Youth Demand arrests at Quakers meeting house condemned

The Quakers in Britain group has condemned the arrests of six Youth Demand supporters, saying they were the first at a meeting house “in living memory”.

More than 30 police officers made the arrests at a welcome talk held at the Westminster Meeting House at about 19:30 GMT on Thursday, Youth Demand said.

Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, called the visit from police an “aggressive violation”.

The Metropolitan Police said Youth Demand had stated an intention to “shut down” London during April using tactics including road blocks.

Mr Parker said he could not recall anyone being arrested at a Quaker meeting house in living memory.

“The forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest.

“Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy,” he said.

Asked about the matter on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “I have made clear to the police this government’s priorities for policing are reducing serious violence… and bringing back neighbourhood policing, those crimes in town centres like shoplifting.”

Those arrested at the meeting house were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, police said.

Youth Demand said the meeting was “an opportunity to share plans for non-violent civil resistance actions” due to take place in April.

The group claimed a number of houses were also raided on Thursday and Friday as part of the operation.

Quakers in Britain said: “Quakers support the right to non-violent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against injustice and for our planet.

“Many have taken non-violent direct action over the centuries from the abolition of slavery to women’s suffrage and prison reform.”

Youth Demand, which describes itself as a “new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide”, began carrying out acts of civil disobedience last year.

Its demands of the government include stopping all trade with Israel and raising money from “the super rich and fossil fuel elite” to pay damages for the effects of fossil fuel burning.

Previous demonstrations by Youth Demand included three people hanging a banner and laying rows of children’s shoes outside Sir Keir Starmer’s home in April last year, following which three people in their 20s were handed suspended prison sentences.

More of the group’s members were arrested last July after they announced plans to disrupt the state opening of Parliament.

The Met Police said the force understood the importance of the right to protest but added that Youth Demand had stated an intention to “shut down” London during April.

“We have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality,” a spokesman said.

“On Thursday, officers raided a Youth Demand planning meeting where those in attendance were plotting their April action.

“Six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.

“A further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday, 28 March. Four of the arrests were at addresses in London and one in Exeter.”