MPS taking ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to any disruption of Remembrance Sunday by protestors

The force said it is using “sharper interventions” to make arrests in big crowds, including analysing social media and employing retrospective facial recognition.

“We are sharpening our approach to those who use peaceful protest as a cover to commit offences as hate crime continues to rise in London,” the MPS said.

“Senior officers are concerned at rising levels of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, as well as the number of referrals of extremist and hateful material online.

“In particular, those who cynically push the boundaries of what is legal can expect a robust response from officers.”

Officers are continuing to provide reassurance patrols and have now made more than 6,500 visits to vulnerable premises, including 928 schools and 4,769 faith premises.

Commander Karen Findlay, who is responsible for policing in London this week, said: “As we enter the fourth weekend of protest it is only right we continue to review and refine our policing approach.

“I have heard first hand from faith leaders and others of the devastating impact of recent events for Londoners.

“Hate crime sadly continues to rise. This will not be tolerated.

“My message to our officers is clear – we will be taking positive action at every opportunity when we are alerted to crimes, particularly those which are inflammatory and fuelled by hate.

“We will do everything in our power to ensure a fast, timely response and the necessary intervention.”

A total of 133 people have been arrested for crimes including racially aggravated public order offences, assaulting police and criminal damage since October 7.

In addition, three women have been held for terrorism offences, two after being seen wearing images of paragliders and a third suspected of supporting Hamas online.

Of the 133 arrested, 26 people have been charged, 14 for allegations of anti-Semitism and six for allegations of Islamophobia.

The others are charged with faith hate, criminal damage and other matters.

“Following our appeal to help us identify 12 people for racially aggravated public order offences and affray five people have been identified,” the force said.

“They have been interviewed under caution yesterday. Our investigation into the other seven, remains ongoing and we ask for the public to help us identify them.”

Since October 7, the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit has received more than 1,800 public referrals about potential online terrorist or criminal activity relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

So far more than 350 cases of interest have been identified requiring “further assessment”.

A small number of investigations have been opened by the MPS’s Counter Terrorism Command and a further 44 matters are being passed to other policing colleagues in the force, or nationally.

This has led to the arrest of a woman by officers from the Counter Terrorism Command as part of an investigation into online support of proscribed terrorist group Hamas.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the MPS’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Supporting any proscribed terrorist groups here in the UK – whether it be online or in the real world – is a serious offence.

“We will look to investigate and take action where we find evidence of people doing this.

“We’re receiving hundreds of referrals of potential criminal and terrorist activity online every week, and I thank the public for doing this.

“These reports are taken seriously and where we identify potential terrorist activity, we will take action.”