A major police operation in Leeds city centre successfully maintained peace during protests on Saturday, 25 April 2026. Officers managed static protests at City Square and Victoria Gardens, alongside marches across the city, with the aim of safeguarding public safety and limiting disruption.
Police arrested six individuals, primarily for allegedly breaching Section 14 of the Public Order Act, which relates to protesters remaining in their agreed locations. All six remain in custody while enquiries continue.
The event passed without any injuries or disorderly conduct, demonstrating effective crowd control and policing throughout the day.
Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller, who led the operation, praised the planning and cooperation with partner agencies. He stated that the focus was on balancing the rights of protesters with those of residents and visitors.
“Our main priority today was to keep people safe and balance the rights of those who wished to protest with the rights of those visiting, working or living in the city centre,” said ACC Miller. “This was successfully achieved with strategic deployments and careful preparation to minimise disruption.”
Although a small number of arrests were made, police emphasised that this is expected for events of this scale. The operation aims to reassure the people of Leeds of the police’s capability to maintain safety and order during significant public events.
Originally published by UKNIP.
