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Police in England and Wales are set to receive new powers to limit repeated protests, with officers authorised to consider the “cumulative impact” of demonstrations when deciding whether to impose restrictions.
The move, announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, will allow senior officers to assess the effects of previous protest activity and, if necessary, instruct organisers to relocate events or face arrest and prosecution for breaches. The measures, to be introduced by amending Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, aim to balance the right to protest with the right of communities to feel safe.
Mahmood said the right to protest remained a fundamental freedom but stressed that “large, repeated protests can leave sections of our country, particularly religious communities, feeling unsafe, intimidated and scared to leave their homes.” She highlighted concerns raised by Jewish communities in recent weeks, describing the changes as “an important step in ensuring we protect the right to protest while ensuring all feel safe in this country.”
The government will also review existing legislation, including powers to ban protests outright and measures contained in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill. That Bill already proposes banning pyrotechnics at protests, criminalising the climbing of war memorials, and prohibiting the use of face coverings at designated demonstrations.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones visited Lambeth Police HQ on Sunday to meet Metropolitan Police leaders following protests in which almost 500 people were arrested, many for supporting the proscribed group Palestine Action. Jones also discussed how technologies such as live facial recognition could support policing efforts.
Meanwhile, following last week’s Yom Kippur terrorist attack in Manchester, Housing Secretary Steve Reed has written to local authorities urging them to use existing resources and powers to ensure Jewish communities are protected, including limiting protest activity where necessary.
Police forces are working with the Community Security Trust to reassure and provide extra support to more than 500 synagogues and Jewish community sites across England and Wales.
The Home Secretary will write to Chief Constables today, thanking them for their response to recent unrest and encouraging the use of all available powers to prevent disorder and protect communities.
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