Today, dozens of individuals across Britain were arrested for allegedly planning to protest at the Royal Wedding tomorrow. At least 20 people in London were detained by the police on suspicion of planning to protest at the Royal Wedding (1), in addition to one confirmed arrest in Cambridge and one in Scotland. As news emerges of arrests across the country, campaigners are condemning the government's political policing of protest. The police have been facing heavy criticism of their policing of protest in recent weeks, as a judicial review labelled the policing of G20 protests in 2009 as "unlawful" (2) and an inquest into the death of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests today considers an unlawful killing charge. (3)

Terri Oaks, who has been protesting the arrest in Cambridge said:
"We are appalled that the government has so little respect for the right to protest that they are arresting people across the country for even thinking about protesting at the Royal Wedding. The public is footing the £20 million bill for the wedding, but we are being denied the right to voice our opinions, just as the government has been suppressing our right to protest against the welfare cuts which are hitting the poorest the hardest."

Notes to the Editors
(1) "Squat Raids ahead of Wedding Disproportionate" 28 April 2011,  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13226364
(2)  http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/press/2011/04/14/judges-slams-kettling-of-g20-climate-protesters-as-‘unlawful’
(3) "G20 Inquest to consider Unlawful Killing Charge" 28 April,  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13225062