Police on standby as members of Kurdish community protest over terror arrests linked to PKK

Members of the Kurdish community are set to protest in London later today in response to the arrest of seven people on suspicions of terrorism offences linked to the PKK.

The Met Police has set out how it will deal with the march and warned people not to express support for the group, which is a proscribed organisation in the UK.

Partiya Karkeren Kurdistani (PKK) - which translates as the Kurdistan Worker’s Party - is proscribed by the UK Government and expressing support for them is a criminal offence.

It comes after Pro-Palestinian and pro-Jewish demos passed off largely peacefully in London on Saturday and protests across Hackney in response to the PKK arrests from Wednesday.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "Each event requires a substantial amount of planning in the context of various events and day-to-day business happening across the capital.

"The Met’s goal is to protect the lawful right to protest while minimising the impact of these events on those who live, work and visit London.

"Ahead of the march there has been negotiation and engagement with event organisers. This weekend has been busy and is expected to be one of the busiest shopping weeks ahead of Christmas – so all conditions are considered in this context to allow people intending to visit central London and businesses to operate without serious disruption."

Chief Superintendent Joe McDonald, who is leading the policing operation, said: “We have spoken with the organisers of the protest to agree a route for and assembly point, as well as start and finish, to seek to minimise disruption and balance the right to protest.

“We understand the strength of feeling from the Kurdish community and want to take this opportunity to remind anyone taking part in the march that the Partiya Karkeren Kurdistani (PKK) is proscribed by the UK Government and expressing support for them is a criminal offence.

“Officers will be highly visible along the protest route and wider area to ensure the events take place safely and will deal with any offences.”

The Kurdish community will assemble before the protest on the west side of Trafalgar Square at 13:00 hrs until 2:15pm when the procession will start.

The procession will move from Trafalgar Square, down Northumberland Avenue, along Victoria Embankment, turning into Parliament Square and onto Whitehall.

The protest will assemble on Whitehall in the designated area and speeches must finish at 4:30 pm and the assembly must conclude by 5pm.

The Public Order Act gives the police the power to impose conditions on a procession or assembly of two or more people who are deemed to have a common purpose. 

Conditions can be imposed either in advance of an event or by the senior officer present during an event. 

On Sunday, 1 December the following conditions will be in place relating to the Kurdish community event:

The Kurdish community assembly in preparation for the planned procession must be held within the designated area (the red shaded area on Map 1) on Trafalgar Square west side and assembly participants must remain within that area.

The assembly must not commence before 1.00pm and participants must not enter the designated area before that time.

Assembly participants must remain within the designated area until such time as the procession commences, which must be by 2.15pm.

Any person participating in the Kurdish community protest must not deviate from the prescribed.

The Kurdish community procession must commence by 2.15pm.

Any person participating in the Kurdish community protest post procession assembly must remain within the designated area.

The speeches must finish at 4.30pm and the assembly must conclude by 5.00pm.

The spokesperson added: "London is a global city and with people joining events from across the country and around the world it is important to reiterate that expressing support for a proscribed organisation in the UK is a criminal offence.

Under the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT), the Home Secretary may proscribe an organisation if they believe it is concerned in terrorism and it is proportionate to do so.

Proscription makes it a criminal offence to invite or express support for a proscribed organisation through chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos.

 PKK has been proscribed since 2001.

It is a criminal offence to:

• belong, or profess to belong, to a proscribed organisation in the UK or overseas (Section 11 TACT)

• invite support for a proscribed organisation (Section 12(1A) TACT)

• express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation (Section 12(1A) TACT)

• arrange, manage or assist in arranging or managing a meeting in the knowledge that the meeting is to support or further the activities of a proscribed organisation, or is to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to (Section 12(2) TACT)

• wear clothing or carry or display articles in public in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that the individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation (Section 13 TACT)

• publish an image of an item of clothing or other article, such as a flag or logo, in the same circumstances (Section 13(1A) TACT)

Officers policing events will exercise their powers with proportionality and necessity to deal with any offences, being mindful of people’s rights to assemble and express their opinions, and will continue to support those who wish to do so lawfully.

If you have any concerns during an event speak to a police officer or event steward.

If you see material supporting terrorism online report it – visit www.gov.uk/ACT  

You can also report suspicious activity by contacting the police in confidence on 0800 789 321

In an emergency, or if you need urgent police assistance, you should always dial 999.

On Wednesday, 27 November, seven people were arrested at locations across London:

A 59-year-old woman, 27-year-old man, 31-year-old woman, 62-year-old man, 56-year-old man, 23-year-old man and a 31-year-old man.

They were all detained under section 41(1) of the Terrorism Act, 2000, and they all remain in police custody at this time. A warrant of further detention for all seven was sought and obtained from Westminster Magistrates’ Court meaning they can be detained in police custody until Wednesday, 4 December.

Following the arrests, searches were carried out in eight locations across London. Six of the searches are now complete. Two searches remain ongoing.

Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines, who leads local policing for the Haringey area, said: “We are very aware of the impact that this action has on our communities – particularly the Kurdish community in the area. I’m continuing to meet with Kurdish community members and I am grateful for their support and understanding during what we know is a very difficult time for them. I would urge anyone with concerns to get in touch with me or my local officers so that we can continue to work with our residents and communities and keep them safe.”