Ministers in the UK are set to grant new powers to the police, specifically designed to target repeated protests. This move, announced by the Home Office, is particularly aimed at demonstrations linked to Gaza and other ongoing issues, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasizing the need to address the “cumulative impact” of frequent disruptions.

The impetus for these changes follows a period of significant protest activity, including an instance where almost 500 people were arrested in London after expressing support for Palestine Action, a proscribed organization. Such events have highlighted what Mahmood described as “a gap in the law” that necessitates immediate action, particularly concerning the police's ability to manage persistent demonstrations at the same sites.

Under the proposed amendments, which will be rapidly pushed through the Public Order Act 1986 (specifically Sections 12 and 14), police will be explicitly empowered to consider the “cumulative impact” of repeated protests on local areas. This means that if a protest has caused “repeated disorder” at a specific location over several weeks, officers could order organizers to move the demonstration elsewhere. Failure to comply would risk arrest. Mahmood clarified that these measures are about introducing restrictions and conditions, not an outright ban on protest, aiming to enable police to impose time limits or relocate events.

Beyond these immediate changes, the Home Secretary will also review existing anti-protest legislation to ensure current powers are sufficient and consistently applied across police forces. This review includes examining powers that could lead to banning some demonstrations completely. The goal is to strike a balance between protecting the fundamental right to protest and ensuring that communities can conduct their daily lives without feeling intimidated, and that public order is maintained.

A significant concern driving these changes is the reported fear and intimidation experienced by sections of the country, particularly religious communities. Mahmood explicitly mentioned the “considerable fear within the Jewish community” due to large, repeated protests. She stated that such demonstrations can leave people feeling unsafe, intimidated, and scared to leave their homes. The announcement also comes in the wake of a rally in Manchester after a terrorist attack outside a synagogue, further contributing to a sense of heightened alert, though the new powers are broadly targeted at the impact of repeated protest, not specific incidents.

Police federations have also voiced concerns, with the chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation noting that officers policing protests have been left “emotionally and physically exhausted.” The relentless nature of some demonstrations has diverted police resources from other critical safety priorities, including counter-terrorism efforts.

These planned powers are part of a broader set of measures related to protests. The ongoing crime and policing bill in parliament already includes provisions to ban the possession of face coverings, fireworks, or flares at protests, and to criminalize the climbing of certain war memorials, reflecting a wider governmental effort to manage and restrict aspects of public demonstrations.