Two people have been arrested after allegedly shouting slogans calling for “intifada” during a protest by pro-Palestinian demonstrators in London, police said. Five people in total were detained outside the Ministry of Justice in Westminster on Wednesday evening, with further arrests for obstruction and public order offences.
It came after a change in approach from the Met and Greater Manchester police, who announced earlier on Wednesday they would arrest anyone chanting the words “globalise the intifada” or holding a placard with the phrase on it.
And all it took for the police to finally act was the slaughter of innocent Jewish citizens in another country.
The chiefs of both forces said attacks against Jewish people in Manchester, where two died, and in Sydney, Australia, where 16 died, including one of the alleged killers, meant new rules now applied. In a joint statement, the Met commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, and GMP chief constable, Sir Stephen Watson, said: “The words and chants used, especially in protests, matter and have real-world consequences.
“We have consistently been advised by the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] that many of the phrases causing fear in Jewish communities don’t meet prosecution thresholds. Now, in the escalating threat context, we will recalibrate to be more assertive.
Sure, blame the CPS. Despite the fact you're well aware that the process itself can be the punishment, when you want to use it that way.
“We know communities are concerned about placards and chants such as ‘globalise the intifada’ and those using them at future protests or in a targeted way should expect the Met and GMP to take action.
We'll see if this holds up longer than the headlines it's garnered you...
The smart money's on 'No!'
“Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed – words have meaning and consequence. We will act decisively and make arrests.”
'Sorry about that, but we're raring to do our job now, just watch us' - I've never been so ashamed of the UK police in my life.
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