Met Police urge students to move protest planned for 7 October anniversary

The Metropolitan Police has requested that organisers of a pro-Palestinian student march, scheduled for Wednesday, reschedule the event. The march coincides with the third anniversary of the 7 October attacks on Israel, a day marked by mourning and vigils.

Concerns over timing and impact

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman explained that while the police cannot legally ban the protest, they have serious concerns regarding its impact on students and staff, particularly those who are Jewish. The planned route and the chosen date were highlighted as points of concern. Harman urged potential participants to consider the distress the march might cause on this significant day and to protest on an alternative date. The protest, organised by a group calling itself the University of London Coalition, is expected to draw around 300 students marching from King's College London in the Strand to University College London in Holborn, commencing at midday.

Harman stated that the legal threshold for the home secretary to ban a protest, which requires evidence of serious public disorder that cannot be mitigated by restrictions, had not been met. However, he confirmed that if the march proceeds, police will implement "appropriate conditions" regarding the route and timing. A zero-tolerance approach to hate crime will be enforced, and any breach of conditions will result in arrest.

University engagement and wider policing challenges

The Metropolitan Police has written to four London universities, asking them to engage with their students and staff. The aim is to ensure that students do not feel excluded, targeted, or unsafe due to activities on university premises. The letters acknowledge the importance of freedom of expression and peaceful protest, while also referencing an increase in antisemitic incidents at UK universities since the 2023 attacks, according to the Community Security Trust.

The force anticipates deploying over 600 officers to manage various events and protests across London in the coming week. This includes a larger pro-Palestinian protest planned for Saturday 10 October, which is expected to attract 10,000 attendees and a counter-protest, both of which will be subject to strict conditions. Police also noted their presence at a march in Whitechapel on Sunday 4 October, marking the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street, to manage potential disagreements between groups. The upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election on 8 October also presents a policing challenge.

Harman emphasised that police intervention in any situation is solely to prevent crime and disorder, not based on political preference, asserting a non-discriminatory approach to policing.