FOI - Applications for protests and gatherings in Trafalgar Square

Your request

I would like to request information about the applications of protests and public
gatherings in Trafalgar Square that have been accepted and rejected between 2020-
2022.

I would like to know the names of the various organisations and the purpose of
their gatherings, as well as the estimation for the number of participants in each
application for protests or public gatherings. 

Our response

Please find attached a table showing the information you have requested between 2020-2022.

It is worth noting that during 2020/2021 the UK had periods of lockdown and changing
restrictions on gatherings due to Covid-19. We usually only keep information on rallies and
public gatherings where a complete application was submitted (form, risk assessment and
Public Liability Insurance).

We do not keep records of expressions of interest or partial requests. However, we do have a record of live applications that had to be rejected at the time national lockdown was announced on 23 March 2020.

The GLA rarely rejects complete applications and would in most cases seek to accommodate requests that could not immediately be granted (for example, seeking alternative dates if a preferred date was not available).

Sometimes we receive applications that do not fit the definition of a rally and those would be rejected for that reason. Where possible we have included explanations in the table.

The Mayor of London has a legal duty to maintain Trafalgar Square. Every five years we schedule extensive inspection and maintenance and there were no bookings in this period (August 2022).

If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact me, quoting the
reference MGLA260822-8100.