Downing Street confirms 11 people ‘coming to UK to spew their extremist views’ stopped from travelling
Eva Vlaardingerbroek has been blocked from travelling to the UK (Image: -)
Sir Keir Starmer has banned more “foreign far-Right agitators” from attending Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom March in London. On Friday, Downing Street confirmed 11 people have now been told they cannot travel to the UK.
No 10 said they were “intent on coming to the UK to spew their extremist views”. Up to 100,000 protesters are expected on the streets of London on Saturday for the Unite The Kingdom march – organised by Robinson – and the opposing pro-Palestinian Nakba Day rally. It comes as Sir Keir faces a battle to save his premiership.
And tens of thousands of football fans will also descend on Wembley for the FA Cup final, creating a potential nightmare for police chiefs.
The Prime Minister said: “We’re in a fight for the soul of this country, and the Unite the Kingdom march this weekend is a stark reminder of exactly what we are up against. Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple.
“We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence. For anyone who sets out to wreak havoc on our streets, to intimidate or threaten anyone, you can expect to face the full force of the law.
“My Government will always champion peaceful protest, but will act decisively against hatred. We all have a responsibility to speak out against those spouting vile, divisive views wherever we see it.
“We are a country built on decency, fairness and respect, at our best when people from different backgrounds come together in common purpose. That is what we must fight for.”
Sir Keir Starmer met police chiefs on Friday morning ahead of the protests (Image: Getty)
Scotland Yard is deploying 4,000 officers and could even draft in armoured vehicles to prevent two rival marches from clashing this weekend.
And live facial recognition technology will be used for the first time for a protest.
Cameras will be set up at a location in north London where supporters of Unite the Kingdom are expected to gather before the march.
Images of those attending will be checked against a database of wanted offenders, including 50 people being sought by police following violence at the group’s previous march in September.
And Pro-Palestine protesters face a hate crime crackdown during Saturday’s mass marches.
Prosecutors are being told to focus on whether actions in the demonstrations can “reach a wider audience”, for example by chanting or waving flags for social media clips.
Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions, said: “Everyone has the right to protest and to express their views freely. That right is a cornerstone of our democracy.
“However, it does not extend to using words, images or symbols to spread hatred, incite violence or cause fear and intimidation within our communities.
“The guidance focuses in particular on offences of stirring up hatred under Part III of the Public Order Act 1986, which can result in sentences of up to seven years imprisonment. This guidance clarifies how we review these cases, giving greater transparency about our decisions.”
Prosecutors are told to consider the context in which chants are used, including the wider context of heightened tensions, whether local, national or global, which may clearly be relevant to issues in the case, such as the suspect’s intention and the consequential impact of the suspect’s actions.
“This is not about restricting free speech. It is about preventing hate crime and protecting the public, particularly at a time of heightened tensions. Where the line into criminality is crossed, we will not hesitate to prosecute.”