By Charlotte Webster-
Police are preparing for mass gatherings being planned across the UK this Saturday in a protest against the ongoing UK lockdown regulations.
As baby steps to the easing of the UK lockdown began today, the UK Freedom Movement circulated invitations on social media for people to gather at set locations at 12pm on Saturday, May 16.
Flyers for the events say: “We say no to the coronavirus bill, no to mandatory vaccines, no to the new normal and no to the unlawful lockdown.”
They events taking place in multiple venues in London, Southampton, Nottingham, Sheffield, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Plymouth and Barnstaple have seen flyers circulate on social media and police are urging people not to take part.
Nottinghamshire and Hampshire Police forces are both taking action in case the gatherings go ahead.
One member of the UKFM Facebook group said: “If we all gather eating our picnics and adhere to the two-metre rule, we will not be breaking any ‘rules’.”
Nottinghamshire Police chief constable Craig Guildford said: “We are aware of the social media coverage which includes Southampton, London and Cardiff as well.
“We are planning, as a contingency, with our partners in the city council as we monitor the situation.
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The UK Freedom Movement is inviting people to gather at set locations at 12pm on Saturday, May 16.
Flyers for the events say: “We say no to the coronavirus bill, no to mandatory vaccines, no to the new normal and no to the unlawful lockdown.”
They encourage people to ‘be a part of the largest mass gathering since the lockdown’ and to being picnics and music.
One member of the UKFM Facebook group said: “If we all gather eating our picnics and adhere to the two-metre rule, we will not be breaking any ‘rules’.”
Action
Nottinghamshire and Hampshire Police forces are both planning taking action in case the gatherings go ahead.
Nottinghamshire Police chief constable Craig Guildford said: “We are aware of the social media coverage which includes Southampton, London and Cardiff as well.
“We are planning, as a contingency, with our partners in the city council as we monitor the situation.
“Should any individual endanger the public by not obeying social distancing the police at the scene will be taking positive action to protect the public.”A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: “We are currently reviewing information we have received regarding a mass gathering being organised in Southampton this coming weekend.
“We are really grateful to those who contacted us about this and we will continue to assess the information we have in the coming days.
“Our response will be in line with the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 which currently prohibits large gatherings of people to limit the spread of Covid-19.”
Image: Nottinghampolice Oaktree partnership