new powers
Rights groups criticized Scotland Yard over how protests were handled during the coronation weekend. Activists described the enforcement as alarming and said it chilled the right to demonstrate. Security authorities reported additional arrests in the days surrounding the royal event in London as police acted under new rules intended to curb disorder during the ceremony.
Early on the morning of the coronation, Metropolitan Police officers detained Graham Smith, leader of Republic, a national anti monarchy campaign, as he and other demonstrators carried banners near Trafalgar Square. The group had called for peaceful protest in front of the royal procession. Police later confirmed that a number of arrests were made on Saturday for offenses related to public order and conspiracy to cause public confusion during the coronation timeline.
After his release around 11 p.m., Smith tweeted that the right to peaceful protest in the United Kingdom had been curtailed. He expressed concern that liberties claimed to be protected by the crown were under attack in the monarchs name and reiterated the need for accountability in how demonstrations are managed.
I am out of the police station now, awaiting colleagues. There is no longer a clear right to peaceful protest in the UK. The monarch is said to defend liberties, yet the freedoms of many are being interpreted as a risk to the day, Smith said in his posts on social media following the release.
Authorities reported that several people were also detained while allegedly planning to tamper with alarms or disrupt the procession. Officials from Westminster City Council noted that those detained were volunteers focused on women’s safety in the city center at night and that investigations were ongoing to determine what occurred. A council member emphasized cooperation with police to understand the events more fully.
new measures and response
Lawmakers granted police new powers to limit protests in the name of maintaining order during high-profile events, including the coronation, as part of a broader security package. A senior police commander described the approach as proportionate, with the duty to intervene when protests threaten public safety or cross legal boundaries. The response was framed as a precautionary measure for a one-off national ceremony, and authorities warned that those who sought to undermine the day would face tight limits on demonstrations.
Human rights organizations condemned the arrests of peaceful protesters. A representative from Human Rights Watch in the United Kingdom criticized the government and police for restricting public assembly ahead of the coronation, arguing that it undermines fundamental freedoms and pointing to concerns about the level of permission granted for peaceful dissent. They called for careful scrutiny of the use of new powers and transparency in the circumstances surrounding detentions. The organization stressed the importance of holding government actions to account when rights protections are at stake.
Amnesty International in the United Kingdom also weighed in, noting that simply carrying a banner or using a megaphone should not lead to arrest. They stated that peaceful protest is safeguarded by international human rights law and expressed alarm at the week’s police actions. The group urged officials to provide full details about the arrests and to ensure that measures taken in the name of security do not trample on basic rights in the country.
In the public discourse, observers emphasized the delicate balance between maintaining order at a ceremonial event and preserving civil liberties. Community leaders and advocates called for ongoing dialogue with authorities to clarify how protests will be managed in future large-scale events and to prevent any erosion of lawful, peaceful expression.
The coronation, viewed by many as a milestone for the country, prompted a national debate over the limits of protest, the responsibilities of police, and the protections afforded to demonstrators. As statements from human rights groups and civic leaders circulated, the broader question emerged about the role of government in safeguarding liberty while ensuring the security and dignity of public ceremonies. The conversation continued beyond the day of the procession, with a focus on accountability, transparency, and the right to assembly in a modern democracy.