Disabled protesters demanded the return of wheelchairs and ramps 'confiscated by police'
Disabled protesters demanded the return of wheelchairs and ramps ‘confiscated by police’ (Picture: Reuters; Extinction Rebellion Disabled Rebels)

Disabled protesters have been calling for the return of their equipment ‘confiscated’ by police.

The Extinction Rebellion Disabled Rebels group claim items including wheelchairs, ramps, accessible compost toilets, heated gilets, weighted blankets and noise cancelling headphones were confiscated last Saturday.

Protesters gathered outside Scotland Yard this afternoon calling for the items to be returned.

Extinction Rebellion said in a statement: ‘Everyone is entitled to participate in peaceful protest and we worked very hard to make this rebellion accessible for our Extinction Rebellion Disabled Rebels.

‘Imagine coming to the Rebellion as a disabled person, thinking all of your access and wellbeing needs had been taken care of…

‘And then the police impound it all…

‘Disabled rebels are unable to have shelter, get adequate sleep and keep warm or dry because gear owned by XR Disability Network (representing XR Disabled Rebels) was seized and impounded by police. Wheelchair ramps, solar charging wheelchairs, hot water bottles, accessible loos and accessible tents all languish in police storage, in an attempt to make disabled rebels lives so difficult that they leave the streets.

‘When ten XR Disabled Rebels peacefully protested outside New Scotland Yard yesterday, demanding their stolen kit back – the police issued a section 14 and arrested the three remaining activists with over 20 officers.

One was arrested straight away and two wheelchair users a few hours later. One rebel remained at Scotland Yard. After an hour she needed some assistance from a carer. Both were then arrested because two counts as an assembly. None were aiming to do anything illegal, they weren’t blocking anywhere and had no spray paint on them.

A protestor in a wheelchair talks to other protestors at a 'Disabled Rebels' demonstration organised by Extinction Rebellion outside New Scotland Yard in London, Britain, October 13, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
A protester in a wheelchair talks to other protestors at a Disabled Rebels demonstration organised by Extinction Rebellion outside New Scotland Yard in London (Picture: Reuters)

A spokesman from the Met earlier told Metro.co.uk he couldn’t comment on specific charges, however said officers have the right to seize equipment they believe will facilitate unlawful protest and arrest those who break the law.

He said: ‘It is the police’s role is to provide a lawful and proportionate policing response to any planned protest, balancing the community impact with the right to protest.

‘Officers have powers to seize any equipment which they believe will facilitate unlawful protest. This forms part of our robust, proportionate policing plan which we continue to keep under review.

‘If protesters break the law, officers will look to arrest those people.

‘Furthermore, those people can expect to be charged, prosecuted, and receive a criminal record.’

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