A rally in support of the right to collective protest action, organised by Anonymous is set to take place in London tomorrow, 5th November. Participants are expected to gather in Trafalgar Square from 18:00 local time.

Precedent suggests that a number of participants will attempt to march towards the Houses of Parliament, in the Westminster area. The rally is expected to be well attended and to take place amid a significant police presence. This event has in the past been marked by significant levels of anti-social behaviour, criminal damage to monuments and buildings, attempts to take over buildings, harassment of motorists and attacks on police officers.

Chief Superintendent Pippa Mills said the Metropolitan Police had “serious concerns” about tomorrow’s event. "We will always facilitate peaceful protest and have a strong history of doing so. However, over the last few years this event has seen high levels of anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder.

"This year we have strong reason to believe that peaceful protest is the last thing on the minds of many of the people who will come along. Last year hundreds of people on their way home from work, or out enjoying an evening in the Capital, were surrounded by people causing them huge concern. Buses were physically rocked, people jumped on car bonnets, as well as serious disorder in central London and damage to a number of buildings.

"We have such serious concerns about a repetition of such criminal behaviour this year that we have made the decision to impose conditions under the Public Order Act on the event on Thursday, 5 November."

A significant policing operation will be in place for the duration of the event.
Business in the area should anticipate possible travel delays due to road closures. According to the Met Police, a series of briefings have been delivered to local businesses in the Westminster area and those buildings that have been advertised as possible 'targets' for the Million Mask March.

Details of the conditions applied under Section 14 of the Public Order Act, 1986, are as follows:

Any static assembly held can only take place at the following locations:

•Trafalgar Square;
•In the area in the centre of Parliament Square (known as Parliament Square Gardens); and
•In the area within the barriers on the East Footway of Whitehall, opposite Downing Street (known as Richmond Terrace).

Details of the conditions applied under Section 12 of the Public Order Act, 1986, are as follows:

If a march takes place, it will be from Trafalgar Square and stay within the area bounded by:

•Trafalgar Square;
•Northumberland Avenue;
•Victoria Embankment;
•Bridge Street;
•St Margaret Street;
•Abingdon Street;
•Millbank (up to junction with Great Peter Street);
•Great Peter Street (up to junction with Great Smith Street);
•Broad Sanctuary;
•Parliament Square;
•Parliament Street; and
•Whitehall.

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