Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Paragraph: 22
A delicate balance is required between the right to protest and public safety concerns.
Conclusion
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.
Government response summary AI-generated
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.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
22
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
Peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society. It is a long-standing tradition in this country that people are free to gather together and demonstrate their views, however uncomfortable these may make others, provided they do so within the law. There is, of course, a balance to be struck. Protesters’ rights need to be balanced with the rights of others to go about their business without fear of intimidation or serious disruption to the community. Rights to peaceful protest do not extend to violent or threatening behaviour and the police have powers to deal with any such acts. Should a protest contravene the law, the police have comprehensive powers to deal with activities that spread hate or deliberately raise tensions through violence or public disorder. This does not negate the right to peaceful protest. The use of these powers and the management of demonstrations is an operational matter for the police.
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