London police impose restrictions as opposing protests ignite tensions in Whitechapel and Kensington

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1. https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/protesters-set-to-descend-on-opposite-sides-of-london-amid-police-restrictions-HQ4GGFSI3ZL2JIHVQSPIPGMEF4/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
2. https://news.met.police.uk/news/met-intervenes-to-prevent-serious-disorder-at-whitechapel-protest-502395 - The Metropolitan Police intervened to prevent a demonstration organised by the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) in Tower Hamlets, London, due to concerns of serious disorder. The protest, initially planned as a march from Whitechapel Station, was part of a series of events promoted as a 'mass deportations tour'. A significant counter-protest was also expected, organised by Stand Up To Racism and local groups. Public Order Act conditions were imposed, prohibiting UKIP from holding their protest in Whitechapel or anywhere else in the borough of Tower Hamlets. The police emphasised their responsibility to prevent disorder and disruption, stating that UKIP could organise their protest in an alternative location but not in Tower Hamlets. Anyone breaching the ban faced arrest. The police also noted that they had used similar powers in the past to prevent disorder during demonstrations by various groups. Officers from the Met’s Protest Liaison Team remained open to engaging with the organisers if they proposed an event in an alternative location. The police highlighted the importance of ensuring that protests take place peacefully and do not cause excessive disruption to the ordinary lives of local residents, visitors, and businesses. They also warned that where there is a prospect of disorder, they would take action to prevent it.
3. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/met-police-ukip-protest-tower-hamlets-serious-disorder-b1254069.html - The Metropolitan Police blocked a planned anti-migrant march from taking place in Tower Hamlets, London, citing concerns it could spark 'serious disorder'. The event, organised by the UK Independence Party (UKIP), was scheduled for Saturday afternoon and was part of a 'mass deportations tour'. The protest was initially planned as a march starting at Whitechapel Station before being revised to an assembly in the same area. Organisers described the demonstration as a 'crusade', urging supporters to 'reclaim Whitechapel from the Islamists' and 'take our country back'. A significant counter-protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism and local groups, was also scheduled to take place. Tower Hamlets has the highest proportion of Muslim residents in England and Wales, prompting concerns the march could inflame community tensions. The Met stated the decision to ban the event was made in the interest of public safety and to prevent disorder. Public Order Act conditions were imposed, meaning UKIP could not hold their protest in Whitechapel or anywhere else in the borough of Tower Hamlets. Anyone taking part in the UKIP march who enters the borough of Tower Hamlets faced arrest. Officers remained willing to engage with the organisers if they proposed an event in an alternative location.
4. https://www.itv.com/news/2025-10-24/protesters-set-to-descend-on-opposite-sides-of-london-amid-police-restrictions - Protesters from opposing groups were set to gather on different sides of London after the Metropolitan Police banned United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) supporters from assembling near Whitechapel Station in east London. The police cited a 'realistic prospect of serious disorder' as the reason for the ban. UKIP supporters were redirected to gather outside the London Oratory in Kensington at 1pm, before marching towards Marble Arch. The demonstration was part of a series of events across the UK promoted as a 'mass deportations tour', with organisers calling on attendees to 'reclaim Whitechapel from the Islamists'. A counter-protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) and other local groups, was still due to go ahead from 12pm in east London. The police imposed further restrictions to 'prevent serious disorder' and 'serious disruption'. The conditions required UKIP protesters to assemble outside the London Oratory and prohibited them from assembling in Tower Hamlets. The police emphasised their role in ensuring protests take place peacefully and do not cause excessive disruption to the ordinary lives of local residents, visitors, and businesses. They also warned that anyone breaching the conditions could be arrested.
5. https://news.met.police.uk/news/met-sets-out-plans-ahead-of-busy-weekend-of-protest-499886 - The Metropolitan Police set out plans ahead of a busy weekend in London, with multiple protests and events scheduled. Officers from the Met and the British Transport Police were supported by a limited number of officers from other UK forces. A protest organised on behalf of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) under the name 'Uniting the Kingdom' was planned to march from Victoria Station to the southern end of Whitehall. A counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism was also scheduled to march from Regent Street St James’s to the north end of Whitehall. Static rallies were planned at the end of both protest marches. The police emphasised the importance of ensuring that the two opposing groups were kept apart and pre-emptive conditions were imposed under the Public Order Act to prevent serious disruption or disorder. A separate protest, organised by the United Friends and Families Campaign, was also scheduled to take place in Trafalgar Square from around midday. The police highlighted their role in policing protests without fear or favour, enforcing the law, keeping the peace, and preventing serious disorder and disruption to ordinary people going about their lives.
6. https://news.met.police.uk/news/further-conditions-imposed-ahead-of-weekend-protests-502549 - The Metropolitan Police imposed further conditions ahead of weekend protests in London, including those organised by the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and Stand Up To Racism (SUTR). An increased visible police presence was planned in several areas across London on Saturday, 25 October, when the protests were due to take place. Commander Nick John, in charge of public order policing in London that weekend, stated that the role of the police was to ensure protests take place peacefully, offences are dealt with, and they do not cause excessive disruption to the ordinary lives of local residents, visitors, and businesses. The police intervened earlier in the week to use their powers under the Public Order Act to prevent a protest from taking place in Whitechapel due to the prospect of serious disorder. This was not a 'ban' as described in some coverage, but a requirement for the protest to move if it was to go ahead. The police had used the same power on many occasions over the past two years when policing demonstrations by various groups. Further conditions were imposed to prevent serious disorder and disruption. Officers had been in ongoing contact with protest organisers and urged anyone intending to take part in any protests that weekend to familiarise themselves with the conditions, warning that breaching them or encouraging others to do so could be grounds for arrest.
7. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/over-100000-anti-immigration-protesters-march-london-2025-09-13/ - More than 100,000 people took part in a major anti-immigration protest in London, one of the largest right-wing demonstrations in modern UK history. Organised by controversial activist Tommy Robinson under the banner 'Unite the Kingdom', the protest focused on opposition to illegal migration and calls for greater free speech. Protesters carried British, English, American, and Israeli flags, and some wore MAGA hats. They also expressed criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and voiced support for Robinson, chanting and carrying signs with messages like 'send them home'. Police deployed over 1,600 officers, including 500 from other forces, to manage the event and a nearby counter-protest by 'Stand Up to Racism' attended by around 5,000 people. Multiple confrontations occurred as some protesters attempted to break through police lines, leading to officer assaults. The demonstration followed a summer of tensions around asylum seekers housed in hotels and comes amidst rising immigration numbers, topping 28,000 arrivals this year. The use of national symbols like the St George’s Cross and Union flags has raised concern among anti-racism groups, who view it as promoting hostility toward immigrants.