Police have ordered an “intimidating” anti-Israel protest group to stop its weekly demonstrations in a heavily-Jewish area of North London.
Scotland Yard has blocked the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) from gathering every Friday in Swiss Cottage, Camden amid a rise in antisemitism.
Jewish residents have repeatedly called for an end to the protests, which has taken place in their community on Shabbat since October 7, 2023, when Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis.
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police announced that protesters will be prohibited from gathering in an area stretching from Regent’s Park to West Hampstead along Finchley Road.
In February, the Met imposed conditions requiring the IJAN to move away from Swiss Cottage after locals said their actions amounted to “psychological torment”.
But after an eight-week period where protests were held outside Scotland Yard’s headquarters in Westminster, the IJAN returned to Swiss Cottage last week.
The group was met by a large counter-demonstration, hosted by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Stop Hate UK.
Announcing the new conditions imposed on the IJAN and its supporters, Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said the force had “seen instances of hate speech and intimidating behaviour".
He said: “They take place in the heart of a community with a significant Jewish population, on the eve of the Sabbath and at a time when fear and concern linked to a rise in antisemitic hate crime is increased.”
We have seen instances of hate speech and intimidating behaviour
"It is our position, after careful consideration, that the only way to prevent that level of disruption in this case is to use our powers to require the protest to take place elsewhere."
Meanwhile, officers will be deployed on Friday night to ensure that anyone assembling in breach of the conditions is "identified and dealt with appropriately".
Andrew Gilbert, vice-president of the Board of Deputies, welcomed the Met’s actions, adding: “By deliberately holding demonstrations in close proximity to several synagogues and on Friday nights, when many Jews attend prayer services and walk to visit family and friends, IJAN have broken this delicate balance.
“They have chosen to distress and intimidate the local Jewish community with outrageous and at times directly threatening conduct.”
