Category: city centre

Smash hit! Almost 100,000 visitors see Grayson Perry exhibition

The National Galleries of Scotland has announced that its blockbuster exhibition, Grayson Perry: Smash Hits, was visited almost 100,000 times in its four-month run. Since opening on 15 July, 95,852 visits were booked to enjoy the celebration of Sir Grayson Perry’s 40-year career at the National (Royal Scottish Academy) before it closed on Sunday 12 November. 

On show exclusively in Edinburgh, Grayson Perry: Smash Hits explored the remarkable 40-year career of contemporary cultural icon, Sir Grayson Perry.

Visitors were able to enjoy over eighty works, including richly detailed tapestries, subversive pots and elaborate plates – some of which were on public display for the first time.

Developed in close collaboration with the artist, the exhibition renounced the tradition for chronological displays. Instead, Perry’s work was presented as a journey through themes including masculinity, sexuality, class, religion, politics and identity. 

Grayson Perry: Smash Hits was the National Galleries of Scotland’s most visited exhibition in over ten years, and the fourth most visited since the reopening of the refurbished exhibition galleries in the RSA building in 2003.

Surpassing all expectations, over 10,000 people were welcomed in the first two weeks alone. The final weekend, which offered extended opening hours to allow as many people as possible to experience the exhibition, with over 2,200 visitors each day.  

Home to Scotland’s superb art collection, the National Galleries of Scotland operates three galleries in Edinburgh.

At the National visitors can discover treasures from Botticelli to Titian, as well as the world’s largest collection of works by artists from Scotland. The Portrait gallery is packed with famous faces from history and contemporary portraits of pop culture icons, while Modern showcases the very best modern art.

As well as conserving and researching the national collection, the National Galleries of Scotland is committed to reaching the widest possible audience through an active programme, including partnerships across Scotland, the UK and abroad, as well as online.  

Visitors enjoyed sharing their experience of Grayson Perry: Smash Hits with feedback captured by National Galleries Scotland throughout the duration of the exhibition. Some notable takeaways included: 

“So accessible. I loved his commentaries. It is the only exhibition I have ever been to and laughed out loud.” 

“I have never been to an exhibition where almost all of the visitors were smiling and laughing.” 

“This was the best, most thought-provoking exhibition I’ve been to in years!” 

Sir Grayson Perry said:  “It was one of the most enjoyable and proud exhibiting experiences of my career. Many thanks to the brilliant team at the National Galleries of Scotland and the people of Scotland!” 

Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “Welcoming almost 100,000 visitors to Grayson Perry: Smash Hits is a significant and proud moment for the National Galleries of Scotland.

“It has been a privilege from the start to work with Sir Grayson Perry in bringing this phenomenal exhibition to the people of Scotland. The response from our visitors, through their verbal and written feedback, photos they’ve shared and online engagement, has been incredible to witness.

“My congratulations and thanks to Sir Grayson – it has been smashing!’ 

To find out more about upcoming exhibitions, displays and events at the National Galleries of Scotland, visit What’s on | National Galleries of Scotland. 

Police launch Operation Winter City

Police in Edinburgh have launched Operation Winter City 2023 to keep everyone visiting, living and working in the city safe over the festive period.

Running between 17 November 2023 and 6 January 2024, dedicated officers will carry out high visibility patrols throughout the city centre to engage with the public and offer reassurance, deter criminal activity and respond to any incidents arising.

In addition to foot and mobile patrols, a “pop up” stall within Waverley Market will be in operation, with officers providing crime prevention and security advice.

Superintendent Sam Ainslie, Gold Commander for Operation Winter City, said: “As always we remain committed to keeping the public in Edinburgh safe and our presence within the city centre is enhanced over the festive period.

“We want locals and visitors alike to enjoy the various attractions safely, whether that be our green and cultural spaces, entertainment venues, or retail premises.

“In addition to our dedicated patrols, officers will also be at our police stall within the Waverley Mall and will be delighted to offer a range of crime prevention and security advice. I highly recommend that people come and speak to us”

“The public have a vital role to play in helping us to ensure that their and everyone’s visit is safe and enjoyable.

“Please help us to prevent crime by reporting anything they believe to be suspicious to us, and whilst it may seem overly simple, being mindful of the whereabouts of your personal belongings, planning your transportation for nights out in advance, making sure your mobile phone is charged, drinking responsibly and looking out for those you are out with, can all help.

