Anti-monarchy campaigner who threw eggs at King in York reveals coronation "arrest"

Patrick Thelwell said they were "pulled out" of a demonstration on Saturday

Author: Liam ArrowsmithPublished 10th May 2023

An anti-monarchy campaigner who threw eggs at the King in York has become the latest person to criticise how police handled coronation demonstrations.

Patrick Thewell, 23, has revealed they were "pulled out" of the crowd when they were spotted by officers on Saturday.

They claimed they "weren't told" why they were being handcuffed, and said officers searched them in an alleyway.

"I was part of the crowd, we were chanting, holding signs. We weren't really doing anything at the point I was arrested."

Earlier in the year, the student had been given a community order after being found guilty of threatening behaviour toward the King, during a visit to York last year.

Thelwell said they were expecting they'd be arrested on Sunday, but added the "pattern of arrests" that day showed a "zero tolerance" approach to protests.

It follows criticism of the Met Police over the detention of six members of the Republic group, which the force said it "regrets".

MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee are to examine the Metropolitan Police's handling of republican protests at the King's coronation.

The evidence session next Wednesday will look at the force's approach to public demonstrations, the practical implementation of the Public Order Bill and the arrest of republican protesters.

A full list of witnesses will be announced in the coming days.

In the Lords, former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Blair of Boughton praised the force for its work at the coronation in delivering an "unprecedented" security operation.

The independent crossbench peer said: "There is a need for more balance in the amount of commentary about a small number of controversial arrests when it is set against the enormous Met-led security operation, unprecedented for a generation, which was successful in delivering a wonderful day for millions of people and marvellous advertisement for the United Kingdom."

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