Anti-lockdown protest in London sees man arrested after group hug outside police HQ

Demonstration comes as poll shows vast majority still support lockdown measures

A man has been arrested in London after anti-lockdown protesters took part in a group hug outside the Metropolitan Police’s headquarters in defiance of social distancing rules.

The small group of about 20 people were seen outside New Scotland Yard on Saturday, chanting “hug someone, save lives” and carrying signs with slogans such as “My body, my choice”.

Videos from the protest also showed some members of the group holding up signs supporting baseless conspiracy theories linking 5G technology to the coronavirus pandemic.

One man was filmed as he was carried away by police, shouting “I do not consent”, after he refused to comply with an order for the protesters to go home and follow lockdown rules.

All social gatherings involving people of different households have been banned in the UK since 23 March as part of measures designed to slow the spread of Covid-19.

“A small number of protesters gathered near New Scotland Yard earlier today,” a statement from the Met Police said.

“Officers engaged with the protesters, encouraged them to go home and the group subsequently dispersed. One man arrested.”

The demonstration was similar to those seen recently in the US, where thousands of people gathered at a popular beach in Southern California this week to protest the state’s stay-at-home order.

Governor Gavin Newsom ordered state and local beaches to be closed in Orange County on Friday after crowds of people defied lockdown rules last weekend.

However, despite the London protest on Saturday, there does not appear to be widespread support for lifting the UK’s lockdown soon.

A poll by Opinium published in the Observer on Sunday showed fewer than one in five British adults believed it was the right time to consider reopening schools, restaurants, pubs and stadiums.

It showed only 17 per cent of respondents thought it was right to now consider reopening schools, compared to 67 per cent who thought they should remain closed.

Boris Johnson, the prime minister, has said the UK is past the peak of its coronavirus epidemic and his government is expected to set out plans for easing measures in the near future.