Saturday is looking likely to be interesting.
This was in The Times first but while I was out this afternoon the Times report went deeper behind their paywal.. However GB News has it and Police Professional.
The Metropolitan Police is set to use facial recognition at an upcoming rally organised by Tommy Robinson – but not at a neighbouring pro-Palestine protest.
A set of policing measures were confirmed ahead of the Unite the Kingdom march which is projected to involve up to 50,000 in London this weekend.
Scotland Yard announced it would roll out the “highest degree of control” and the “most assertive use of our policing powers” with authorities sending 4,000 officers to police a number of busy events across the capital.
Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner James Harman said: “(LFR) will be deployed in the London borough of Camden in an area likely to be used by those attending the Unite the Kingdom event.”
The Metropolitan Police announced the specific regulations for the Robinson rally after assessing “intelligence which indicates there is likely to be a threat to public safety from some who might be in attendance”.
The tech, however, will not be deployed across protest routes, rally points or within the assembly, Mr Harman confirmed. “We have been clear that we would not accept march routes or rally locations that increase the risk of intimidation to any particular community. . . ”
The MPS said it had imposed strict Public Order Act conditions on both demonstrations, including restrictions on routes, timings and rally locations. For the first time, conditions will also apply directly to protest speakers, with organisers warned they could face consequences if invited speakers engage in unlawful hate speech or extremist rhetoric.
On the same day, another 30,000 individuals are expected to descend on London for a pro-Palestinian protest to mark Nakba Day. However, it was revealed that facial recognition would not be imposed on attendees of the rally there.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told The Times: “LFR is a powerful tool for catching wanted criminals. It should only be used for this purpose and in all relevant settings. In previous years, Nakba Day protests have included expressions of support for banned terrorist organisations such as Hamas, which is a criminal offence. This must be stopped and dealt with to avoid accusations of two-tier policing.”
Nigel Farage posted on X
The Unite the Kingdom rally on Saturday should be treated no differently to the pro-Palestinian march on the same day. The fact that two-tier justice is being applied against patriotic Brits is disgraceful.
It gets worse.
Police could use armoured vehicles to prevent rival protesters clashing in London
The vehicles will only be used in extreme circumstances if officers come under attack during demonstrations on Saturday.
NB, it was a Palestine Action activist who attacked a policewoman with a sledgehammer while smashing up a factory last year, breaking bones in her spine, not a potential or past attendee of a Unite the Kingdom rally. 
Ahead of the rally the list of international speakers denied entry to the UK now numbers 7. American commentators Joey Mannarino and Valentina Gomez, Ada Lluch from Catalonia Spain, Dutch Eva Vlaardingerbroek, Lutz Bachmann from Germany, Dominik Tarczyński Memeber of the European Parliament for Poland and Filip Dewinter Member of the Flemish Parliament.
Saturday is also the FA Cup Final (in normal times I wouldn’t miss watching that in TV – but some things are even more important). Thousands of supporters of Chelsea and Manchester City will travel to Wembley Stadium for what is still the biggest match of the season. Deputy assistant commissioner Harman also said in the Times article I can no longer access, that with no other senior mens football matches on “football hooligans” will be at a loose end and may well join Tommy Robinson instead. The snobbery of the chattering class is still astounding.
This is the final stretch of the march into Parliament Square for the rally
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As were the Men of Harlach, so too the yeomen with Robinson.