against Climate Change have been told that they need to hire a private traffic management and private security firm to marshal traffic and ensure safety for everybody if they want the march to go ahead. Campaigners of a separate march, also held on March 7 but organised by Million Women Rise, were given the same information. However, after criticism from London mayor Boris Johnson and campaigners, the police have backed down and said that they will shut off roads and marshal the campaigns.
The Met Police had previously said that their job was to prevent and punish crime, and that because they did not expect the protests to lead to any criminal activities, it meant that they did not feel that they had to marshal the marches, despite having done so at previous events. Critics said that this meant peaceful and honest protestors were being forced to pay to protest, while historically violent protests would receive free services from the police. Despite its turnaround, the Met has said that protestors do not have any ongoing right to assistance from Scotland Yard.
Initially, protestors were told that they would not receive any assistance from the police, despite the fact that previous marches had seen the police close roads, provide barriers, and marshal the events. At the time, CACC said that it meant only those protestors with financial backing would be able to afford to march or protest, and that they were especially concerned because of the timing of the action, just two months before the general election.
The police had said that it was down to the protestors to arrange for roads to be shut, to pay for barriers, and to ensure that there was an adequate number of support staff and marshals. CACC said that this amounted to several thousands of pounds, with marshals costing more than £100 per shit per marshal. However, the Met has said that it has negotiated with the event organisers and that support would now be provided.
However, the force went on to say that this was not a turnaround in policies, and it would seem that it was not a complete turnaround either. CACC have agreed to provide their own marshals, the police will provide barriers, and it has been agreed that the roads can be shut down on a temporary basis while the protest takes place. It is understood that the MWR rally has received a similar promise of support, but the Met has said that protestors should not expect free support from the police in future, and that they will have to negotiate with the Met in order to agree what support will be offered.
The Met said that the initial decision was made in light of budgetary constraints that had been imposed by the government, but there partial reversal, which came following a statement by Mayor Boris Johnson in which he said that he was keen for the police to continue providing its excellent support at thousands of protests every year, may be a sign that the support will continue in the future.
The Met Police had previously said that their job was to prevent and punish crime, and that because they did not expect the protests to lead to any criminal activities, it meant that they did not feel that they had to marshal the marches, despite having done so at previous events. Critics said that this meant peaceful and honest protestors were being forced to pay to protest, while historically violent protests would receive free services from the police. Despite its turnaround, the Met has said that protestors do not have any ongoing right to assistance from Scotland Yard.
Initially, protestors were told that they would not receive any assistance from the police, despite the fact that previous marches had seen the police close roads, provide barriers, and marshal the events. At the time, CACC said that it meant only those protestors with financial backing would be able to afford to march or protest, and that they were especially concerned because of the timing of the action, just two months before the general election.
The police had said that it was down to the protestors to arrange for roads to be shut, to pay for barriers, and to ensure that there was an adequate number of support staff and marshals. CACC said that this amounted to several thousands of pounds, with marshals costing more than £100 per shit per marshal. However, the Met has said that it has negotiated with the event organisers and that support would now be provided.
However, the force went on to say that this was not a turnaround in policies, and it would seem that it was not a complete turnaround either. CACC have agreed to provide their own marshals, the police will provide barriers, and it has been agreed that the roads can be shut down on a temporary basis while the protest takes place. It is understood that the MWR rally has received a similar promise of support, but the Met has said that protestors should not expect free support from the police in future, and that they will have to negotiate with the Met in order to agree what support will be offered.
The Met said that the initial decision was made in light of budgetary constraints that had been imposed by the government, but there partial reversal, which came following a statement by Mayor Boris Johnson in which he said that he was keen for the police to continue providing its excellent support at thousands of protests every year, may be a sign that the support will continue in the future.