Met outlines policing plan for protest over Islington hotel

There will be an increased police presence in the Clerkenwell area of Islington on Saturday where a protest against the use of a hotel to accommodate asylum seekers and a related counter protest are due to take place.

The protest against the use of the hotel was organised by local residents under the banner ‘Thistle Barbican needs to go – locals say no’. It has since been endorsed by groups from outside the local community which is likely to increase the number of people attending.

A counter protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism and supported by other groups, has been announced and widely publicised.

Chief Superintendent Clair Haynes, who is in charge of the policing operation, said: “We have been in discussions with the organisers of both protests in recent days, building on the ongoing engagement between local officers, community groups and partners. We understand that there are strongly held views on all sides.

“Our officers will police without fear or favour, ensuring those exercising their right to protest can do so safely but intervening at the first sign of actions that cross the line into criminality.

“We have used our powers under the Public Order Act to put conditions in place to prevent serious disorder and to minimise serious disruption to the lives of people and businesses in the local community. Those conditions identify two distinct protest areas where the protests must take place meaning the groups will be separated but still within sight and sound of each other. The conditions also set specific start and finish times for the protests.”

In addition to the policing operation in Islington, plans are in place to respond to any protest activity in the vicinity of other hotels in London being used to accommodate asylum seekers. Our approach there will be the same as that being taken in Islington, to protect the right to peaceful protest but to intervene decisively where offences take place.

Details of the conditions in place in Islington are below.

‘Thistle Barbican needs to go – locals say no’ protest:

Any person participating in the assembly on Saturday 2 August must remain within the shaded area on the map below which is King Charles Square.

Protest organised by Stand up to Racism and other counter protest groups:

Any person participating in the assembly on Saturday 2 August 2025 must remain within the shaded area on the map below which is in Lever Street, near the junction with Central Street.

The assembly must not begin before 1200hrs and must conclude by 1600hrs.