The Mayor of London said people had a right to “peaceful and lawful protest” in the capital. His words come after police ordered activists to end their gatherings across London or risk arrest. The group has now taken the first steps towards a judicial review regarding Scotland Yard’s move to ban protests in London. Lawyers for the climate change group have delivered a “Letter Before Action” to the Met asking for an immediate response. Mr Khan said in a statement earlier: “I am seeking further information from senior officers about the operational decision to impose a Section 14 order on Extinction Rebellion Uprising – including at Trafalgar Square – and why this was necessary.

“I believe the right to peaceful and lawful protest must always be upheld.

“However, illegal action by some protestors over the past eight days has put undue pressure on already overstretched police officers, and demonstrators should bear this in mind when considering any further actions.”

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said the protest ban was brought in after “continued breaches” of the condition that demonstration were only allowed in Trafalgar Square.

He said: “This was an operational policing decision to help us get London moving again.

“After nine days of disruption we felt it is entirely proportionate and reasonable to impose this condition because of the cumulative impact of these protests.

“A significant policing operation continues and we will take robust action against anyone engaged in unlawful protests at locations targeted by Extinction Rebellion.”

Police said on Monday there had been 1,445 arrests in connection with the eight days of Extinction Rebellion protests in London.

Mr Taylor said officers had made more than 90 arrests on Monday as protesters targeted the City of London.

Last night in Trafalgar Square, four people in a “peace tent”, who had locked themselves together, were cut out of their locks with machinery.

Activists have already defied the new police order as the group’s co-founder, Gail Bradbrook, was filmed this morning climbing the entrance to the Department for Transport in Westminster.

Extinction Rebellion said other protesters had glued themselves to the building.

In response to the police action, an Extinction Rebellion statement said its “rebels” would take “a moment to pause and remember why we are here”.

DON’T MISS
Extinction rebellion target BBC ‘Treat climate change like WW2!’ [WATCH]
Julia Hartley-Brewer in huge row with Extinction Rebellion supporter [VIDEO]
Extinction Rebellion do not have a cause, say RICHARD AND JUDY [OPINION]

It added: “Extinction Rebellion will let the Trafalgar Square site go tonight.

“The International Rebellion continues.”

On Twitter, the group’s London branch said the clearing of protesters from the square was an “an outrage”.

It also tweeted: “Today, an unprecedented, political, decision has been taken to shut down peaceful protest calling out the government for inaction in the face of crisis.”

Crime minister Louise Haigh also spoke out against the ban.

Ms Haigh said: “This is a grotesque overreaction and extremely worrying attack on basic civil liberties.”

A government spokesperson said the UK was already leading the world on addressing climate damage and that while activists had a right to peaceful protest, they should not disrupt people as they go about their day.

They said: “The UK is already taking world-leading action to combat climate change as the first major economy to legislate to end our contribution to global warming entirely by 2050.

“While we share people’s concerns about global warming, and respect the right to peaceful protest, it should not disrupt people’s day-to-day lives.”

Source: Read Full Article