More than 300 people have been arrested as part of an operation to prevent people who aren’t wearing a poppy to be seen in public today.
Since the beginning of October 290 people have been arrested around the UK for various offences including not wearing a poppy and not being patriotic enough, Manchester Police revealed.
Another 31 people were detained earlier following several dawn raids carried out across the North West.
Manchester Police said “it was committed to ensuring that today’s festival of grief is about virtue signalling and wearing poppies rather than the quiet contemplation of the lonely personal sacrifices made by young men and women in conflicts around the world.”
This mornings raids, which mostly targeted people who’ve lost their poppies or had forgotten which coat it was on, were carried out by more than 3,000 officers from Manchester’s specialist Poppy Policing Division.
Most of the arrests were for not possessing a poppy with intent to go out, some were arrested for not knowing the date.
The force said some of those arrested might be bailed but would have certain conditions imposed on them including having a poppy tattooed on them and signing in with a probation officer at a Cenotaph every day for the next four years.
They will have to observe a minimum of two weeks respectful silence.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Poppy Police said: “People died for your freedom to wear a poppy. Today’s operation is aimed at ensuring that people remember exactly what they’re free to do and not do.”
