Met Police restrict UKIP protest moves event from East to Central London amid disorder fears

The Metropolitan Police have imposed strict Public Order Act conditions on the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) protest originally planned for Whitechapel in Tower Hamlets, a borough with a significant Muslim population, due to concerns over a "realistic prospect of serious disorder." UKIP's "mass deportations tour" protest has been relocated to central London, starting outside the London Oratory in Kensington and ending at Marble Arch, with time restrictions from 1pm to 4:30pm. UKIP leader Nick Tenconi criticized the police for what he called "two-tier policing" and accused them of yielding to Islamist pressure. Meanwhile, a counter-protest organized by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) is scheduled for east London but is banned from gathering in the central London area where the UKIP protest will take place. Police emphasized their role in balancing the right to peaceful protest with preventing disorder and minimizing disruption to local residents and businesses. Local officials, including the mayor of Tower Hamlets, welcomed the police restrictions, citing concerns about potential intimidation and community tensions.