Metropolitan Police Decline to Ban Planned Oct. 7 Student Protest

The Metropolitan Police in London announced it cannot legally stop a student anti-Israel demonstration scheduled for Oct. 7, stating that only the Home Secretary may intervene when disorder risk is extreme. An infographic from the force clarified that it lacks power to ban marches outright and must seek a Home Secretary’s approval under section 13 of the Public Order Act. The Campaign Against Antisemitism cited section 11, which obliges march organisers to give their name and address, and claimed the police have been unable to contact them, rendering the march illegal.

The watchdog accused Commissioner Mark Rowley of failing to use existing powers and called for his resignation, alleging a double standard after the police forced a UK Independence Party rally to relocate. Police officials reiterated that the threshold for serious disorder has not been met and that they have not received the required organiser details.