MET Police gold commander Adam Slonecki has denied that legal threats from the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) were behind his decision to impose new conditions on the Palestine coalition’s march from the BBC in January last year.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal and Stop the War Coalition vice-chair Chris Nineham are on trial for public order offences following their arrests during the protest on January 18, 2025.

Mr Slonecki banned marchers from entering an exclusion zone around the BBC in Portland Place to “provide safe spaces” for the worshippers of a synagogue after meeting with representatives from some of the Jewish community, including the JLC, Central Synagogue and the Chief Rabbi, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

Under cross-examination by Mark Summers KC, the commander said he received a letter from the lawyers of the JLC which directed him to the law on cumulative disruption, introduced into the Public Order Act in 2023, and threatened him with a judicial review.

The court heard the letter was received after it appeared to the Palestine coalition that the route had been agreed by police following a meeting in November 2024.

He denied the letter formed the basis of his decision to impose conditions on the march.

The commander had formed the view that the march represented possible serious disruption to the life of the Jewish community when he met with the Palestine coalition again on December 20, 2024, it was heard.

He claimed that an email from the Palestine march Jewish Bloc, pointing out that the organisations were not representative of the entire Jewish community, was never received by him.

He told the JLC lawyers in early January 2025 that he had no intention of varying the conditions he had decided on, the court heard.

The trial continues.