Political policing and the Royal Wedding

Yesterday evening, Charlie Veitch of the Love Police, Chris Knight, an anthropology professor, and Patrick Macroidan, an actor, were arrested on 'conspiracy to cause a public nuisance'.

The evidence is thin - it is thought they were organising some peaceful street theatre.

My question to TSR is this - is this kind of political policing (pre-emptively rounding up anyone who might cause trouble) acceptable in a democracy?

Here's an article on this - he wanted to start shouting down a megaphone when the procession went past. Seems to be an odd kind of peaceful street theatre!
According to that article he told the police that's what he planned to do. It was deemed that action would constitute a public order offence so he was arrested to prevent it occurring. Nothing to get worked up about.

If I say "I am going to do [something illegal], tomorow" and the police don't do anything, would THAT be acceptable policing in a democracy?

Stupid question

Thanks for the link.
Speaking through a megaphone, as far as I'm aware, does not constitute a breach of the peace, unless you're yelling abuse.

As far as I'm concerned, I believe that Mr Veitch has a right to air his views and a right to free speech, and his arrest violated this.

If, on the other hand, you said 'I am going to speak through a megaphone in London tomorrow', then absolutely not.

Who mentioned breach of the peace? He was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance. The article says he told police he and others intended to pull out megaphones when the Royal procession approached, and whilst it's not explicitly stated, the obvious implication is they intended to be disruptive at an occasion which tens of thousands of people wished to enjoy. That would seem to fit quite neatly under the description of making a public nuisance. Hence he was arrested to prevent him committing that offence. That means the intention was not to prevent him airing his views, but to prevent him doing so in a manner that would inconvenience and upset other people. I see no problem with that.

Well, exactly. Suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance is a very, very poor excuse for an arrest.

I'm not entirely sure where that article draws its facts from - Veitch spoke on youtube before his arrest, and said that he was not going to organise any meeting point, or any specific action - simply that if there was anyone who felt it necessary to speak out against the wedding, they should come to London with megaphones and banners. He has just as much of a right to show up and wave a banner as all of the royalists there today did. I think it's simply an excuse to repress the voices of those who see legitimate problems with today's events, and is undemocratic. Veitch isn't a threatening presence. He runs a group called the Love Police, who hug people and tell jokes.

About half the arrests were for breach of the peace and a man was held for an alleged sex assault on a girl, aged 14.

Ten people carrying climbing gear and anti-monarchy placards were arrested near Charing Cross,

Other arrests were for drunk and disorderly, criminal damage, theft and over a suspected environmental protest.

Three people were held in the Covent Garden area over the alleged demonstration, police said.

Anti-terror powers were used to arrest one man who was seen taking suspicious photographs of transport hubs and security personnel in the Charing Cross area.

Three others were held over drug offences and four for allegedly carrying an offensive weapon.