UK to weigh protest frequency under Public Order Act amendments

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on Sunday that police will be given new powers to restrict repeated demonstrations in England, saying officers should be able to consider the cumulative impact of frequent protests when imposing conditions on public processions and assemblies. The move follows a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including an event in London on Saturday that resulted in almost 500 arrests.

The government said it will amend Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 to make explicit that the frequency of protests in particular locations can be a factor when police apply conditions on marches and assemblies. The Home Office also said Mahmood will review existing legislation to ensure police powers are sufficient and consistently applied, and that the review could include consideration of powers to ban protests outright. Mahmood, speaking on Sunday, said the proposed changes were not intended as an outright ban and stressed the need to balance rights. "The right to protest is a fundamental freedom in our country. However, this freedom must be balanced with the freedom of their neighbours to live their lives without fear," she said.