London protests: police put a stop to Trafalgar Square 'tent city'

About 25 tents were pitched next to Nelson’s Column at 1.30pm after a group of 200 protesters broke free from the main march, which was protesting about the rise in university tuition fees and education cuts.

The breakaway group pledged to stay in the square indefinitely, mirroring the occupation at St Paul’s Cathedral.

About an hour later police removed the protesters, saying they had breached section 12 of the Public Order Act by deviating from the official protest route.

The success of the policing operation was in part attributed to the fact that Scotland Yard had 4,000 officers on patrol, the largest single body of officers policing any event since the summer riots.

The attempted occupation was the only notable incident of an otherwise peaceful protest. Last night only 24 arrests had been made despite an estimated 10,000 protesters turning out.

Earlier in the day Glyn Jukes, 37, one of the ringleaders of the breakaway group, said that the camp was “here to stay” and that “supplies were on the way”.

The joiner from Newtown, mid-Wales, said: “This camp will serve as a beacon for the old and the young and the disenfranchised around the world.” He handed out “bust cards” with instructions on what to do in the event of arrest.

However most of the breakaway group left to rejoin the march a short time later, leaving about 25 protesters to hold the camp.

Then at 2.45pm, about 100 police officers approached the encampment, set up a loudspeaker and demanded the protesters leave or face arrest. Fifteen minutes later they moved in and carried the protesters away.

By 3.15pm the Occupy Trafalgar Square camp was no more.

Police said that 12 arrests were made at the camp. They offered to return the tents but none of the protesters took up the offer.

“Freedoms are being eroded everywhere in this country, “ said Ben, 24, from Hertfordshire. This is just another example of that”.

London protests: police put a stop to Trafalgar Square 'tent city'

About 25 tents were pitched next to Nelson’s Column at 1.30pm after a group of 200 protesters broke free from the main march, which was protesting about the rise in university tuition fees and education cuts.

The breakaway group pledged to stay in the square indefinitely, mirroring the occupation at St Paul’s Cathedral.

About an hour later police removed the protesters, saying they had breached section 12 of the Public Order Act by deviating from the official protest route.

The success of the policing operation was in part attributed to the fact that Scotland Yard had 4,000 officers on patrol, the largest single body of officers policing any event since the summer riots.

The attempted occupation was the only notable incident of an otherwise peaceful protest. Last night only 24 arrests had been made despite an estimated 10,000 protesters turning out.

Earlier in the day Glyn Jukes, 37, one of the ringleaders of the breakaway group, said that the camp was “here to stay” and that “supplies were on the way”.

The joiner from Newtown, mid-Wales, said: “This camp will serve as a beacon for the old and the young and the disenfranchised around the world.” He handed out “bust cards” with instructions on what to do in the event of arrest.

However most of the breakaway group left to rejoin the march a short time later, leaving about 25 protesters to hold the camp.

Then at 2.45pm, about 100 police officers approached the encampment, set up a loudspeaker and demanded the protesters leave or face arrest. Fifteen minutes later they moved in and carried the protesters away.

By 3.15pm the Occupy Trafalgar Square camp was no more.

Police said that 12 arrests were made at the camp. They offered to return the tents but none of the protesters took up the offer.

“Freedoms are being eroded everywhere in this country, “ said Ben, 24, from Hertfordshire. This is just another example of that”.

Student tuition fees protest in London

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationpicturegalleries/8879313/Student-tuition-fees-protest-in-London.html

Student protesters march through central London

Students marched through London on Wednesday in the latest display of anger against the government's austerity measures, with police promising a larger presence to prevent any repeat of the violence and rioting seen earlier this year.

They were joined by hundreds of activists currently living at the Occupy tented camp outside St Paul's Cathedral. The demonstrators plan to march through Trafalgar Square and end the day with a rally in the City of London.

There was heavy police presence at the march, with some 4,000 officers monitoring events. The Metropolitan police force wants to avoid a repeat of last year's student demonstrations which saw attacks on the Westminster headquarters of the Conservative Party and violent clashes between protesters and riot police.

The Met has sent letters to people arrested during those demonstrations warning them they will face the full force of the law if they cause any trouble during Wednesday's demonstration.

Police have also been given the authority to use rubber bullets if there is serious violence.

The march is organised by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts and is supported by the National Union of Students, the University and College Union, the Education Activists Network, UKUncut and the Anarchist Bloc.

Student protesters march through central London

Students marched through London on Wednesday in the latest display of anger against the government's austerity measures, with police promising a larger presence to prevent any repeat of the violence and rioting seen earlier this year.

They were joined by hundreds of activists currently living at the Occupy tented camp outside St Paul's Cathedral. The demonstrators plan to march through Trafalgar Square and end the day with a rally in the City of London.

There was heavy police presence at the march, with some 4,000 officers monitoring events. The Metropolitan police force wants to avoid a repeat of last year's student demonstrations which saw attacks on the Westminster headquarters of the Conservative Party and violent clashes between protesters and riot police.

The Met has sent letters to people arrested during those demonstrations warning them they will face the full force of the law if they cause any trouble during Wednesday's demonstration.

Police have also been given the authority to use rubber bullets if there is serious violence.

The march is organised by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts and is supported by the National Union of Students, the University and College Union, the Education Activists Network, UKUncut and the Anarchist Bloc.

Student fees protest: who is behind latest London demonstrations

"What the police have done is extremely political and a cynical attempt to put people off from coming to a national demonstration What they are doing is trying to put people off and pre-criminalising the process.

"They are ramping up the pressure and in the process being completely irresponsible. We've been very explicit that what we are calling for is non-violent, direct action."

Other key supporters

The National Union of Students

Liam Burns, its president, supports the protest.

“When fees are trebled, the Education Maintenance Allowance scrapped, and even less money is spent on supporting students financially, don’t be surprised that demonstrations are here to stay.”

Occupy LSX (London Stock Exchange):

Campers from outside St Paul’s Cathedral are reported to be joining the march when it passes by the London landmark.

UK Uncut:

The group has stated online: “Last year students, pupils and workers fought back. We were the biggest youth rebellion since the Sixties, and we aren’t going away. Together we can save education and the welfare state from the Tories.”

Education Activist Network,

The group, led by Mark Bergfeld, has stated on its page on Facebook, the social networking site: “Students and lecturers are under attack. The (Education) White Paper seeks to dismantle and destroy publicly-funded Higher Education creating a two-tier system. Institutions will fail, others will privatise, and again others will become bastions for the wealthy.”

Trade unions:

Members of the University and College Union, for lecturers and academics and Unite, representing the electricians in their dispute over pay cuts are also expected to join the protest.

Others

The N9 Anarchist Bloc:

Plans to join the march using red and black flags and banners.

Its website said: “This is our opportunity to join together with those who will not be governed by markets, dictated to by politicians, or accept the conditions being forced upon them.”

Socialist group Revolution:

Writing on its site, John Bowman, an activist, said: “The 9th November needs to show those thousands of young people who showed discontent through rioting in the summer that there can be more structured, thought out and successful ways to protest.”

Mervyn King Collective:

Its website said: “The global sea of rage continues and the next crash of the waves will be in The City of London on November 9th. Brothers and sisters. This is a call. This is yours. This is it.”

Meanwhile, adding to the headache for police, two other protests will take place in London.

Taxi drivers will stage a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, while electricians are also set to march.