The Met Police has warned protesters they will “very likely be arrested” if they show support for the recently proscribed group Palestine Action this weekend.
A mass pro-Palestine demonstration is due to take place on Saturday, and will be the first large-scale protest of its kind since Palestine Action was designated as a terror group.
Palestine Coalition demonstrators will march from Victoria Embankment to Whitehall via Westminster Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and the Strand, before speeches will be heard in Whitehall.
Meanwhile, a counter-protest, organised by Stop the Hate, is expected to take place at the junction of the Strand and Waterloo Bridge.
The Met Police said that it is expecting further protest activity in support of Palestine Action following similar protests in Parliament Square over the past two weekends.
The force has warned that anyone seen expressing support for Palestine Action at the mass rally or any other protests will face arrest.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is charge of the Met’s policing operation this weekend, said: “Our policing plans for the sort of protest activity we expect on Saturday are tried and tested, with officers working hard to achieve the balance of allowing people to exercise their right to peaceful protest while avoiding serious disruption to the community and ensuring incidents and offences can be swiftly dealt with.
“This Saturday’s Palestine Coalition protest is the first large scale of its kind since the proscription of Palestine Action and I want to make sure the implications of that change in the law are fully understood.
“Nobody will be committing an offence by simply supporting the Palestinian cause, taking part in the march or carrying flags, banners or other signs providing they don’t stray into hate speech or other offences.
“However, those who see this as an opportunity to test the limits of the law by expressing support for Palestine Action, whether at a standalone protest or as part of the Palestine Coalition protest, will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested.
“I would urge those people to consider the seriousness of being arrested under the Terrorism Act and the very real long term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances – that such an arrest is likely to have for their future.”
Mr Adelekan also highlighted that the event was the first large-scale protest since offensive chanting led by punk duo Bob Vylan took place at Glastonbury Festival.
During the performance, lead singer Bobby Vylan led the crowd in chanting “Death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces].”
A police investigation is underway into the incident, which is being led by Met Police officers, following similar uses of the chant in London.
Mr Adelekan continued: “Those investigations are ongoing and it would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcomes, but I can say a bit more about our approach to similar chanting at this weekend’s protest.
“We have said before that whether chants cross the line from free speech to a potential criminal offence depends on the specific circumstances.
“For example, there will be words that when chanted in the middle of the Palestine Coalition march, and not directed at individuals who might be caused harassment, alarm or distress as a result, might not lead an officer to reasonably suspect an offence has been committed.
“But directing the same words at a group of people for whom the words would very likely cause harassment, alarm or distress, could well give rise to grounds for arrest.
“At previous protests, the area between the main march and any counter protest has seen the most heated exchanges. Officers will be particularly alert to conduct, including chanting, in this area and will be working with stewards to ensure crowds keep moving past this point.
“Where they become aware of behaviour that crosses the line from protest into criminality they will intervene and take appropriate action.
“All participants are responsible for their own behaviour. Avoiding the use of threatening, abusive and insulting language, or language that is supportive of proscribed organisations, is the surest way to stay on the right side of this line.”
An increased police presence will be in place and the Met Police said discussions are ongoing with the organisers of both protests.
The terror group designation of Palestine Action means membership of, or support for, the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The move to ban the organisation came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an incident claimed by Palestine Action, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action three days later, saying that the vandalism of the planes was “disgraceful” and the group had a “long history of unacceptable criminal damage”.