“We want everyone to have an enjoyable night out, and I would ask that people remain aware of their limits when drinking, so as not to ruin their or someone else’s night out through over-consumption of alcohol. 

“You will undoubtedly see our officers out on patrol, engaging with licensed premises staff and keeping Edinburgh’s communities safe

“Violent or anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated, and on a cautionary note, should you become involved in a crime linked to alcohol, we can impose ‘Think Twice’ bail conditions, which will mean that you won’t be permitted to visit another pub, club or shop that sells alcohol in the city centre until the conclusion of your trial. Please don’t take the risk.

“We will be sharing crime prevention and personal safety advice and updates on our activities, so please follow Edinburgh Police Division on Facebook or Twitter @Edinburgh Police.

“On behalf of everyone here in Edinburgh Division, I wish you and your loved ones a  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Castle of Light illuminates Edinburgh’s night sky

NEW STORYTELLING PROJECTIONS UNVEILED AT EDINBURGH CASTLE

The capital’s enchanting atmosphere was kicked up a notch this weekend as Castle of Light: Magic and Mystery officially opened to the public, welcoming visitors from across the country to experience the interactive light trail at Edinburgh Castle during a sell-out opening weekend.

Greeted with captivating tales and intriguing stories, this year’s brand-new show focuses on the magic, mystery and spectacular sorcery from Scotland’s past. With myths and legends, from fortune-telling runes and Tarot readings to the inner workings of the Portcullis Gate depicted through immersive light and sound displays, the winter spectacular wowed, conjuring a charming start to the festive season.

Officially opening this year’s event for its six-week run, local resident Andew Neilson joined the team behind Castle of Light to ‘switch-on’ the unique after-dark trail, after securing the coveted opportunity to light up the skyline as a winner of the Castle of Light mystery ticket trail which took place in the run up to the event.  

In keeping with this year’s theme of ‘Magic and Mystery’, Castle of Light partnered with local attractions and venues to create a mysterious trail around the city, with the chance to win tickets along the way.

Andrew was travelling on a Lothian bus into the city when he saw the clues posted on social media and identified the world-renowned tapestry studio, Dovecot Studios, as one of the venues hiding a magic card.

He said: “I happened to be scrolling on social media and came across the mystery ticket trail, it was then I put the clues together and realised that the magic card was hidden in Dovecot Studios – and my bus was just around the corner. I hopped off the bus and managed to find one of the winning magic cards!

“It was truly special to be involved in lighting up Edinburgh’s iconic castle. People from all over the world celebrate Christmas and Hogmanay in Edinburgh with the castle at the centre of the celebrations. Cheers to a brilliant festive season!”

Now in its fourth year, Castle of Light is brought together by a consortium of the finest digital and visual talent in Scotland and further afield, in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland.

With 8,000 visitors attending during opening weekend to experience the spellbinding installations, Castle of Light is set to bring magic to locals and visitors alike throughout the festive season.

Stephen Duncan, Director of Marketing and Engagement at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which cares for Edinburgh Castle, said: “The festive period is all about magic, joy and wonder and we wanted to bring this to life through Castle of Light.

“Now in our fourth year, it’s important for us to keep the show fresh so that locals and visitors alike can be transported into a world of wonder as a tapestry of all-new storytelling projections dance across the castle walls. And Andrew did a tremendous job in helping us build excitement and anticipation at the switch-on for the six week event run ahead.

“Celebrating Scotland’s rich heritage by inviting visitors to step into a history lesson like no other, from reawakening William Wallace and King Robert the Bruce, to exploring the lesser-known parts of the Castle, Castle of Light is a magical evening for all ages and we look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors this year.”

Castle of Light will light up the city’s skyline for six weeks throughout the festive season on select dates, until Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Tickets are available to purchase now (adult tickets: £22), with concession rates, family tickets and Historic Scotland members’ discounts available. Ticketed entry slots will run every 15 minutes between 4.30pm and 7.30pm each evening, with last entry between 7.30pm and 7.45pm. The event closes at 9pm.

Tickets for an ‘access night’ on Sunday 3 December are also available. Designed to cater for people with additional support needs, including autism and dementia, the evening will feature a range of specific support including British Sign Language interpretation, as well as a designated quiet space and ear defenders to help manage noise, in partnership with Scottish Autism.

For more information and to get your tickets, visit www.CastleofLight.scot.

Advance booking required.

Hidden Door Festive Art Sale

We’ve lined up hundreds of pieces from dozens of past Hidden Door artists for our 2023 Art Sale – the ideal opportunity to grab some wonderful artwork.

