How police in England can now stop basically any protest
Posted: 19th June 2023
New anti-protest legislation forced through by Suella Braverman has been labelled “unlawful”
Suella Braverman forced through new anti-protest laws after slow-marching demonstrations from Just Stop Oil activists in London
Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
At midnight last night, the right to protest in England and Wales became a matter of police discretion.
Yesterday, the police could restrict or stop a protest to prevent it causingeither “serious public disorder, serious damage to property, or significant and prolonged disruption to the life of the community”.
Those powers already allowed plenty of room for interpretation, but from today the threshold is even lower. This week, home secretary Suella Braverman forced through new laws in a way never seen before in the UK. Here’s what you need to know.