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Concentrating on the facts, the police did their job and the disrupters were prevented from disrupting our Monarch’s Coronation. Whether detention was lawful is a matter of interpretation and opinion, which police are also entitled to.

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Excellent piece Joshua. The references to *intelligence* as a factor in the actions of the police raises huge difficulties for the accused & to me is the major concern. The veil that *national security* considerations draws over important evidential considerations becomes an existential threat to justice otherwise.

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I agree with Alisdair and Douwe but also Joshua rightly asserts that rushed legislation is bad legislation.

And why the last minute dash for the tape?

My understanding is that this government’s legislative programme overall has been a light one. Suella Braverman et al can scarcely claim to have been taken by surprise over the date, timing and arrangements for the Coronation and so I believe we are entitled to view aspects of this legislation as an unseemly hankering after votes from a dwindling rump of voters in time to influence voting last Thursday. Well, if I am right, then that meant well, did it not?

Also as Joshua adds the offending legislative measures were too broadly drafted. “Ah,” I can hear their supporters declare,” Trust us: they will never be used excessively or beyond our intentions.” In any event any scrutiny had had to be cursory and token given the rush to (non-) judgment. Sad, embarrassing and unworthy

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While you are undoubtedly correct to say that this is poorly thought out legislation, a cynic would suggest that this arrest had little to do with the legislation and they would have used other powers if they hadn't been available. One wonders whether the Metropolitan Police had ringfenced a sum of money for later compensation and just decided to arrest now and say sorry later. It is pretty inconceivable that the TSG - who are regularly briefed on intelligence around disruption - would not have been told who the leader of Republic was. Admittedly, they had a difficult job to do, as politicians would no doubt have screamed blue murder if the protestors were too visible, but the police could, and should, have facilitated a lawful protest.

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