A pro-Palestine rally scheduled to take place in central London this weekend has been subjected to strict new conditions by the Metropolitan Police. The decision comes amid concerns over the potential impact of the protest on a nearby synagogue, prompting police to impose a revised route and stricter time limits on demonstrators.
The original route, planned to run from the BBC’s Broadcasting House in Portland Place to Whitehall, has been altered under the new Public Order Act. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) protest is now required to start at Russell Square, passing through Kingsway, Aldwych, and the Strand, before concluding in Whitehall. Protesters must also disperse by 4:30 pm.
Met Commander Adam Slonecki, overseeing the policing operation, explained the reasoning behind the decision: “We have approached these discussions in good faith, meeting regularly with the PSC and with partners and community representatives. Our role is not to take sides. We police without fear or favour and have taken these decisions solely to ensure groups can exercise their right to peaceful protest, while also ensuring the wider community can go about their lives without serious disruption.”
Commander Slonecki addressed speculation that the decision constituted a general ban on protests outside the BBC. “This is absolutely not the case,” he said. “We recognise why the PSC wants to protest at the BBC, and we’ve offered to work with them to identify alternative days of the week when such demonstrations could take place without causing significant disruption to others.”
Concerns were raised over the impact of the proposed march route on the nearby Central Synagogue. The synagogue, located near the originally planned route, holds services and gatherings throughout the day on Saturdays, the Jewish holy day, when many congregants attend Shabbat services.
Commander Slonecki explained, “The onus should not be on others to change their behaviour, such as leaving by a specific time, to accommodate the needs of protest groups. The synagogue is in use throughout the day, and this has been a significant factor in our decision-making process.”
The Metropolitan Police previously invoked powers under the Public Order Act to prevent PSC protesters from assembling outside Broadcasting House. The force cited concerns that the original route would cause “serious disruption” to the congregation and the local community.
The PSC, however, has expressed frustration with the new conditions. Ben Jamal, director of the PSC, criticised the restrictions, arguing that Saturday is traditionally the day for pro-Palestine demonstrations, as it allows people from across the UK to travel to London.
“On Sunday, the transport situation is terrible, and so Saturday is the day we demonstrate,” Jamal said. “The police are effectively stopping us from staging pro-Palestine protests outside the BBC.”
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The Met countered these claims, stating that the decision to impose restrictions was made after reflecting on feedback from local community and business representatives, including members of the synagogue congregation.
“We understand the PSC’s reasons for choosing Saturday, but holding the march on the Jewish holy day, when congregants are attending services, presents significant challenges,” the Met said in a statement.
The decision to revise the route and impose time restrictions has sparked debate, with some arguing that it balances the rights of protest groups with the need to respect the religious practices of others, while others see it as a curtailment of free expression.
Despite the controversy, the Met emphasised its commitment to facilitating peaceful protests. Commander Slonecki concluded, “Our aim is to ensure that everyone can go about their lives safely and without undue disruption, while enabling the PSC to make their voices heard in a lawful and peaceful manner.”
The rally is expected to draw large crowds, as the issue of Palestine continues to galvanise public support. However, the revised route and conditions will undoubtedly shape the dynamics of the demonstration and its reception in central London.
