Muslims residing in London have been advised not to steer clear of the capital on Saturday, even though there may be potential confrontations between large assemblages of anti-racism demonstrators and supporters of Tommy Robinson.
Over 1,600 police officers, with 500 of them being drafted from other regions outside London, will be deployed on this bustling day in the city, where two prominent demonstrations and six football games will take place.
Authorities will strive to maintain separation between those participating in the Unite the Kingdom march and rally, organized by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and activists from March Against Fascism, arranged by Stand Up To Racism.
Further complicating the situation, Scotland Yard will also manage local football rivalries including the matches between West Ham and Tottenham, and Brentford and Chelsea, while Charlton is set to face their Championship adversaries Millwall.
Additionally, massive numbers of Leeds followers will be traveling south for their game against Fulham, Nottingham Forest will play Arsenal away, and Sunderland will challenge Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The Metropolitan Police has had to call on hundreds of reinforcements from other forces through mutual aid to cope with demand.
The march organized by Robinson will commence with participants gathering on Stamford Street near Waterloo Bridge on Saturday morning, marching towards the southern end of Whitehall.
The activist, 42, described the event as the UK’s biggest free speech festival and said thousands are due to attend, boasting: ‘The football lads are coming from everywhere.’
Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon, has said Saturday’s demo will be the UK’s biggest free speech festival with thousands flocking to the capital, boasting: ‘The football lads are coming from everywhere’
Police will try to keep Robinson’s supporters separate from counter-protesters from Stand up to Racism
In addition to the two high-profile protests, police will have to contend with derbies between West Ham and Tottenham and Brentford and Chelsea, while Charlton will entertain local rivals Millwall in the Championship
Robinson has called on attendees of his rally to not wear masks, drink alcohol or be violent.
In a video on X he said: ‘It’s not a time for riots. It’s not a time for violence. It’s a time where you come and you stand proudly for your country.’
He added: ‘This is an imperative message and an important message: we have to control ourselves.’
Counter-protesters will gather in Russell Square from midday before marching via Kingsway, Aldwych and the Strand to the northern end of Whitehall for a rally.
A Met Police spokesman said barriers would keep a large ‘sterile area’ between the two opposing groups, with officers deployed across the march routes to minimise the risk of disorder.
There will be strict conditions imposed under the Public Order Act on where and when campaigners can protest, the force added.
Commander Clair Haynes, who is overseeing the policing operation, said she recognised there were concerns for London’s Muslims ahead of Robinson’s march given the record of anti-Islam rhetoric from the activist and his supporters.
‘There have been some suggestions that Muslim Londoners should change their behaviour this Saturday, including not coming into town,’ she said.
‘That is not our advice.
‘Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London. Our officers are there to ensure that is the case and we’d urge anyone who is out on Saturday and feels concerned to speak to us.
Participants in the Unite the Kingdom march have been told they must form up in the area shaded above on Stamford Street near Waterloo Bridge
Demonstrators from Unite the Kingdom have been told they must follow the agreed route above and cannot enter the ’emergency access lane’ on Westminster Bridge to ensure there will be a path for emergency vehicles such as ambulances
‘This will be a very busy day with protest, sporting fixtures, concerts and other events. The Met is used to delivering the sort of complex and large-scale policing operation that is required to keep the public safe, and we have a detailed plan to do so on Saturday.
‘I am grateful to the many hundreds of Met officers who are being deployed away from their day-to-day roles and to the 500 or so officers from around the country who have responded to our request for support.
‘The main focus of the operation is on the two protests in central London. We will approach them as we do any other protests, policing without fear or favour, ensuring people can exercise their lawful rights, but being robust in dealing with incidents or offences should they occur.
‘In the run-up to the protests we have been in close contact with the organisers, with local business and community representatives, and with representatives of communities across London more broadly.
‘We would ask all those taking part in the protests to be considerate of the communities they are passing through to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. Officers will take a firm line on behaviour that is discriminatory or that crosses the line from protest into hate crime.’
Metropolitan Police Federation chairwoman Paula Dodds said officers policing large protests regularly are ’emotionally and physically exhausted’.
‘We’ve seen multiple Metropolitan Police officers be refused leave and have much-needed rest days cancelled,’ she said.
‘Our colleagues have and continue to lose time with their families, friends and loved ones because they have been pulled into London to police protests. We must remember there are no “extra” police officers. Just the same hard-working ones having their days off cancelled, having to work longer shifts and being moved from other areas.
‘They have come under attack and been violently assaulted for doing the job society expects of them. The demand is relentless. And it’s not sustainable.’
