Thatcher’s funeral - protest under attack in attempt to create a national day of mourning

DtRtP Press Release 15/04/2022

Alongside the announcement of plans for the funeral of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, police have taken the opportunity to highlight concerns around security and public order. Reports extend far beyond the bounds of reasonableness and proportionality into active scaremongering with threats of pre-arresting members of the public, as was seen ahead of the Royal Wedding in 2011, and police marksman being stationed on roves near the funeral making their way into the national press.

Last Wednesday a number of papers carried stories outlining police plans ahead of Thatcher’s funeral, largely as a response to the number of celebrations that took place through Monday and Tuesday. Whilst parties were announced at Trafalgar Square and Windrush Square in London and George Square in Glasgow for the evening of Thatcher’s death, sections of the press rushed to identify and demonise those they could hold responsible. The media witch-hunt finds its corollary in calls from the Metropolitan Police for protesters to identify themselves in order that “their right to protest can be upheld”. This language is very similar to police tactics ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London which were then used to justify the arrest and prolonged custody of 182 critical mass cyclists. There remains no legal basis under which police can compel protesters at static demonstrations to provide prior warning or identify themselves and suggestions otherwise should not be used by officers to justify violent repression of protest.

As the Tory government initiates grand and expensive plans to turn the death of their former political leader into a moment of national mourning, it is difficult not to see police warnings in this context as intimidation towards those who do not agree politically with the ex-Prime Minister or her party. The Evening Standard reported, “Marksmen will be deployed on rooftops and undercover officers will mingle with crowds to spot known trouble makers”, a disturbing indication that tolerance for dissent in London and across the country next Wednesday will not be forthcoming from the police. Even less so as the Metropolitan Police have indicated that section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 could very easily be used to arrest dissenters as mourners will be more easily ‘harassed, alarmed or distressed’. With these broad parameters we essentially see the criminalization of all forms of protest at the whim of an officer.

News that the police and security services spied on attendees during celebrations in Trafalgar Square is highly worrying. Whilst the evening passed off without great incident – though many were confused and harassed by the huge numbers of police present – intelligence gathered is now being used to plan the arrest of individuals before police even have evidence to suggest they have committed a crime.

Also concerning is the possible use of blanket stop-and-search powers that have previously been deployed by police to gather intelligence and intimidate members of the public. Most recently police authorized this power to be used near Trafalgar Square last Saturday. The power, which comes from section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, exists to allow police to indiscriminately search for ‘dangerous instruments or offensive weapons’ where there is a belief ‘serious violence’ may take place. Beyond flagrant media speculation, there is little reason to believe serious violence would take place during Thatcher’s funeral and no evidence of it having taken place last Saturday has emerged either. Indications from MPS Commander Christine Jones that ‘reserves’ are preparing to respond to incidents in a similar manner as during the August 2011 riots seems to serve only as provocation.

Despite the political scorn poured by Thatcher’s fans, the large number of people who wish to celebrate and protest during the funeral or in the run up to it should be free to do so without fear of pre-arrest, intelligence gathering or other violent responses from the police.

The legal support group Green & Black Cross has key advice for protesters to protect their rights.