Arrests of anti-monarchists 'an attack on our democracy'

THE head of an anti-monarchy group arrested ahead of a planned protest on Coronation Day has branded the detention of him and dozens of others a "direct attack on our democracy"

Republic chief executive Graham Smith, who was released on Saturday night after nearly 16 hours in police custody, said officers should "hang their heads in shame".

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 52 people were arrested for affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance around the coronation.

Mr Smith said a total of eight members of Republic's team were arrested as they prepared for "a peaceful and lawful protest".

He told the PA news agency officers had been "intimidating, heavy-handed, not willing to listen, not willing to cooperate or to engage"

He added: "They clearly made up their mind they were going to arrest us the moment we got there." 

They were arrested for "being equipped for locking on", a new offence under the controversial Public Order Act.

In a statement, Mr Smith said: "These arrests are a direct attack on our democracy and the fundamental rights of every person in the country.

"Each and every police officer involved on the ground should hang their heads in shame."

He said the right to protest peacefully in the UK "no longer exists" and that the detentions "destroyed whatever trust might have existed" between campaign groups and the police.