The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has announced new powers for police in England and Wales to restrict protests by taking account of the “cumulative impact” of previous similar demonstrations, prompting concern from civil liberty groups.
Ms Mahmood said on Sunday that repeated large-scale demonstrations over Gaza had caused “considerable fear” for the Jewish community after a fatal terror attack on a synagogue last week. Under the proposals, police will be able to impose tougher conditions on static protests or marches, including time limits, relocation, and caps on numbers.
The measures amend sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, with breaches carrying a maximum penalty of six months in prison or an unlimited fine. The Home Office said the changes would allow police to consider the frequency of protests at particular sites as a reason for restrictions.
Civil rights groups have expressed alarm. Shami Chakrabarti, the Labour peer and former shadow attorney general, warned that the government should pause before passing “draconian powers” that could end up in the hands of a Nigel Farage-led government. Two Labour MPs voiced concern, with one telling the Guardian that rushed laws could be used to stop “justifiable protests”.
The pressure group Defend Our Juries, which supports Palestine Action, pledged a “major escalation” of demonstrations over ten days in November, stating that the home secretary’s action would “fuel the growing backlash to the ban”. The Liberal Democrats criticised the plans as a waste of police time while failing to target those inciting violence.
The proposals face potential legal challenges, as they mirror failed moves by former Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman. The Court of Appeal in June upheld a ruling that similar legislation passed in 2023 was unlawful, a decision hailed by civil rights organisation Liberty as a major victory.
