Royal fan misses King's Coronation after arrest for standing near protesters
A Royal super-fan MISSED the King's Coronation after being arrested for standing too close to protesters.
Alice Chambers, travelled to The Mall in the hope of getting a perfect spot to watch the historic event unfold and get a glimpse of the King on his Coronation day.
But 36-year-old Australian native, now living in London, had her plans destroyed when she was arrested and locked up for an 13 hours for standing near Just Stop Oil protesters.
Alice said she sat near the group of environmental activists because they hadn't yet started they demo, but police proceeded to storm the crowd and make arrests at around 9am on May 6.
An officer then reportedly told Alice she was being arrested on 'potential to cause a breach of the peace' as the group was detained in scenes caught on camera by Sky News.
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Alice says she was arrested without any questions being asked, adding: "I feel like once I was in the system they didn't listen. I tried to explain that I wasn't part of the group."
Alice Chambers, circled, travelled to The Mall hoping to catch a glimpse of King Charles but was handcuffed alongside Just Stop Oil protesters (Sky News)After her arrest, Alice claims she was quizzed, physically searched, locked in a cell and had her mugshot, fingerprints and DNA taken in a 13-hour ordeal, reports iNews.
When she was eventually interviewed by two senior officers at 7pm at Wandsworth police station, they eventually were persuaded to release her after discovering she was a huge fan of the royals.
Alice said she finally released at around 10pm after breaking down in tears, traumatised and disappointed at missing the whole Coronation day.
Alice was arrested and held for 13 hours after standing near the group of activists (Sky News)Alice has now made a complaint to the force and the police watchdog, saying: "I understand why the police were on the edge, they did have a tough job that day, but they need to have better processes and better training in place because innocent people shouldn't be getting locked up for that long."
It comes after the Met Office said they had "regrets" over six arrests made in relation to anti-monarchy group Republic ahead of the Coronation.
A chief inspector and two other officers personally apologised to Republic chief executive Graham Smith, he claims, over what he called a "disgraceful episode".
A protester holds a placard which states 'This country is ours' during the demonstration (Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)They visited Mr Smith at his home in Reading, Berkshire, tonight following his near 16 hours in police custody, after Republic held peaceful protests on Saturday. Mr Smith and five others have been told they face no further action.
But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had earlier backed Scotland Yard over the dozens of arrests of other protesters ahead of King Charles' Coronation.
In a statement, the Met Police said: "Those arrested stated the items would be used to secure their placards, and the investigation has been unable to prove intent to use them to lock on and disrupt the event.
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Protestors hold a large banner during the Anti-monarchy protest (Loredana Sangiuliano/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)"This evening, all six have had their bail cancelled and no further action will be taken.
"We regret that those six people arrested were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the procession route."
A spokesperson for the Met Police said: "We are aware that a woman was arrested in relation to a protest on May 6, 2023.
"The arresting officer was from Lincolnshire Police and the complaint has therefore been passed to the relevant force to investigate. The Met will assist by providing any relevant information they require."
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