PM Rishi Sunak defends police detaining anti-monarchy protesters

PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak defended new powers granted to the police by his government on Tuesday (May 9) after criticism of the arrests of anti-monarchy protesters during the coronation of King Charles III.

British police have expressed regret over the arrests saying the protesters will not face criminal prosecution following criticism that the security response was heavy-handed.

Six people were arrested on Saturday under new powers from the Public Order Act, a law to restrict protests that came into force days before the coronation, the biggest ceremony seen in Britain for 70 years.

As crowds gathered, police arrested the leader of the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic and six of its members who were planning to take part in its biggest protest.

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[jeffhello]

mad that you can block a road and put peoples lives at risk and the police do nothing, hold a sign up and you get banged up, just shows how the police work for the government not the people

[abikeanditsboy]

Well, there's a line of bull💩 if I ever heard one.

[thomasdawson]

Starting to sound like a tyrant Rishi seeing as we never voted you in and now the police are getting special power to shut down any kind of disruption or that they deem to be disruption.

[colleenpeck]

Rishi & his wife SHOULD BE ARRESTED!

[olivemalteser]

“Of course people have the right to protest freely” but only if we agree with it.

[mrmagoo-]

The whole idea was political. To simply put the Met against the protesters on a national sympathetic subject in search on the moral high ground. A bi-product the police may enjoy a bit of renewed support from public after some police staff caught for behaving like animals. Seems the Commander can't back pedal fast enough. Politics comes in to take the credit on the gravy train that is derailing. Mr Sunak always looks like a rabbit in the headlights and so disingenuous on camera. But his words will sit well with his valiant believers. Usual day at the office. Do nothing and waffle a bit. Stick at what your best at I suppose.

[andrewreardon]

This guy is a glorified accountant and doesn't have the intellect. Also, If he and Mrs S paid the right amount of tax it would have helped to pay for the event. But in other words, the law now means if you think about protesting and it might be disruptive, the police might arrest you. Then today the police and lots of senior MPs are backtracking from the new legislation. What a mess.

[clivefinlay]

From dishy Rishi to fishy Rishi ‘cos he’s a slippery customer!😂🤣😂🤣

[LibertarianGalt]

What serious disruption Ricky Sundance?

[suplex]

rishis got more convictions than yer average criminal ...shouldnt he have been arrested

[psulux]

When you see a black/brown man with a visibility red face he's either taken drugs or he's very very stressed

[flashgordonHunde]

Monarchy - maybe the most unnecessary thing in the contemporary world.

[helipeek]

Typical politician “what’s that? My idea went wrong? Oh well it’s got nothing to do with me, it’s (insert anyone’s name) they’re responsible and obviously I can’t comment.”

[sapete]

Keep digging. The public will have their say on your opinion soon enough. That’s if you are still PM by the time the next general election comes around.

[shauneden]

Only fair that the police get to overreact after they were good enough to run alongside our unelected PM in his car earlier in the month. Isn't giving them all the powers they want the very definition of a police state?

[modularmorne]

You cant even call prince Andrew a nounce without getting arrested.

[eyesodd]

Course he does, he's the wef Kings puppet .

[alanavery]

Rishi Washi would
Hr wants all the country to be
Serbiant
Control Control Control Control

[pamlewin]

That as just cost you any chance you had in an election sunak.

[sandrafoxley]

sunak the unelected defending the police for having post traumatic stress disorder <ftsd actually arresting some protesters - back to normal tomorrow