Join us at The Hub on Castlehill for our exclusive Preview Night, from 7pm on Friday 8 December for festive drinks and live entertainment, and give yourself the best chance to grab the perfect piece for your wall.

We’ll then be open Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December, 12-5pm, for those in town doing their Christmas shopping.

All proceeds from the sale will be split between the artists and Hidden Door, so every purchase will go straight towards supporting the local creative community.


Featured artists include: Olivia Turner, Madeline Mackay, MaryAnne Hunt, Jill Martin Boualaxai, Kat Cutler-MacKenzie and Ben Caro, Kathleen McVey, Evie Rose Thornton, Isabelle Phoebe, Elvey Anna Stedman, Jo Fleming Smith, David McDiarmid, Matthew Storstein, Jagoda Sadowska, Joan Smith and more.

Tourist Tax: Views sought to help shape a visitor levy for Edinburgh

Residents and visitors are once again being invited to have their say on Edinburgh’s plans to introduce a charge on all overnight stays.

A new survey launched yesterday (Thursday 23 November) will gather views on the council’s proposals for a visitor levy. The feedback will be used to develop formal public consultation in the spring of 2024.

The questionnaire follows the same format to market research carried out back in 2018 which showed strong support for the introduction of a levy in the city. Since then, Edinburgh’s proposals have been developed further alongside the long-awaited Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced to Parliament in May.

The Bill means Scotland may be the first place in the UK to legislate for a visitor levy next year, giving local authorities the ability to introduce charges such as those already widespread across Europe. 

The survey forms part of ongoing engagement work with industry and stakeholders, with officers seeking views on the shape and size of the levy, who it should apply to, and how the funds raised should be invested.

Further industry engagement includes meetings with the Edinburgh Hotels Association (EHA) and Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG). A series of one-to-one and group meetings with local and national tourism groups and other local government officials is also continuing to take place.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “A levy presents a major opportunity for us to generate millions of pounds in additional revenue to support, sustain and develop the city and our visitor economy – just as so many other major cities do so successfully. 

“We already know from the consultation exercise we carried out back in 2018 that the idea has overwhelming support here in Edinburgh, with 85% backing the introduction of a levy. And our citywide Tourism Strategy 2030 makes clear the need to manage Edinburgh’s enduring appeal as a visitor destination more sustainably. 

“Edinburgh was recently recognised as the most sustainable travel destination in Europe by the World Travel Awards, which is testament to the work we’ve already put in with our partners, but visitor numbers are edging back up towards pre-pandemic levels.

“A visitor levy is a way of trying to rebalance the debate and make sure positives are brought back to the industry, to the city, and to our local communities. We need to continue to manage the impacts of tourism while investing in everything that makes our city such a great place to visit and to live. 

“While this came across loud and clear earlier this month, when the council and over 30 other witnesses provided the Scottish Parliament with evidence for the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill, a lot has changed since we last sought views from our residents and visitors. We want to make sure our assumptions are up to date and we’re giving everyone the chance to shape our proposals. Please take this chance to have your say.

Donald Emslie, Chair of the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG), said: “As the national legislation to introduce a visitor levy is progressed, it is essential that there are early and ongoing discussions to ensure that the levy proposals for Edinburgh are introduced effectively and achieve the aim of managing the growth of the city’s thriving visitor economy, benefiting businesses, residents and visitors.“

The survey will be open until Friday 17 January 2024. 

New lease of luxury life for Princes Street corner site

A site at the corner of Hanover Street and Princes Street is potentially set for a new lease of life following the submission of a planning application to City of Edinburgh Council for an exciting mixed-use development.

Undertaken by innovative property developers, RRH Hanover A Limited, the series of five under-used buildings in Hanover Street and Rose Street will be carefully repurposed into a luxury hotel, with associated guest amenities and ancillary accommodation.

The hotel is designed to operate as a bespoke apartment style destination, with each room and suite unique and individually styled.  The 60 bedrooms have been designed to be accommodated within the existing and proposed buildings which carefully knit together the fabric of the site, respecting the historical context.

The development will serve to consolidate the unused space above several commercial units into a series of interlinked properties, with ground floor units reorganised to make the most of their central location, giving opportunities to businesses leasing the ground floor retail units.

The key concept of adaptive re-use of existing properties is to be reinforced by new build additions at Rose Street and Rose Street Lane.  These elements knit together the five blocks of accommodation while improving neglected rear portions of the site and improving the overall universal value of the site.

