Information on OurFightUK counter-demonstration on 30 March 2024.
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.037124
I note you seek access to the following information:
On 30 March 2024 a campaigning organisation named OurFightUK held a counter- demonstration to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign march (same date).
The location of the counter- demonstration was given as "North side of Waterloo Bridge, where it meets the Strand" by OurFightUK in their web page announcing the event: https://archive.ph/TX6ro
Video footage from the day shows that a significant and largely effective policing effort was made, an area was allocated to the counter-demonstration, demarked and protected with met-barrier, and 2, 3 and sometimes even 4 lines of police (generally) separated the two groups appropriatly.
The notable exception to the previous, is that two clear members of the counter-demonstration, (Names Redacted), were allowed to stand outside of the designated area, forward of almost all of the police present, and seemingly with their own designated team of officers for their sole protection. (Names Redacted) is a founder of OurFightUK.
Given the above I would like to know:
- Did the OurFightUK counter-demonstration liase with police ahead of the event?
- Was any kind of permit sought or required or any agreement arrived at prior to the event?
- If yes to previous, what conditions if any were attached to that permission?
- Did the Met's plan for policing this demo include holding a sterile area between the two demonstrations?
- If yes to previous, then why was the organiser and one other member of the counter-demonstration allowed to be on the wrong side of that sterile area throughout?
- Additionally, I noted that various journalists and photographers who were present with the counter-demo were able to move freely back and forth through the police lines separating the two groups, whereas photographers from within the PSC march were blocked from approaching the OutFightUK counter-demonstration.
Can you offer any explanaton for this discrepancy?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - Did the OurFightUK counter-demonstration liaise with police ahead of the event?
Police did liaise with a group who sought to counter-demonstrate against the main PSC March on 30 March 2024
Q2 - Was any kind of permit sought or required or any agreement arrived at prior to the event?
An agreement was reached with the organisers of a counter demonstration to hold it at an agreed location. No permit is required to hold a gathering of this nature.
Q3 - If yes to previous, what conditions if any were attached to that permission?
The threshold for imposing conditions under the Public Order Act was not reached prior to the event.
Q4 - Did the Met's plan for policing this demo include holding a sterile area between the two demonstrations?
As is routine, the policing plan reflected a need to prevent a breach of the peace on the event which includes measures if necessary to prevent a confrontation between opposing sides.
Q5 - If yes to previous, then why was the organiser and one other member of the counter-demonstration allowed to be on the wrong side of that sterile area throughout?
We assess each situation on its merits depending on a range of factors present at the time including engagement and affiliation.
Q6 - Additionally, I noted that various journalists and photographers who were present with the counter-demo were able to move freely back and forth through the police lines separating the two groups, whereas photographers from within the PSC march were blocked from approaching the OutFightUK counter-demonstration. Can you offer any explanation for this discrepancy?
Officers are briefed on the rights of journalists to report freely on events. However, in any given situation, officers have to assess a range of different factors in their decision making and deal with each situation on its individual merits.