London’s Metropolitan Police on Monday expressed “regret” over the arrest of six anti-monarchy protesters during coronation day, as activists slam the force’s heavy-handed action as “a direct attack on our democracy.”
Officials launched “a significant police operation” on Saturday after receiving information on demonstrators who were “determined to disrupt” the coronation of King Charles III. Their response led to a total of 64 arrests. Four people were charged, while most of them were released on bail.
Six members of the U.K.’s largest anti-monarchy group, Republic, were arrested and detained for the rest of the day. On Monday, they were told they wouldn’t face any charges after an investigation couldn’t prove their intent on disrupting the event.
“We regret that those six people arrested were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the procession route,” Met Police said in a news release.
On Monday, Republic’s CEO Graham Smith, who was held in custody for 16 hours, said a chief inspector and two other officers came to his home in Reading to offer an apology.
“I said for the record I won’t accept the apology,” Smith said, according to the BBC. “We have a lot of questions to answer and we will be taking action.”
The arrests were carried out under a controversial new law that allows authorities to search demonstrators for items they can use to lock themselves to places like railings and gates — such as glue and locks.
Officers said they detained the six activists after items found in a vehicle appeared like they could be “used as lock-on devices” — a claim they were later unable to prove.
London police chief Mark Rowley defended his officers’ actions in a piece for the Evening Standard newspaper.
“We are proud to have successfully ensured its safety and security despite the most challenging, fast-moving and complex policing picture we have ever encountered for a national celebration,” he wrote.
“Our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality,” he added.