Safety fears at 'illegal' protest

A police sergeant feared for his colleagues' safety at a demonstration over new laws banning protests near Parliament, a court has heard.

Aqil Shaer, 41, Stephen Blum, 54, Alwyn Simpson, 49, and Maria Gallastegui, 47, all from London deny demonstrating in a designated area without authorisation.

Ms Gallastegui also denies obstructing a police officer in August.

Sergeant Tim Nunn told Bow Street magistrates that officers arrested the protesters as a result of his concerns.

They were pushing, they were loud, but they were not violent Sgt Tim Nunn

The arrests were made on 1 August - the day the laws prohibiting protests within a square mile of Parliament, in central London, came into force.

Mr Nunn told the court Mr Shaer used a loud hailer to call the police fascists and accused them of trying to gag demonstrators.

Despite warnings from officers that they were protesting illegally in Parliament Square, the demonstration continued.

"They were pushing, they were loud, but they were not violent," Mr Nunn told the court.

'Focal point of protest'

He said he ordered officers to withdraw in an attempt to let the protesters disperse but his colleagues became more tightly packed among the crowd.

Mr Nunn told the court: "At this point I was concerned regarding the safety of the officers and so I instructed Pc Hunt and Pc Minnahan to start effecting the arrests."

He said Mr Shaer was the focal point of the protest and when police arrested him Ms Gallastegui tried to drag him away.

All the defendants are charged under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.

The hearing is expected to last four days.