Jubilee protesters get damages

The anti-monarchist group display a giant cheque outside Scotland Yard

A group of anti-monarchy protesters arrested during the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002 are to be paid £80,000 in damages by the police.

The 23 people from the Movement Against Monarchy (MA'M) will get £3,500 each and a written apology for unlawful arrest and false imprisonment.

They were arrested after gathering at Tower Hill in London on 4 June for a protest headlined "Execute the Queen".

They sued the Metropolitan Police and the matter was settled out of court.

The arrests occurred on the day of the thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London and the Jubilee parade in the Mall.

No charges

Police had claimed the demonstrators were arrested to protect public safety.

They said the group had not informed them of their protest route and were unwilling to co-operate with officers.

The group was arrested and taken to police stations around London, where some were held for several hours before being released without charge.

MA'M said the arrests were the "actions of a proto police state" and claimed the demonstrators had been detained while drinking peacefully in a pub.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "The matter has been settled out of court.

"We have written and apologised to those people arrested and detained."