By Jasmine Andersson & Daniel SandfordA controversial new law under which six anti-monarchy protesters were arrested on Coronation day has been criticised as too crude and too broad.
While Republic had been in conversation about their protest plans, by Friday evening, Sir Mark said the force had "become extremely concerned" by a "rapidly developing intelligence picture suggesting the Coronation could suffer". "While it is unfortunate that the six people affected by this were unable to join the hundreds of peaceful protestors, I support the officers' actions in this unique fast-moving operational context," he added.Former cabinet minister David Davis was the only Conservative MP to vote against the changes to the Public Order Bill.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We see the consequences of that, particularly for the poor police officers who have to make sense of legislation that was only passed a few days ago." • The law bans protesters from committing acts of "serious disruption" - meaning demonstrations which prevent people going about their day-to-day activities.
Republic were subject to the first application of the new Act, which was passed into law last Tuesday. "The people of London, the tourists, the people that work at this place... the taxi drivers, the bus drivers, they're getting fed up of it, and you're just letting it happen." He added: "It wouldn't be right for me to interfere with their operational decisions but it is right for the government to give the police the powers to tackle serious disruption."London Mayor Sadiq Khan has requested "further clarity" from Scotland Yard, saying the right to peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy.