Government’s repeat protest restrictions worse than feared

The Government today tabled the restrictions on “cumulative” or repeat protests as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

The amendment says that when considering whether to restrict a protest a senior police officer “must” take into account any cumulative disruption caused by past protests – regardless as to whether they were organised or attended by the same people.

Earlier this year Liberty defeated very similar regulations when the Court of Appeal upheld a legal challenge against anti-protest laws which stated, among other things, that officers “may” take into account relevant cumulative disruption.

Ruth Ehrlich, head of policy and campaigns at Liberty, said: 

“The Government’s plans to restrict repeat protests go even further than we had feared, and  combined with other anti-protest measures in the pipeline like bans on face coverings, will see the right to protest in the UK stripped to the bone.

“Liberty defeated very similar restrictions to this in the courts earlier this year. The fact the Government has reintroduced them but with even further reach is a serious blow to people’s fundamental rights.

“Police already have extensive powers to restrict protests, yet these measures add to an ever-expanding web of anti-protest laws. It is becoming harder and harder for people to exercise their democratic right to protest without falling foul of the law. Instead of introducing new restrictions, the Government should focus on why existing laws are supposedly failing and ensure people’s rights to demonstrate are protected.”