Police forces across the UK are set to receive expanded powers to impose restrictions on repeat protests under changes to public order laws, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on Sunday.
Speaking to the media, Mahmood said the move aims to close a gap in the law and allow communities to go about their daily lives without intimidation. The new powers will let police consider the “cumulative impact” of recurring protests when deciding whether to impose conditions, such as relocating protests or limiting their duration.
The announcement comes after nearly 500 people were arrested during a central London demonstration in support of the banned group Palestine Action. The protest took place despite calls to cancel it following a terror attack at a Manchester synagogue that left two people dead.
Mahmood said that large, repeated protests have left some communities, particularly religious groups, feeling unsafe. “These changes mark an important step in ensuring we protect the right to protest while ensuring all feel safe in this country,” she said.
The changes will be introduced through amendments to the Public Order Act 1986. Protesters who breach the new conditions will face arrest and prosecution.
In a letter to police chiefs in England and Wales, Mahmood explained that the amendments will give officers more flexibility to prevent repeated disruptive protests at the same location and direct organisers to alternative sites.
The move has sparked criticism from opposition parties. Green Party leader Zack Polanski called the move a cynical assault on the right to dissent, while Liberal Democrat spokesperson Max Wilkinson warned it could undermine peaceful protest without tackling antisemitism.
Mahmood defended the decision, saying the government is committed to both defending free speech and addressing rising concerns over public safety particularly in the Jewish community.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the plan but questioned the delay in implementing such measures, arguing that incidents like the Manchester attack were foreseeable.
Mahmood maintained that the government is determined to combat antisemitism and ensure protests do not endanger community safety.
