Arrest made in Royal car attack

A man has been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and criminal damage in relation to the attack on a car carrying Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall during a student demonstration in London in December.

Although the royal couple were unhurt, a window of the car was cracked and the vehicle was hit by paint in the incident in Regent Street on December 9. The duchess is also alleged to have been poked in the ribs with a stick through an open window.

Protesters surrounded the Rolls-Royce as the couple made their way to the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium.

The 34-year-old was arrested when he attended a west London police station.

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) came under heavy criticism over the incident which happened amid protests and violence on the night MPs voted to raise university tuition fees to up to £9,000 in England.

The incident prompted a government review into royal protection.

Charlie Gilmour, son of Pink Floyd star David Gilmour, has previously been charged with violent disorder over the incident.

The 21-year-old allegedly sat on the bonnet of a car carrying royal protection officers in Regent Street, central London.

In the past few days eight others have also been charged with aggravated trespass in connection with a student fees protest on November 10.

The MPS is expected to face significant protest challenges when another major demonstration takes place on March 26. Organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) against government public sector cuts, as many as 200,000 people are expected to march through the capital.

A Human Rights Committee heard yesterday that a good working relationship has been developed between the TUC and the MPS, as well as lessons learnt from the student demonstrations to ensure violent scenes seen during last year’s protests are not repeated – See Police Professional issue 244 for more details.