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The Metropolitan Police is completely unaccountable for the way it cracks down on protests in London. That doesn’t change unless we take action. Today, Netpol launches a campaign for an end to the Met's zero accountability in its policing of demonstrations in the capital netpol.org/end-zero-acc...

The Met insists in press releases that it approaches the policing of protests in London “without fear or favour, and ensuring that people can exercise their lawful rights”. This is almost always accepted without question by politicians and the media. Why does nobody ever ask whether this is true?

If it were, why are protest organisers, demonstrators and human rights groups so deeply unhappy with the way protest powers are used? Almost every week, limits on protests are imposed “to prevent serious disruption to the community”.95% of the use of these restrictions are in London.

With the government seeking to expand the ability of the police to impose restrictions on protests, through their ‘cumulative impact’, why is there still no parallel and meaningful discussion or debate about the lack of transparency and accountability in the way police use these powers in London?

There are three steps we are asking you to take: first sign up your group in support of the campaign's four demands - they are already supported by @caatuk.bsky.social, @amnestyuk.bsky.social, @pscupdates.bsky.social, @stwc.bsky.social, @fossilfreeldn.bsky.social and @stopwatchuk.bsky.social