Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
1
Conclusion
Third Report - Policing of protests
Accepted
There is a balance to be struck between the right of people to protest and the right of others to go about their everyday lives and to feel safe. The police should have the appropriate powers to safeguard the exercise of both these rights. The differing scale, nature and frequency …
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There is a balance to be struck between the right of people to protest and the right of others to go about their everyday lives and to feel safe. The police should have the appropriate powers to safeguard the exercise of both these rights. The differing scale, nature and frequency of protests over recent years has led to increased scrutiny of the way in which the right to protest is exercised and policed.
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Government response AI summary
The government highlights the Public Order Act 2023, detailing its new measures to address highly disruptive protest tactics while protecting the right to protest, noting the legislation is already partly in force.
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Home Office
2
Conclusion
Third Report - Policing of protests
Accepted
Disruptive tactics by protest organisers led to the Government enacting new legislation to provide the police with more powers, via the Public Order Act 2023. Some of these powers were used for the first time during the policing of the King’s Coronation, but the occasion was not necessarily a good …
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Disruptive tactics by protest organisers led to the Government enacting new legislation to provide the police with more powers, via the Public Order Act 2023. Some of these powers were used for the first time during the policing of the King’s Coronation, but the occasion was not necessarily a good test of the effectiveness of these new powers as it did not involve large-scale use of the kind of tactics the Act was intended to address.
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Government response AI summary
The government states it works closely with police to ensure they have the necessary tools to minimise serious disorder, citing the Public Order Act 2023 and further measures in the Crime and Justice Bill as evidence of this ongoing commitment.
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Home Office
4
Conclusion
Third Report - Policing of protests
Accepted
Whilst we respect the right to protest, we are clear that no one, including elected representatives, their families, and their staff, should be made to feel unsafe by protest activity outside their home. Likewise, no one should be intimidated when they are coming and going from their place of work. …
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Whilst we respect the right to protest, we are clear that no one, including elected representatives, their families, and their staff, should be made to feel unsafe by protest activity outside their home. Likewise, no one should be intimidated when they are coming and going from their place of work. AC Twist said: “Places of work seem to be a legitimate place to protest.” However, MPs have raised concerns about the impact on the staff who work in their offices, who are facing intimidation and violent attacks. We were pleased to hear the Met reiterate that in a democratic society elected representatives must be able to do their job in accordance with their consciences, and free from intimidation.
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to reviewing the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) in February 2025, which will include considering national threats like public disorder and incorporating suggested updates.
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Home Office
11
Recommendation
Third Report - Policing of protests
Accepted
In the absence of a national workforce plan and strategy, the Home Office and partners within policing must review the Strategic Policing Requirement and supporting documents, to ensure that public order requirements and operating models remain fit for purpose in the face of evolving approaches to protest.
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In the absence of a national workforce plan and strategy, the Home Office and partners within policing must review the Strategic Policing Requirement and supporting documents, to ensure that public order requirements and operating models remain fit for purpose in the face of evolving approaches to protest.
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office commits to reviewing the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) every two years, with the next review in February 2025, to assess national threats including public disorder. It will also maintain a repository for suggested updates to the SPR.
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Home Office
12
Recommendation
Third Report - Policing of protests
Accepted
We recently called for an urgent review and update of the Police Allocation Formula, setting out points for future review in advance to facilitate effective planning by PCCs and forces. The Home Office must ensure that police funding recognises the true nature of demand upon the service and provides the …
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We recently called for an urgent review and update of the Police Allocation Formula, setting out points for future review in advance to facilitate effective planning by PCCs and forces. The Home Office must ensure that police funding recognises the true nature of demand upon the service and provides the resource it needs to meet them. (Paragraph 72) Hate crime and terrorist offences
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Government response AI summary
The government confirms a total police funding settlement of up to £18.5 billion for 2024-25 and recognises the current police funding formula is out of date. It states it is currently undertaking a review to introduce new funding arrangements as soon as possible, with a …
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Home Office
15
Recommendation
Third Report - Policing of protests
Accepted
The Government has commissioned reports to increase the evidence base in the complex areas of law where the right to freedom of speech intersects with the need for all communities to feel safe as they go about their daily lives. Having commissioned these reports using public money, we expect the …
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The Government has commissioned reports to increase the evidence base in the complex areas of law where the right to freedom of speech intersects with the need for all communities to feel safe as they go about their daily lives. Having commissioned these reports using public money, we expect the Government to publish a response to demonstrate that it has taken account of that evidence. The failure to respond, as well as to other Government commissioned reports such as Sir Tom Winsor’s review on the departure of the previous Met Police Commissioner, demonstrates a pattern of behaviour that we are very concerned about.
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines actions it has already taken regarding tackling extremism, including reinforcing the role of the CCE, changing the Prevent Duty Guidance, strengthening the focus of Prevent on ideology, increased work across government to tackle antisemitism and blasphemy, and the Home Secretary welcomed the …
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Home Office
16
Recommendation
Third Report - Policing of protests
Accepted
We find it surprising that the Government has not yet responded to the reports it commissioned from the Commission for Countering Extremism regarding hateful extremism, particularly the report ‘Operating with Impunity’ by Dame Sara Khan and Sir Mark Rowley. Sir John Saunders in his report in 2023 rightly said that …
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We find it surprising that the Government has not yet responded to the reports it commissioned from the Commission for Countering Extremism regarding hateful extremism, particularly the report ‘Operating with Impunity’ by Dame Sara Khan and Sir Mark Rowley. Sir John Saunders in his report in 2023 rightly said that the Home Office should respond as a matter of urgency. The Home Office must, without fail, publish its response to the report ‘Operating with Impunity’ by no later than the end of April 2024.
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines several actions it has taken to strengthen its approach to tackling extremism, including reinforcing the CCE, changing Prevent Duty Guidance, and announcing a new definition of extremism which draws on the 'Operating with Impunity' report. However, it does not explicitly commit to …
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Home Office