London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Met police raise concerns over the China super-embassy, citing potential disruptions from large protests and the need for additional resources.
As reported by The Guardian, the Metropolitan Police warned that China’s planned “super embassy” in London would require extra police support to manage large protests involving thousands of people.
What did Jon Savell say about the impact of China’s super embassy near the Tower Bridge?
The Metropolitan Police have removed their opposition to the plans, but Jon Savell, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, raised concerns about large protests outside the embassy, fearing traffic disruption and the need for additional police resources.
Mr Savell wrote a letter to former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith and the Home Office earlier this month, expressing the Met’s concerns about the embassy’s impact on the area near Tower Bridge.
He sent a letter to Duncan Smith after meeting with members of the Parliamentary Alliance on China (Ipac), which has opposed the embassy plan and urged for a firmer approach to Beijing.
According to Savell, the road junction adjacent to Royal Mint Court would “require additional police resources for larger assemblies to balance the safety of those who wish to assemble or protest and the safe, free flow of traffic, as has been borne out by the two recent large-scale protests.”
The letter said,
“remains impartial to the proposed development outside of any implications on policing.”
How did David Lammy and Yvette Cooper respond to the embassy plan?
Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have openly voiced their support for the embassy proposal. In a joint letter released in January, they emphasised the significance of nations having operational diplomatic missions in each other’s capitals.
The ministers stated in their statement that the Met was “satisfied” with the available space for protests while acknowledging that there “remain differences of opinion on where protesters would most likely gather.”
The approval to move forward with the embassy construction has become a major diplomatic priority for China, aligning with the UK government’s efforts to strengthen its relations with the country.
What did Duncan Smith say about the Tower Bridge junction concerns?
Duncan Smith stated that he would address the Met, urging the force to inform ministers of its concerns.
He added,
“If the national security and interference arguments aren’t enough, then perhaps the fact that Tower Bridge junction will be regularly shut down and officers drafted in from all over London to ensure safety will help the government do the right thing and refuse this application.”
What did the Met’s shift in objection mean for the embassy proposal?
The Met warned in December that if over 100 individuals gathered at the site, it would lead to an overflow onto the road, endangering public safety and causing potential disruption across the capital.
The following month, the force lifted its objection after revisiting a three-year-old technical document funded by China, which suggested that the site could safely accommodate up to 2,000 protesters.
The Met’s decision to withdraw its formal objection cleared the path for the proposals to be approved. Tower Hamlets council reiterated its opposition in December based on police evidence but has since indicated that the removal of the Met’s objection meant it could no longer depend on the evidence.
What did Blair McDougall say about protest concerns at Royal Mint Court?
Blair McDougall, a Labour MP and member of the foreign affairs committee, stated,
“The Met’s assessment is clear: there is inadequate space for a protest outside the Royal Mint Court, where not only would protester safety be jeopardised but gatherings would require significant policing resources and lead to major road disruption. As long as the right to protest is non-negotiable, the embassy must be in a location where that right can be safely upheld.”
What did Luke de Pulford say about the safety concerns and protests at the embassy site?
Luke de Pulford, the executive director of Ipac, said,
“A huge amount of public money has already been wasted policing large protests at the site. It isn’t safe, and there isn’t space. Large protests will continue until permission for this wrong-headed embassy is denied. It shouldn’t have taken MPs, residents and thousands of campaigners to turn up for the police to admit the obvious, but I’m glad they have.”
What did Alex Brookes say about safety concerns and the proposed embassy location?
Alex Brookes, Poplar and Limehouse Conservative Association activist, stated,
“The first job of government is to keep people safe. There is no point in trying to have a closer economic relationship with China if residents aren’t safe. The protests on Saturday proved that this is not a suitable location for a ‘super embassy’, next to the Tower of London, which disrupted traffic over Tower Bridge.”
He added,
“Therefore, Angela Rayner should consider the potential impact before rushing through the application, which could undermine resident’s safety.”
