The move has prompted claims of ‘two-tier policing’ as the technology will not be used at a pro-Palestinian march in London on the same day
Live facial recognition technology (LFR) will be used at a protest for the first time this weekend, targeting a Tommy Robinson rally in central London.
Scotland Yard said it was part of “unprecedented” policing measures this weekend as 50,000 people are expected to join Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom march.
A separate pro-Palestinian march marking Nakba Day, commemorating the “Palestinian Catastrophe” of 1948, is expected to draw up to 30,000 people on the same day and LFR will not be used.
The Metropolitan Police said it would deploy the technology for the Robinson rally on Saturday after receiving “intelligence which indicates there is likely to be a threat to public safety from some who might be in attendance”.
LFR links cameras to a “watch list” containing photos of wanted suspects. Biometric data from a person’s face is extracted and compared against photos of wanted suspects. A positive match alerts officers to seek and stop individuals.
James Harman, a Met deputy assistant commissioner, said the LFR technology will not be used within assembly, rally points or along the protest routes. He added: “It will be deployed in the London borough of Camden in an area likely to be used by those attending the Unite the Kingdom event.”
Harman told reporters on Wednesday: “We have been clear that we would not accept march routes or rally locations that increase the risk of intimidation to any particular community. This has been achieved on paper, but it now falls to us to deploy very significant resources … to keep groups with opposing views apart and keep everybody safe.”
Chris Philp MP, the shadow home secretary, told The Times: “LFR is a powerful tool for catching wanted criminals. It should only be used for this purpose and in all relevant settings.
“In previous years, Nakba Day protests have included expressions of support for banned terrorist organisations such as Hamas, which is a criminal offence. This must be stopped and dealt with to avoid accusations of two-tier policing.”
The Met has imposed strict conditions on the march and speakers at both rallies. Pro-Palestinan activists will be kept away from the protest organised by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. The demonstrations are expected to end in Piccadilly and Parliament Square respectively.
The policing operation will cost £4.5 million, which includes £1.7 million to draft 660 officers from forces across England and Wales.
Riot officers will be supported by helicopter, traffic, mounted branch, police dog units and teams of detectives. Armoured vehicles, known as SandCats, are being deployed for the first time and will be on standby.
Harman said: “The scale of the operation is unprecedented in recent years. Our plan involves the most assertive use of our policing powers including strict conditions under the Public Order Act.”
The Met has also taken the unusual step of imposing conditions on organisers and speakers, warning them to “stay within the law in terms of hate speech”.
Harman said: “We are crystal clear that we are here to protect all communities. Hate speech against the Muslim community [or] the Jewish community will not be tolerated.
“These conditions make organisers responsible for ensuring the speakers they invite don’t break the law by using these events to platform unlawful extremism or hate speech. Both the speakers and the organisers will face consequences if that happens.”
Earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer banned seven foreign far-right activists from entering the UK to attend Robinson’s rally.
Ada Lluch, a 26-year-old Spanish anti-Muslim influencer, and Joey Mannarino, an American online influencer who previously attended a Britain First rally calling for re-migration in March last year, are among the figures on the blocked list.
Robinson’s previous march in September last year attracted more than 100,000 people. Some clashed with frontline officers and hurled bottles, planks of wood and other missiles at them.
Twenty six officers were injured during the “extremely horrifying spectacle” and at least 23 people were arrested. Police are still searching for more than 50 suspects.
Harman said: “We hope people [will] peacefully protest and leave. But should violence take place, we will take the most robust action in arresting those responsible. If a crime comes to our attention later, we will track people down and will bring them to justice — and just because you’re in a crowd, you are not above the law.”
Both marches will take place as Chelsea face Manchester City in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
Harman said there was a “risk of disorder” whenever large numbers of rival football fans were within close proximity.
He added: “We need to be mindful of the history of football hooligan groups supporting causes fronted by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon
“There are no professional men’s games in England other than the FA Cup Final, which increases the likelihood of those groups travelling to London to join his rally,” he said.
“The combination of risk and complexity leaves us [with] no choice but to implement a policing plan that imposes the highest degree of control on all groups intending to protest and move about central London.”
