Two major demonstrations are scheduled to take place in Central London on Saturday (16 May), prompting one of the Metropolitan Police’s largest public order operations in recent years.
The annual pro-Palestine Nakba Day march, which commemorates the displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, and a separate Unite the Kingdom rally organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, are expected to draw significant crowds across the capital.
The Unite the Kingdom demonstration, first held in 2025, has been described by organisers as a protest focused on national unity, free speech and Christian values.
Last year’s event drew an estimated crowd of between 110,000 and 150,000 people according to Metropolitan Police estimates, although attendance figures were widely disputed online.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that approximately 4,000 officers will be deployed as authorities manage the events alongside the FA Cup Final at Wembley and the UK’s severe terrorism threat level.
Key developments:
- Live facial recognition technology will be used during a protest policing operation for the first time.
- Public Order Act conditions, dispersal orders and stop-and-search powers will be enforced.
- The policing operation is expected to cost around £4.5m.
- Separate protest routes and hard cordons will be used to keep crowds apart.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the operation includes support officers from forces across England and Wales.
ℹ️ BBC News
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