Development comprises 60 premium bespoke hotel rooms and will be operated by RÌGH Properties. The development also includes the reintroduction of a tearoom on Hanover Street, of benefit to both the local community and visitors. These were once occupied by Crawford’s Tearooms, and development returns these to their former glory, reviving the building’s historical charm.

The founder of the tearooms in the 1920s, William Crawford, wanted them to be an ‘oasis of calm’ in the city centre, and the rooms were decorated and furnished by the artist Robert Burns, a key figure in the Scottish Art Nouveau scene in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Other offers include rooftop terraces, providing dramatic skyline views, a fitness studio and guest lounge overlooking the Mound and Princes Street Gardens.

The development will complement the 27 luxury serviced apartments units which are currently being developed by RRH in a refurbished category-A listed at 71 George Street and will be operated under the RÌGH Properties brand. The company also plans to refurbish 73-75 George Street into luxury managed serviced apartments.

David Grieve from RRH commented: “We are incredibly excited to be submitting a planning application for this development, which includes the delivery of 60 unique and individually styled flexible stay hotel suites and luxury bedrooms, as well as returning the fabulous Crawford’s Tea Rooms to their former glory.

“It is anticipated that guests will be discerning and experienced travellers, looking for a boutique stay in a prime location, but without the fuss of a busy city centre hotel. Offering a calm, flexible and luxurious stay, they will have the opportunity to enjoy unique views across the New and Old Towns of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth beyond the capital’s skyline.

“Delivering a highly sustainable development, this will consolidate unused space above the retail units into a series of linked properties, and conscious of its location, we have been highly sensitive to retaining all buildings and features considered to be of architectural and historic merit.”

Game On! Flight Club Edinburgh is officially open

Flight Club’s new, highly anticipated venue in Edinburgh is NOW OPEN! The award-winning bar infamous for reinventing darts for the 21st Century and encouraging fun ways to socialise, has officially opened its doors to the public at the newest St James Quarter location. 

Flight Club’s unique concept will supercharge the social scene in Edinburgh, bringing groups of friends together with multiplayer games, show-stopping cocktails and tasty bites: all under one roof. From small plates to meat and vegetable sharing to pizza, washed down with one of the signature cocktails or cocktail slushies. 

Whether you’re a seasoned dart sniper or have never thrown a dart before, Flight Club extends a warm welcome to all. Instant scoring eliminates any need for counting and reimagines matches into fast-paced, exciting events, with many players finding themselves unexpectedly hooked. 

This lively bar is sure to establish itself as a hub in Edinburgh’s social landscape, with an impressive number of 18,000 guests already booked in for unforgettable experiences of Social Darts, cocktails and brunch.

Located in the bustling St James Quarter, Flight Club boasts an impressive array of 10 oches (Social Darts playing areas) and a stunning bar, ideal for soaking up the atmosphere and toasting to success (or commiserating losses!).

Flight Club is the ultimate destination for all group sizes, from couples to corporate events, multiple oches are effortlessly connected for an immersive experience, perfect for team building, weekend brunches, company socials or Christmas bookings (Christmas bookings now open for up to 250 people). 

CEO, Steve Moore, said: “We can’t wait to welcome everyone, Edinburgh is such an incredible city, we’re really proud of the venue and look forward to showing it off in all its glory!”

Flight Club is located at Level 3, 300-306 St James Crescent, EH1 3AE and is open every day from 11.30am until Midnight.

To book your spot, visit here. Reservations are now open.

Give the Gift of Home this Christmas

Social Bite reveals ‘Nest House’

  • Social Bite reveals first-look of new ‘Nest House’ design in Edinburgh for Villages in Dundee and South Lanarkshire
  • ‘Nest House’ unveiled as part of charity’s Festival of Kindness campaign which aims to provide 300,000 gifts, meals and essential items to homeless and vulnerable people this Christmas

Leading homelessness charity, Social Bite, has unveiled its new ‘Nest House’ prototype, as part of the launch of its fourth annual Festival of Kindness.

Kicking off the campaign in Edinburgh yesterday, Josh Littlejohn MBE, founder of Social Bite, unveiled the new Nest House design which will feature in two planned new villages – one soon to be announced in South Lanarkshire, and the other in the recently announced Recovery Village in Dundee.

Located in St Andrews Square in Scotland’s capital, the Nest House will give an insight into the plans for the new village in South Lanarkshire, as well as the state-of-the-art Recovery Village in Dundee, both planned to open in early 2025. 

