Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleTommy Robinson has organised a Unite the Kingdom rally for Saturday (Getty)London is preparing for an "unprecedented" policing operation this Saturday due to two major protest marches – 'Unite the Kingdom' and Nakba Day – and the FA Cup final. Approximately 4,000 officers, including 660 drafted from other forces, will be deployed across the city, supported by armoured vehicles, horses, dogs, drones, and helicopters, at a cost of £4.5 million. Strict conditions have been imposed on both marches, with specific routes and rally locations, to prevent potential clashes and address concerns about extremism and hate speech. For the first time in a protest operation, live facial recognition will be used, and organisers and speakers who break the law will face prosecution. Authorities are also concerned about football fans potentially joining the Tommy Robinson-linked 'Unite the Kingdom' event, with an estimated 50,000 attendees for that march and 30,000 for Nakba Day. In fullLondon protest chaos: Police brace for rival Tommy Robinson and Palestine rallies amid FA cup finalThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Why London is facing an ‘unprecedented’ policing operation this weekend
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleTommy Robinson has organised a Unite the Kingdom rally for Saturday (Getty)London is preparing for an "unprecedented" policing operation this Saturday due to two major protest marches – 'Unite the Kingdom' and Nakba Day – and the FA Cup final. Approximately 4,000 officers, including 660 drafted from other forces, will be deployed across the city, supported by armoured vehicles, horses, dogs, drones, and helicopters, at a cost of £4.5 million. Strict conditions have been imposed on both marches, with specific routes and rally locations, to prevent potential clashes and address concerns about extremism and hate speech. For the first time in a protest operation, live facial recognition will be used, and organisers and speakers who break the law will face prosecution. Authorities are also concerned about football fans potentially joining the Tommy Robinson-linked 'Unite the Kingdom' event, with an estimated 50,000 attendees for that march and 30,000 for Nakba Day. In fullLondon protest chaos: Police brace for rival Tommy Robinson and Palestine rallies amid FA cup finalThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
