Six women were arrested on Thursday evening after police raided a meeting about Gaza and climate change. They were members of the UK protest group Youth Demand who claimed they were going to “shut down London” next month as part of a campaign accusing the government of allowing a “genocide” in Gaza. On Thursday evening, around 7:15pm, more than 20 uniformed police officers burst into a Quaker meeting house in Westminster.
The authorities were reportedly equipped with tasers, and broke through the front door without warning. They carried out a search of a building before arresting six women who were in attendance. They were reportedly detained on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. This follows the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023 which criminalised some types of demonstrations, allowing for police to intervene in any actions deemed too disruptive.
The Quakers in Britain have labelled the event as a “violation of their place of worship”, claiming it is a result of the harsh protest laws.
Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said: “No-one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory.
“This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest.
“Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy.”
A Met Police spokesperson told GB News: “Youth Demand have stated an intention to ‘shut down’ London over the month of April using tactics including ‘swarming’ and road blocks.
“While we absolutely recognise the importance of the right to protest, we have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality.
“On Thursday, 27 March officers raided a Youth Demand planning meeting at an address in Westminster where those in attendance were plotting their April action.
“Six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Five of those arrested on Thursday have been released on bail and one will face no further action.
“A further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday, 28 March. Four of the arrests were at addresses in London and one in Exeter. All five of those arrested on Friday have been released on bail.”
