Police to be given greater powers to restrict repeated protests

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said repeated large-scale protests had caused "considerable fear" for the Jewish community, Neil Connery reports.

Police are to be given greater powers to restrict protests, by allowing them to consider the "cumulative impact" of repeated demonstrations.

The measures follow frequent pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including an event in London on Saturday which saw almost 500 arrests.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said repeated large-scale protests had caused "considerable fear" for the Jewish community.

The Government will amend Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 to explicitly allow the police to take account of the cumulative impact of frequent protests on local areas in order to impose conditions on public processions and assemblies.

The Home Secretary will also review existing legislation to ensure powers are sufficient and are being applied consistently by police forces - this will include powers to ban protests outright.

She said: "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."

Police arrest a protestor taking part in the demonstration organised by Defend our Juries in support of Palestine Action. Credit: PA

A total of 492 people were arrested at a pro-Palestine march in London on Saturday, which took place on in defiance of calls from police and politicians.

The organisers of the protest said that more than a thousand people had gathered at Trafalgar Square to hold a mass silent vigil protesting the proscription of Palestine Action, while the names of Palestinian children killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict were read out.

The vast majority of arrests were for supporting a proscribed organisation, with the ages of those arrested ranging from 18 to 82.

Protesters taking part in a demonstration organised by Defend our Juries, in support of Palestine Action in Trafalgar Square, London. Credit: PA

Marches went ahead in Manchester and London on Saturday, despite calls for organisers to reconsider in the aftermath of Thursday's deadly attack at a synagogue in Manchester.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer had urged groups behind the demonstrations and attendees to “respect the grief of British Jews” and avoid causing further pain to mourners.

A vicar, who had been sitting with her eyes closed and holding a poster saying “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, was among those arrested and carried out by police.

Some people in the crowd called police “shameful” and one said to officers “thanks for protecting us” as the woman was taken away.

Two elderly men were also seen being carried by each limb to the south-west side of the square, where officers and police vehicles are waiting to process the arrests.

The proscription of Palestine Action has become a focal point of the campaign for activists in recent months.

The previous two events have seen a total of 1,422 people arrested, the majority for supporting a proscribed organisation.

People take part in a demonstration organised by GM Friends of Palestine at Manchester Cathedral. Credit: PA

Ms Mahmood wrote to chief constables on Sunday, thanking them for their swift and professional response following Thursday’s attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, and at protests across the country.

She encouraged them to use the full range of powers available to them to prevent and respond to public disorder.

She told them: “The right to peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy. It is a long-standing tradition in the UK that people are free to gather and express their views.

“However, the public rightly demands a firm and visible policing response where protest activity seek to cause serious disruption, intimidate others or is intent on breaking the law.”

Tributes were left at the scene of the attack in Manchester Credit: Peter Byrne/PA

The home secretary's suggestions have been criticised by human rights group Amnesty International.

Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UK’s law and human rights director, said: “Is the Government seriously suggesting that people protesting its decisions should only be able to do that a limited number of times? If it is, it is a ludicrous proposal, and if not, this announcement is just a cynical attempt at looking tough.”

Human rights charity Liberty said the move would "undermine" people's rights.

Liberty’s director Akiko Hart said: “The police already have immense powers to restrict protests – handing them even more would undermine our rights further while failing to keep people safe from violence like the horrific and heart-breaking antisemitic attack in Manchester.”

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