London Braces for Chaos as Thousands March for Unite the Kingdom and Palestine

The Metropolitan Police are preparing for what they expect to be one of the busiest days for policing in London in recent years. Tens of thousands of people are marching in the capital for the Unite the Kingdom and March for Palestine demonstrations.

The Unite the Kingdom event, expected to draw large crowds, will take place in central London. The Nakba: 78 March for Palestine will start in south Kensington and end in central London.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said a "zero tolerance" operation of unprecedented scale will include 4,000 officers at a cost of £4.5m. They'll take swift and decisive action against disorder and hate speech.

The police will use live facial recognition in an area of Camden where Unite the Kingdom attendees are expected to gather. They'll compare the faces of those walking past with the faces of those on a specific watchlist.

The police have imposed conditions on speakers at these protests for the first time. Organisers are responsible for ensuring that speakers they invite don't break the law by using these events to platform unlawful extremism or hate speech.

If hate speech is used at the rally, the police will intervene immediately with the speaker. They won't hesitate to take action.

The police operation will also involve dispersal powers, enhanced powers to search and remove face coverings, helicopters, drones, dog units, police horses, armoured vehicles, and dedicated investigative teams.

The FA Cup final is also due to be held at Wembley on Saturday, adding an extra challenge for the police.

Background on the Protests

The Unite the Kingdom protest has been known for anti-Muslim chanting and incidents where people have been arrested for religiously and racially aggravated offences. In September last year, there was violence in multiple locations as protesters attacked police officers and tried to reach opposing groups.

The March for Palestine has also been associated with incidents of hate speech and support for terrorist organisations.

Police Response

The police have said that people who call for "intifada" or "death to the IDF" face being arrested and charged. They're taking a firm stance on hate speech.

The police have noted that many Jewish Londoners feel intimidated and afraid of the Palestine protests. They're working to ensure public safety.

The nature and scale of these protests have left Muslim communities and those from other ethnic minority groups feeling scared. They avoid central London, transport hubs, and change their plans because they're worried about crossing paths with Unite the Kingdom supporters.

The police have been clear that they won't accept routes that would increase the risk of intimidation to any particular community or that would risk the two protests coming together. They're taking steps to prevent conflicts.