By James Simons-
The Met Police are on standby following a wave of protests ar expected to hit the capital this weekend as anti lockdown demonstrations continue to sweep London.
Gatherings and marches are set to take place in Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark on Saturday and Sunday when Extinction Rebellion activists are also set to return to the streets.
Organized by Save Our Scene, demonstrators plan to march to the BBC headquarters down to Parliament Square, in a bid to protest against Covid-19 restrictions on the hospitality industry.
Chief Inspector Joe Stokoe, from the Met’s Public Order Command, said: “Our policing plan will be proportionate with officers engaging with those protesting to ensure their gathering is lawful, safe and doesn’t disrupt those Londoners who are out and enjoying their weekend.
Metropolitan Officers have raided three locations, seizing items including bamboo structures, lock-on equipment and other items “which could be used to cause criminal damage and obstructions” and making 12 arrests.
At least four of those arrested were affiliated with the environmental protest movement Extinction Rebellion, the group confirmed. It said the women had been “creating art” for a Free the Press march targeting media organisations on Sunday. An XR spokesperson said the protest would go ahead.
DJs are scheduled to perform to crowds from two huge sound systems mounted on lorries on Sunday at the Freedom to Dance protest. Performers will include some of the leading lights from the UK’s house, techno, garage and drum’n’bass music scenes, including Hannah Wants, Eats Everything, Heartless Crew, and Fabio and Grooverider.
The economic impact of coronavirus restrictions has devastated the £1.2bn-a-year nightclub industry. Most venues h Between 30% and 40% of nightclub businesses have gone bust, according to Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), which is supporting the protest.
Industry figures are worried that the effect on nightclubs could be catastrophic if some restrictions remain in place after the planned end date to coronavirus restrictions on 19 July. A report prepared for ministers and seen by Politico this week suggested that if face masks continue to be mandatory indoors, revenues for nightclub-type venues could plummet to 65% of their 2019 lev
On Friday, the Metropolitan Police arrested 12 people as part of a crackdown on demonstrators ahead of the chaos.
Officers carried out raids in three areas of London where they seized items including bamboo structures, lock-on equipment and other items “which could be used to cause criminal damage and obstructions”. Activists plan to “stand together to turn their back on a return to business as usual after Covid-19 and demand a new normal,” according to an XR statement.
XR will team up with Black Lives Matter and other campaign groups for a protest in Parliament Square, with speeches from the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn among others, before heading to the London office of News UK.
“We will not tolerate disruptive or unruly behaviour, or any action by groups to intimidate or threaten members of the public, media or police officers,” they said.
“We know certain protest groups are specifically intending to disrupt businesses or potentially cause criminal damage to property. This type of behaviour is unacceptable.”
A Freedom to Dance protest will also take place on Sunday, which will see DJs perform to crowds from two huge sound systems mounted on lorries..
Chief Inspector Joe Stokoe, from the Met’s Public Order Command, said: “Our policing plan will be proportionate with officers engaging with those protesting to ensure their gathering is lawful, safe and doesn’t disrupt those Londoners who are out and enjoying their weekend.