More than 2,000 officers from the Metropolitan Police and other UK forces will be on duty for a “significant” operation across Remembrance weekend.
The Met says its plan covers both Armistice and Remembrance events as well as a significant march by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
A political row erupted this week over comments made by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who criticised the Met over its decision to allow the pro-Palestine protests to go ahead.
Image: Demonstrators gather at Trafalgar Square. File pic
In a lengthy statement, the force said: “We know the cumulative impact continued protest, increasing tensions, and rising hate crimes are having across London and the fear and anxiety our Jewish communities, in particular, are feeling.
“They have a right to feel safe in their city, knowing they can travel across London without feeling afraid of intimidation or harassment.
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“We’ll be using an extensive set of powers to prevent any disruption whatsoever to Remembrance events, policing the demonstration as it passes through parts of the capital, while protecting our communities from those intent on inciting hate, violence and disorder.”
The police have set up exclusion zones covering the Cenotaph, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, the Westminster Abbey Field of Remembrance and other relevant areas.
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They say “anyone believed to be part of, or associated with, the pro-Palestinian demonstration trying to assemble in this area can be arrested”.
The Met has detailed the powers it will be exercising over the weekend, putting exclusion zones in place in Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, the Westminster Abbey Field of Remembrance and other relevant areas, adding anyone on the pro-Palestinian march in these areas will be arrested.
The Cenotaph will have a 24-hour police presence, the Met added.
Image: The route agreed between protesters and the police. Pic: Met Police
Image: The exclusion zone around Westminster and Whitehall where protest leaders have agreed to stay away from. Pic: Met Police
Officers will also insist people marching stick to the pre-agreed routes and do not enter the US and Israeli embassies.
There will also be dispersal zones in Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, and officers will have stop and search powers in areas around Westminster, and parts of Wandsworth and Lambeth.
Sky’s crime correspondent Martin Brunt said main protest organisers have already agreed that demonstrators do not intend to go anywhere near those areas and will stick to a designated marching route from Hyde Park across the River Thames to the US Embassy.
There will also be interventions for people planning vehicle convoys through Jewish areas of London, with the Met saying specialist officers will be in those areas, and people committing offences will be arrested.
Elsewhere, police will monitor intimidation of poppy sellers, with the Met saying there have been concerns raised over their safety in the last week.
“Alongside our colleagues at the British Transport Police we have been clear no intimidation of those who so generously give up their time for this treasured national cause will be tolerated” the force said.
“Officers know the risk felt by sellers and should be sought out by anyone concerned throughout the weekend.”
The Metropolitan Police added: “Each week we’ve developed our tactics to more quickly deal with anyone committing crime locally in our communities and at significant events.
“Our operation covers every element of this weekend and will continue to develop as we gather intelligence and learn of new issues.”
The stringent measures are no surprise
The police measures come as no surprise – lots of cops, exclusion zones and a strict time limit.
It’s all aimed at preventing breakaway groups from moving off and causing trouble away from the main protest.
The march organisers have already agreed not to clash with Armistice Day ceremonies around iconic sites such as the Cenotaph and other war memorials.
But police believe the biggest threat of disorder comes from those planning counter demonstrations, especially far-right groups who have issued rallying calls for their supporters to meet in central London.
Over the past four weeks of protests the Met, under early widespread criticism, increased its arrest rate and says the new restrictions will enable officers to move faster and more robustly against troublemakers.
The commissioner Sir Mark Rowley believes he can cope and, anyway, does not have intelligence of a threat of serious public disorder that would enable him to ask for a complete ban on the march.
His job may not be on the line, but the reputation of him and his force, after a troubled two years, certainly is.
Ozzy Osbourne has taken his final tour of Birmingham – with his family experiencing the love of thousands of fans who turned out to see the heavy metal star come home.
“We love you, Ozzy!” came the shouts from the crowd as his cortege stopped at Black Sabbath Bridge in the city, a site that has become a shrine to the performer since his death at 76 last week.
His family and loved ones, including his wife Sharon Osbourne and their children Jack, Kelly and Aimee, spent several minutes taking in all the flowers, messages and other tributes left in an outpouring of love from fans.
Image: Jack, Sharon and Kelly Osbourne laid flowers. Pic: PA
Sharon was in tears as she took it all in. Supported by her children, she gave a peace sign to the crowd before returning to the procession vehicles.
Each family member carried a pink rose, wrapped in black paper, tied with a purple ribbon – the traditional Black Sabbath colours. The flowers bearing his name in the hearse were also purple.
