A SPATE of arrests against republican protesters in the wake of the Queen’s death has been described as “an affront to democracy” and an abuse of the law.

In response to growing criticism of the police response to anti-monarchy protests, the Metropolitan Police has insisted that people “absolutely have the right to protest” against the royals. 

It came after an officer was filmed on Monday evening warning a barrister that he would risk arrest if he wrote “Not my King” on a blank placard. 

Paul Powlesland, 36, a barrister with Garden Court Chambers, said he travelled to central London with a blank placard because he was concerned by the reports of anti-monarchy protests being targeted for “exercising their right to freedom of speech.”

A recording of his interaction with the police, which has since gone viral on social media, shows an officer asking Mr Powlesland, who is holding up a blank placard, for his details. 

The barrister claimed the officer said he could risk arrest under public order offences if he wrote “stuff on it that may offend people around the King.” 

In response to the video, Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “The public absolutely have a right of protest and we have been making this clear to all officers involved in the extraordinary policing operation currently in place and we will continue [to] do so.”

The incident was the latest in a string of police actions against anti-monarchy protesters at events surrounding the Queen’s death and ascension of King Charles III. 

At least two people have been arrested and charged in Scotland for breach of the peace, including a man who heckled Prince Andrew and a woman who was arrested after holding up an “abolish the monarchy sign.”

Peace Pledge Union campaigner Symon Hill was also arrested on Sunday after calling out “Who elected him?” at the proclamation of King Charles in Oxford.

The peace campaigner was later de-arrested. Police said Mr Hill had been arrested on suspicion of behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. 

But Mr Hill said in comments to the Morning Star that he felt he had been “arrested for having an opinion.” 

Other incidents include a man who was led away by police for holding up a “Not my King” sign outside Parliament. 

The actions have sparked alarm among civil liberties groups and left-wing MPs who have questioned the legality of the arrests. 

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “The arrests of republican protesters is wrong, anti-democratic and an abuse of the law. People should be able to express their views as a basic right.”

Labour MP Richard Burgon has said he intends to raise the issue in Parliament next week. 

“I’m deeply concerned by reports that people are being arrested for expressing their views in support of a republic,” he said. 

“In a democracy, people must always have the right to peacefully express their opinions. I will be seeking to raise this in Parliament when it resumes next week.”

Big Brother Watch director Silkie Carlo said: “If people are being arrested simply for holding protest placards then it is an affront to democracy and highly likely to be unlawful.”

Liberty policy and campaigns officer Jodie Beck said: “Protest is not a gift from the state, it is a fundamental right. Being able to choose what, how, and when we protest is a vital part of a healthy and functioning democracy.”

But police monitoring group Netpol said that the targeting of anti-monarchy protests is nothing new. 

The group’s communication’s co-ordinator Emily Apple highlighted previous cases where police have made “spurious” arrests at royal events, including the arrest of 41 people sitting in a pub during the golden jubilee in 2002. 

“Any time there is a royal event, the police act disproportionately to ensure that opposing voices are not heard on our streets,” she added.