As part of the charity’s Festival of Kindness campaign, the public are being encouraged to ‘give the gift of home’ and can make a donation to the new Villages which put dignity and support at the core of recovery and people’s journey out of homelessness.

Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness campaign has run nationally every year for the past four years with the aim of providing 300,000 gifts, meals and other essential items to homeless and vulnerable people this Christmas.

Donations can be brought to the tree itself located outside Charing Cross Station on the Strand or made online, with a wish list of gifts published that homeless and vulnerable people need most at Christmas.

In addition, five ‘Trees of Kindness’ have been installed in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and London where donors can bring a physical gift which will all be distributed to homeless and vulnerable people in time for Christmas.

Donation stations will launch today (Saturday 18th November) in Edinburgh’s St Andrews Square. A donation station was also launched at Charing Cross station on The Strand in London yesterday.

Donations will be able to be made in other major cities this month from:

  • 29th November – Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
  • 30th November – City Square, Dundee
  • 1st December – St. Nicholas Street, Aberdeen

For those who can’t make it along to the Festival of Kindness donation points, contributions can also be made online to the ‘Festival of Kindness’.

The charity has published a wish list of items and gifts that vulnerable people and those experiencing homelessness need most at this time of year. These include a warm pair of gloves, a hot water bottle and a torch, good quality socks and toys for children living in temporary accommodation to open on Christmas morning.

Donors can also buy a Christmas dinner, a gift, a pack of essential items and overnight emergency accommodation for £28.

With homelessness in Scotland reaching record levels, more children than ever living in temporary accommodation and rhetoric of ‘lifestyle choices’ of those experiencing homelessness making headlines, Social Bite is on an urgent mission to raise funds and donations for those who need it most, and is calling on big-hearted Scots to help them provide essential items and some much needed joy to those who need it most.

Josh Littlejohn MBE, founder of Social Bite, said: “This year we have seen an increase in homelessness in Scotland to record levels.

“From Covid, to the cost of living crisis, and now unfortunately, misleading commentary from some high-profiled politicians, those experiencing homelessness have been subject to the toughest few years we’ve seen; so once again we are asking the people of Scotland to join us in helping raise critical funds for those that need it most at Christmas.

“As well as donating towards Christmas dinners and gifts, this year we are also asking the public to give the gift of home by donating towards two new villages.

“The proposed new Villages will be amongst our most important projects to date and that’s why we wanted to give donors the option of helping us create these crucial facilities. We are thrilled to welcome the public to see our prototype house being displayed in St Andrews Square.

“We believe that everyone, no matter their circumstances should be treated with respect and dignity, which these homes reflect in their design.”

Rail industry creates immersive VR film to show passengers how they can help to combat sexual harassment

  • Immersive VR experience, designed to empower bystanders to recognise and help combat sexual harassment on the railway, on show today at Edinburgh Waverley station.
  • Demonstrating how a small action could make a big difference is important – 85% of women would feel relieved if someone intervened when experiencing sexual harassment on public transport.
  • This is the latest in a series of nationwide events aimed at providing advice and tips on how bystanders can safely intervene and report a situation before police or rail staff are able to get involved.

As part of the rail industry and British Transport Police’s continued commitment to make sure every passenger feels safe when travelling by train, an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience is coming to Edinburgh today – Thursday 16th November.

The event is aimed at tackling all forms of sexual harassment by educating people to recognise how these situations occur for passengers and empower them to intervene safely and report perpetrators.

Sexual harassment is a real and far-reaching issue in society with seven in ten (71%) women in the UK having experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space, the latest survey commissioned by UN Women UK finds.

The short VR film shows how small actions, such as asking the victim if they want to swap seats or distracting the perpetrator with a question, can prevent further escalation in the moment.

Following a successful initial launch of this innovative VR film earlier this year at London Waterloo station, Rail Delivery Group (RDG) together with British Transport Police (BTP) and local train operators are inviting people in Edinburgh to try the immersive VR experience in their local station.

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of Rail Delivery Group said: “As an industry we are actively tackling all forms of sexual harassment and are committed to making our passengers feel safe when onboard.

“By showcasing the ground-breaking VR experience in stations across the country we’re to equipping people with tips on how to safely intervene in situations as a bystander without putting themselves in harm’s way.

“Whether you see it or experience it, we ask everyone to report anything that makes you uncomfortable to British Transport Police by texting 61016 or using the Railway Guardian app.