Before reaching the city centre, the cortege had travelled past Ozzy’s childhood home in Aston. Just a few weeks ago, he was on stage at Villa Park performing his final gig alongside many of the musicians his music had inspired, from Metallica to Guns N’ Roses to Yungblud.
Image: Tributes to Ozzy can be seen all over Birmingham. Pic: Reuters
On a hugely emotional day, his presence could be felt throughout the city, with the star’s music playing in pubs and posters paying tribute: “Birmingham will always love you.”
For fans, this was a chance to say not just goodbye, but also thank you to a star who never forgot where he came from. His remarkable achievements from humble beginnings and continued love for his hometown, even when he lived thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, meant that for many, the loss feels incredibly personal.
Image: The Black Sabbath Bridge has become a shrine in recent days. Pic: Reuters
‘The Prince of Laughter – not Darkness’
Graham Wright, a roadie who worked with Black Sabbath in the 1970s and beyond, up to the Back To The Beginning reunion gig at Villa Park, told Sky News he would remember Ozzy not by his traditional nickname, the Prince of Darkness – but as the Prince of Laughter instead.
“It was a shock he left us so soon after [the show],” he said. “The show was tough for him but he was determined to say goodbye to his fans, that was the main thing. It was important for all four of [Black Sabbath] to get back together and do a farewell.
“The tears will be flowing today to see the Ozz man – the Prince of Laughter, not Darkness. He really was. We’ll all miss him.”
Image: Pic: Reuters
‘My mum used to say he was a lovely boy’
Chris Mason, general manager of The Brasshouse pub, which is next to Black Sabbath Bridge, said music by the band and Ozzy’s solo material had been played pretty much “on loop” since his death.
“I’m a metal fan and Ozzy being the godfather of the scene – if not for Ozzy and Black Sabbath, we wouldn’t have heavy metal,” he said. “This is what Birmingham is about, bringing people together, and Ozzy and Black Sabbath did that.
“He was Mr Birmingham and his family have brought him back.”
Mohabbat Ali, who used to live on the same street as Ozzy’s childhood home, said the property had become one of the focal points for tributes in the city.
Describing what it was like living near him, he said: “He played guitars, very loud at night sometimes, but my mum used to say he was a lovely boy.”
From an era of preening rock gods, Ozzy was the real deal
The sea of black was always a given – but this wasn’t about respecting funeral traditions. Ozzy himself had previously said he wanted his send-off, when it came, to be a celebration and not a “mope-fest”.
This was his final tour in the city that meant so much to him.
For fans, he meant so much to them.
For his family, the emotion was raw.
Sharon, his soulmate, has spent her life and career organising his shows, and it was clear how hard this day was for her.
After they left, fans flooded the streets to lay flowers.
Not since David Bowie has an artist’s death prompted such an outpouring of emotion. From an era of preening rock gods, Ozzy was the real deal – one of the most notorious figures in rock, but a man who remained as Brummie as can be.
‘A true legend who never forgot his roots’
Birmingham’s lord mayor, Councillor Zafar Iqbal, also attended the procession and spoke of the city’s pride in Ozzy.
“What a great honour for us to have him here one last time,” he said. “The love for Ozzy – well, you can feel it in the air.”
The star put both Aston and Birmingham on the map, he said, and always took the time to get to know people.
Mr Iqbal said Ozzy sent him a letter after reading on the mayor’s website biography how he had struggled with dyslexia at school – something the star identified with.
“I’ve got the letter in a frame and it’s in my office… he was just a natural human being, down to earth. You wouldn’t have known he was a rock star – but he was a true legend, who never forgot his roots.”
The population of England and Wales has grown by more than 700,000 in the year to June 2024 – the second-largest increase in over 75 years.
The change was largely fuelled by international migration, with natural change – the difference between births and deaths – accounting for only a small proportion.
According to the Office for National Statistics, there were an estimated 61.8 million people in England and Wales in mid-2024, up from 61.1 million the year before.
It is the second-largest numerical jump since at least 1949, when comparable data began.
And it is behind only the rise of 821,210 that took place in the preceding 12 months from mid-2022 to mid-2023.
Nigel Henretty of the ONS said the population of the two countries has increased each year since mid-1982, but said the rate of population increases has been higher in recent years.
“Net international migration continues to be the main driver of this growth, continuing the long-term trend seen since the turn of the century,” he said.
Net international migration – the difference between people moving to the country and leaving – accounted for 690,147 of the estimated population increase of 706,881 people, or 98% of the total.
There were slightly more births than deaths in the most recent year, which added 29,982 to the population.
There was also a net decrease in internal migration – the number of people moving from England and Wales to elsewhere in the UK.