'Death to IDF' chanters face arrest in toughest ever hate speech crackdown at Nakba 78 and Unite the Kingdom marches in London

The Met Police is to impose an unprecedented crackdown on antisemitism and other hate speech at marches in London this weekend.People who chant “Death to the IDF,” “Globalise the Intifada”, anti-Muslim or other hate speech will face arrest and being fast-tracked through the courts.Organisers of the rallies will also risk prosecution for hate offences at their events under powers being used by Scotland Yard for the first time.Officers policing a pro-Palestinian march in LondonPA ArchiveDeputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman stressed: "In the wake of the terror attack targeting Jews at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, we committed to taking a more assertive approach to chanting and the displaying of phrases on placards or banners that incite hatred or indicate support for terrorism or other forms of extremism."In recent months we’ve arrested and charged people for calling for intifada at protests and a number of those cases are going through the courts."In recent days, we have charged a man who directed chants of ‘death to the IDF’ towards a group of Jewish people outside a concert in London last November.”Two Jewish men were stabbed in an incident in Golders Green, north London, on Wednesday (PA)PA WireDAC Harman added: "Given the context we’re operating in, the public expect our officers to act where they see or hear antisemitism, anti-Muslim abuse, incitement to violence or language that clearly points to support for terrorists."We will be arresting for these offences where we see them on Saturday and our specialist investigators will be working overnight to present the cases to the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) for immediate charges wherever possible."Not all language we are targeting relates to antisemitism or the conflict in the Middle East. “Officers will also take action against the anti-Muslim hate we have heard at past protests where it crosses into criminality.”US-based political commentator Valentina Gomez has been blocked from entering the UK Valentina Gomez/XRead MoreAround 4,000 police officers, including 660 being drafted in from outside London, will be deployed on the capital’s streets during the public order operation.Police believe football hooligans may travel to London to join the Unite the Kingdom rally expected to be led by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.Armoured vehicles, armed police units, mounted police, dog teams, helicopters, drones, and large numbers of officers in riot gear will take part in the operation.Live facial recognition will be used for the first time by the Met Police for a public order operation, though not on the march routes.Instead, it will be deployed in the borough of Camden to try to catch people on a “watch list who may be planning to attend the Unite the Kingdom rally.Protesters clash with police officers in Trafalgar Square during the Unite the Kingdom march last SeptemberGettyThe Unite the Kingdom rally will start in Kingsway and go to Aldwych, The Strand, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, before a rally in Parliament Square. The Nakba 78/United Against Tommy Robinson and the Far Right protest will begin in Exhibition Road, Cromwell Gardens, Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, ending with a rally in Pall Mall.Nakba Day commemorates events which caused Palestinians to lose their homes and become refugees during the establishment of Israel. The Met Police operation is expected to cost £4.5 million, including £1.7 million to draft in hundreds of officers from outside London.