‘I am immensely proud of the exceptional work of our officers who prevented criminal disruption, damage and danger destroying such a unique occasion,’ said Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
He was talking of course about the coronation amid the controversy that has swirled around the Met since reports emerged that people were wrongfully arrested as part of its operation in central London last Saturday, appropriately codenamed ‘Golden Orb’.
Among them were six members of the anti-Monarchy group, Republic, mistakenly suspected of having equipment for a ‘lock on’ style demonstration. In fact, the items were straps to secure placards. The six were told they would not be charged, but only after spending the entire day in police cells.
‘While it is unfortunate that the six people affected by this were unable to join the hundreds of peaceful protestors, I support the officers’ actions in this unique fast moving operational context,’ said Sir Mark, who cited ‘rapidly developing’ and ‘reliable’ intelligence that some individuals were intent on causing ‘serious disruption and criminality’.
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