The coalition of groups said: ‘We believe any demand to pay to be able to demonstrate constitutes an unacceptable restriction on the right to protest.’ Photograph: Dave Evans/Dave Evans/Demotix/Corbis
Twelve campaigning groups have said they will refuse to pay for what they view as their right to protest.
Their declaration comes after the Metropolitan police told protest groups they would have to pay what could amount to thousands of pounds for private firms to oversee their protests.
The Met said they would have to fund traffic management – including measures such as road closures, barriers and stewards – for demonstrations they are planning to hold. Scotland Yard has previously carried out the role.
In a statement on Thursday, the coalition of groups declared: “We believe any demand to pay to be able to demonstrate constitutes an unacceptable restriction on the right to protest.”
“We reject proposals that protest organisers should have to pay private companies to plan or implement traffic management. We will therefore continue to organise and support public protests in the same manner that we have in the past, without paying for traffic management.”
Among the groups are Million Women Rise, which campaigns to end male violence against women and girls, and the Campaign Against Climate Change, both of which are planning to hold protests on 7 March.
Organisers of the Million Women Rise rally said last week that the police had told them they would need to hire their own private security firm and devise a road closure plan. The organisers estimate that this would cost at least £10,000.
This month, the Observer revealed that police had told the climate change protesters that they would no longer facilitate the temporary closure of roads along the agreed route.
Organisers of the Stand up to Racism march on 21 March and the People’s Assembly Against Austerity on 20 June are among those who say they will not pay.
Other groups that fear that they could be forced to pay in the future include the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War, CND, the British Muslim Initiative, Friends of the Earth and Defend the Right to Protest.
The Met has said there is no question that organisers would have to pay for policing. One of their officers, Ch Supt Colin Morgan, said last week: “This is not a case of police charging for their services, but more a matter of refusing to use the public purse to provide a traffic management plan or stewarding for a private event.”
Westminster council said in a statement last week: “Our position in relation to protests has not changed. We fully recognise the democratic right to protest and organisers have not been subjected to any new council requirements, restrictions or fees.
“The Metropolitan police is the lead agency in managing demonstrations across Westminster and we support the police in their role of facilitating safe and successful protests and demonstrations.”
More than 60,000 people have signed a petition on Avaaz against any move to make protest groups pay.