The Home Office has announced a significant policy shift. Consequently, police will get new powers to manage repeated protests. This move follows a major pro-Palestinian demonstration in London. Nearly five hundred people were arrested during that event on Saturday.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the plans on Sunday. She stated there is currently “a gap in the law”. Therefore, she intends to act with speed. The government will rapidly amend the Public Order Act 1986. This change will explicitly allow police to consider the “cumulative impact” of repeated protests.
Specifically, these new powers will target frequent demonstrations. If a protest causes “repeated disorder” at the same location for multiple weeks, police can intervene. They will then have the authority to order organizers to move the event elsewhere. Additionally, officers could impose stricter time restrictions. Anyone who disobeys these new conditions now risks arrest.
Mahmood strongly denied this amounts to a ban on protest. She emphasized the need for balance. “This is not about a ban,” “This is about restrictions and conditions.” The goal is to protect the right to protest. However, the government also wants communities to go about their daily business. People should not feel intimidated by constant disruptions.
The announcement seems directly linked to recent events. For instance, a protest occurred on Saturday despite calls for postponement. This followed the deadly Manchester synagogue attack. Ministers, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, had asked for a delay. The government believes repeated protests create a strain on public order and police resources.
Furthermore, Mahmood defended the mass arrests from the weekend. She supported the decision to proscribe Palestine Action. “There is no excuse for holding up placards supporting a banned organization,” she stated firmly. That action will always prompt a police response.
The chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation echoed the need for change. Paula Dodds said officers are “emotionally and physically exhausted”. Their focus should be on public safety during a heightened terror alert. Instead, they must facilitate relentless demonstrations.
Finally, the Home Secretary will also review all existing anti-protest laws. This broader review will assess if powers to ban some protests outright need strengthening. These new measures follow other protest-related clauses currently in a crime and policing bill. The government is clearly taking a firmer stance on managing public demonstrations.
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