Published: 14 November 2013
By ALICE HUTTON

STUDENTS are protesting outside Holborn Police Station following the arrest of University of London Union (ULU) President Michael Chessum.

He was reportedly held after leaving a meeting with University of London management.

It follows a demonstration over the university's move to run the student's union yesterday, which saw protesters clash with police. Mr Chessum was arrested under a Public Order Arrest relating to a legal demand to provide advance notice for public protests.

Rachel Wenstone, National Union of Students Deputy President, said: "We don’t at present know all the details, but it appears that an elected student officer has been arrested in an unnecessarily antagonistic manner. We have heard some deeply concerning instances of incredibly heavy handed policing of student protest. The police need to urgently explain the basis upon which this arrest was made."

A ULU statement said: "The University of London Union (ULU) can confirm that our President, Michael Chessum, was arrested early this afternoon in connection with yesterday's demonstration against the planned closure of our union. Michael was intercepted by several police officers outside the ULU building on Malet Street in Bloomsbury, on his way back from a meeting with University of London management. This is a clear attack on the right to protest. It is a transparent and shameful attempt to intimidate students from demonstrating against the actions of university management."

The National Campaign Against Fees & Cuts (NCAFC) spokesman Mike Shaw said: "The demonstration Michael helped organise in his role as ULU President was peaceful and part of a proud history of student dissent. The students' protest didn't even leave the pavement for goodness sake."

A police spokesman said a 24-year-old man had been arrested under Section 11 of the Public Order Act, which covers the requirement for “advance notice of public processions”.