UK Police To Gain New Powers Restricting Large Repeated Protests

The UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced new measures to enhance police powers to restrict protests by allowing them to consider the cumulative impact of repeated demonstrations, particularly in light of recent pro-Palestinian protests and a terror attack outside a Manchester synagogue that raised safety concerns for the Jewish community. The government plans to amend Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 to enable police to impose conditions on public processions and assemblies based on their repeated occurrence and impact, including potentially banning protests outright. These changes aim to balance the fundamental right to protest with the need to protect communities from feeling unsafe, intimidated, or scared to leave their homes. The announcement follows a pro-Palestine Action protest in London where nearly 500 arrests were made despite calls for cancellation, with authorities emphasizing the considerable fear expressed by the Jewish community. The Home Secretary will review existing legislation to ensure powers are sufficient and consistently applied, including the ability to order protests to move locations if they cause repeated disorder. While Amnesty International criticized the mass arrests as a breach of human rights for peaceful protesters, officials maintain the crackdown is necessary to protect public safety and community well-being.