“Passengers using Britain’s railways have a right to feel safe and confident to call out these behaviours without fear.”

Joanne Maguire, ScotRail Chief Operating Officer, said: “Everyone has the right to go about their day in peace without fear of harassment or abuse. ScotRail works very closely with British Transport Police and Network Rail to ensure that Scotland’s Railway is a safe environment for our customers and our staff.

“To assist us in tackling unacceptable behaviour, it’s important for anyone who witnesses it to report those responsible so that they can be brought to justice. This VR experience plays an important role in helping bystanders identify inappropriate behaviour when it takes place.”

Further events will be held in various cities in Great Britain over the coming weeks and months.

How to report

By reporting all incidents that occur, bystanders can help British Transport Police to identify perpetrators and reduce potential harm for others in the future.

To report an incident, contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or using the Railway Guardian app. In an emergency, always call 999.

To watch the full VR film, visit the National Rail YouTube channel here.

Gaza humanitarian crisis: Hundreds of thousands call for ceasefire

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist issued a statement last night updating on the significant policing operation taking place in London on Saturday:

This operation took place in unique circumstances, against a backdrop of conflict in the Middle East, on Armistice Day and following a week of intense debate about protest and policing. These all combined to increase community tensions.

The extreme violence from the right wing protestors towards the police today was extraordinary and deeply concerning.

They arrived early, stating they were there to protect monuments, but some were already intoxicated, aggressive and clearly looking for confrontation.

Abuse was directed at officers protecting the Cenotaph, including chants of “you’re not English any more”.

This group were largely football hooligans from across the UK and spent most of the day attacking or threatening officers who were seeking to prevent them being able to confront the main march.

Many in these groups were stopped and searched and weapons including a knife, a baton and knuckleduster were found as well as class A drugs.

Thanks to the considerable efforts of our officers, who put themselves in harm’s way, nobody was able to reach the Cenotaph, which was protected at all times.

Nine officers were injured during the day, two requiring hospital treatment with a fractured elbow and a suspected dislocated hip. Those officers were injured on Whitehall as they prevented a violent crowd getting to the Cenotaph while a remembrance service was taking place.

While the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march did not see the sort of physical violence carried out by the right wing, we know that for London’s Jewish communities whose fears and concerns we absolutely recognise, the impact of hate crime and in particular anti-Semitic offences is just as significant.

At the end of the PSC march, we once again saw breakaway groups behaving in an intimidating manner.

Officers intercepted a group of 150 who were wearing face coverings and firing fireworks. Arrests were made after some of the fireworks struck officers in the face.

There were also a number of serious offences identified in relation to hate crime and possible support for proscribed organisations during the protest that we are actively investigating.

Locating and intercepting suspects in a crowd of the size we saw today will always be challenging, but we were further limited in our ability to do so due to the number of officers we had to deploy, from early in the day, in response to violence from the right wing groups in central London.

We will soon publish images of some of those we suspect have committed these offences and as we have shown in recent weeks, we will pursue all available lines of enquiry to identify suspects and take action even after the conclusion of protests.

As I write, there are many officers still deployed across central London responding to any outbreaks of disorder and ensuring key sites are protected ahead of tomorrow’s remembrance events.

Many more are working in custody suites dealing with the 126 people who have been arrested so far.

I am extremely proud of what our officers have achieved in challenging circumstances, including the many officers who came from across the country to help us keep London safe.

PM statement on Armistice Day protests: 11 November 2023

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also released a statement last night:

I condemn the violent, wholly unacceptable scenes we have seen today from the EDL and associated groups and Hamas sympathisers attending the National March for Palestine. The despicable actions of a minority of people undermine those who have chosen to express their views peacefully. 

Remembrance weekend is a time for us to come together as a nation and remember those who fought and died for our freedoms. What we have seen today does not defend the honour of our Armed Forces, but utterly disrespects them. 

That is true for EDL thugs attacking police officers and trespassing on the Cenotaph, and it is true for those singing antisemitic chants and brandishing pro-Hamas signs and clothing on today’s protest.

The fear and intimidation the Jewish Community have experienced over the weekend is deplorable. 

All criminality must be met with the full and swift force of the law. That is what I told the Met Police Commissioner on Wednesday, that is what they are accountable for and that is what I expect. 

I will be meeting the Met Police Commissioner in the coming days.

EDINBURGH’s tram service was suspended for two hours yesterday afternoon ‘due to a large protest in the city centre affecting trams in both directions’.