The Leader-Elect of Westminster City Council, Cllr Paul Swaddle OBE, has written to the Home Secretary expressing serious concerns about planned protests and counter-protests on Saturday, 16 May. Highlighting the existing strain on policing and public services in Westminster, alongside rising crime levels and clean-up costs, Cllr Swaddle calls for urgent coordination between government, police, and the council. While reaffirming support for the right to peaceful protest, he stresses the need for proportionality, greater visible policing, and assurances that all necessary steps are being taken to maintain public safety and protect local communities.
Read Paul's letter to the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP:
Dear Home Secretary,
Following last week’s election results, I am writing to you in my capacity as Leader-Elect of Westminster City Council (WCC) regarding the planned protests and counter-protests set to take place this weekend about which we have great concern:
On Friday I appointed our Cabinet Member for Enforcement, Councillor Caroline Sargent who will be responsible for championing community priorities with the police1.
According to data from the Metropolitan Police, Westminster already has the highest rates of theft, violence, sexual and drug offences of any London borough2, yet these marches/protests add to these challenges.
(Furthermore, the clean-up costs fall on Westminster City Council and means other areas that deserve care and maintenance are being neglected)
We agree with the Government's reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, that there should be a "moratorium" on pro-Palestinian marches3- to be clear we support freedom of speech and assembly but this should be proportionate as for too long these continuous almost weekly marches/protests have added to the challenges facing our most vulnerable residents and communities and send damaging messages that extremist opinions are acceptable.
The single most common request from people living or working in Westminster and feedback to Councillors is that we need more visible police on our streets as deterrence and reassurance.
Considering the pressures they are this coming weekend, we therefore ask to urgently convene a meeting with you and your team to discuss this and other related issues further so we can work in lockstep to tackle these issues on a collaborative and regular basis and communicate effectively with our residents accordingly.
(I have also written to Sir Mark Rowley, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service separately to that end)
We would like assurances from your department that all steps have been taken to ensure the protests/marches go ahead peacefully as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Paul Swaddle
Leader-elect Westminster City Council
