Police chiefs have issued guidance reminding officers about the ‘fundamental’ right to protest – amid concerns over the arrest of anti-monarchists.

Symon Hill, 45, was arrested under the Public Order Act at Sunday’s proclamation event in Oxford city centre. He claimed he had shouted ‘who elected him?’ as King Charles III was announced as the new monarch.

It came as Police Scotland charged a 22-year-old woman with breach of the peace after she allegedly held up a sign outside St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, calling for the Crown’s abolition.

READ MORE: Man 'arrested for shouting' at Oxford proclamation

According to reports, the National Police Chiefs’ Council issued guidance telling officers that the right to protest was a ‘fundamental part of democracy’.

Stuart Cundy, a deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, said: “The public absolutely have a right of protest and we have been making this clear to all officers involved in the extraordinary policing operation.”

The NPCC said behaviour should be classed as a public order offence only if it was ‘threatening, abusive or insulting’ and intended to cause distress or alarm, The Times reported.

On Sunday, Mr Hill told the Oxford Mail he had been detained – then de-arrested – after shouting ‘who elected him?’ at the proclamation event.

“I appreciate people have different views on it, I fully respect the right of those with pro-monarchist views,” he said.

“But I consider a head of state imposed on us without our consent that’s really an affront to democracy in 2022.”

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward