The Metropolitan Police have come under fire after reports officers arrested volunteers handing out rape alarms to keep women safe over concerns the devices would be used to “disrupt” King Charles’s Coronation. Westminster City Council said it is “deeply concerned” after officers confirmed three people – two women and one man – were arrested in Soho, central London, at 2am on Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance.

Among the items seized from those arrested were rape alarms with the force saying it had “received intelligence that indicated groups and individuals seeking to disrupt Coronation proceedings were planning to use rape alarms to disrupt the procession”.

However, it has since been claimed the three arrested were in fact volunteers working for Westminster City Council’s ‘Night Stars’ safety team which provides support to women on nights out.

Westminster Council leader Adam Hug said he was “urgently pushing the police for proper answers” over the incident.

He added: “Our Night Stars do amazing work helping vulnerable people on the streets at night.”

Volunteers hand out the rape alarms as part of the council’s efforts to “promote women’s safety and reduce violence against women and girls”, according to its website.

Labour councillor Aicha Less, cabinet member for communities and public protection at Westminster City Council, said she was “deeply concerned” and the volunteers were a “familiar and welcome sight” in central London.

She said: “We are deeply concerned by reports of our Night Stars volunteers being arrested overnight.

“This service has been a familiar and welcome sight in the West End for a long time, and have extensive training, so they can assist the most vulnerable on the streets late at night.

“We are working with the Metropolitan Police to establish exactly what happened and, in the meantime, we are in touch with our volunteers to ensure they are receiving the support they need.”

The three people arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance were a 37-year-old woman, 59-year-old woman, and a 47-year-old man.

The force said of the devices: “There was particular concern from military colleagues that [rape alarms could be used to] scare their horses involved in the procession and, as a result, cause significant risk to the safety of the public and the riders.”

The volunteers were reportedly questioned for 14 hours at a police station in south London during the Coronation.

All three have since been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Mic Wright, a journalist who tweeted about the story after speaking to the three people when they were released from custody, posted: “The Met arrested members of the City of Westminster’s Night Safety team. They are volunteers. They were pulled last night at 2am and have been held for 14 hours. One of them came out of the station in tears. Police didn’t apologise.

“They were arrested by the Territorial Support Group.

“They were arrested for being in possession of… rape alarms. They hand them out to women.”

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said the incident was under investigation.

He added: “The intelligence we received led us to be extremely worried about the potential risk to public safety.

“We are aware of and understand there is public concern over these arrests. However, the matter is still under investigation.”

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