Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Third Report - Policing of protests
Home Affairs Committee
HC 369
Published 27 February 2024
Recommendations
3
Deferred
Initiate post-legislative scrutiny of Public Order Act 2023 two years after Royal Assent.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government carries out post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023, to begin two years after it received Royal Assent. (Paragraph 24) Israel-Gaza protests
Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses the Police Uplift Programme and efforts to maintain officer numbers and develop workforce plans, completely unrelated to the recommendation for post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023.
Home Office
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9
Acknowledged
Para 69
Resource demands from protests highlight urgent need for a national police workforce plan.
Recommendation
Following the policing priorities inquiry, we concluded that it was no longer sufficient for individual police forces to design their own workforce plans and recommended that the Home Office set out and implement a national workforce strategy that addresses officer …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it continues to work with forces to maintain officer numbers and supports individual forces in developing their own workforce plans. It is working with national policing partners to develop longer-term plans but does not explicitly commit to the Home Office setting out a national workforce strategy itself.
Home Office
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10
Acknowledged
Para 70
Urgently set out a ten-year policing workforce plan addressing numbers, skills, and London's challenges.
Recommendation
We again recommend that the Home Office set out a workforce plan and strategy for policing over the next ten years as a matter of urgency. As previously set out, the plan should address officer and staff numbers and skills …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it continues to work with forces to maintain officer numbers and supports individual forces in developing their own workforce plans. It is working with national policing partners to develop longer-term plans but does not explicitly commit to the Home Office setting out a national workforce plan and strategy itself.
Home Office
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11
Accepted
Para 71
Review Strategic Policing Requirement to ensure public order models suit evolving protest approaches.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
Home Office
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12
Accepted
Ensure police funding accurately reflects demand and provides adequate resources for the service.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 focus on quality and longevity.
Home Office
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14
Rejected
Para 112
Set out timetable for publishing an updated government strategy for tackling hate crime.
Recommendation
The Government must set out in its response to our report when it intends to publish an updated strategy for tackling hate crime.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the seriousness of hate crime and details existing measures and resources for policing. However, it explicitly states it does not currently intend to publish a new Hate Crime Strategy, thus rejecting the recommendation to set out a timeline for its publication.
Home Office
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15
Accepted
Para 113
Publish responses to commissioned reports on freedom of speech and community safety.
Recommendation
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. …
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Government Response 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 report by Dame Sara Khan and Sir Mark Rowley on the challenges of tackling extremism and on 14 March, DLUHC announced a new definition of extremism.
Home Office
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16
Accepted
Para 114
Publish Home Office response to ‘Operating with Impunity’ report by April 2024 deadline.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 publishing a formal response to the report by the requested April 2024 deadline.
Home Office
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17
Deferred
Publish Home Office response to Lord Walney’s review by May 2024 deadline.
Recommendation
We recognise the work completed by Lord Walney in his role as the independent adviser on political violence and disruption. Given that the review considers evidence relating to the ongoing protests, the Home Office should consider and publish its response …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges Lord Walney's Independent Review into Political Violence and Disruption and states it will respond to the report's recommendations in due course, without committing to the requested May 2024 deadline.
Home Office
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Conclusions (8)
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 22
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 …
Government Response 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.
2
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 23
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 …
Government Response 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.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 43
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. …
Government Response 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.
5
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 44
We are aware that Lord Walney’s review, which will look at whether powers for enhanced protection for public spaces could be extended to offices of elected representatives, is with the Home Office. We look forward to a much more urgent response from the Government.
Government Response Summary
The government's response outlines police funding for 2024-25, including maintaining officer numbers and reviewing the police funding formula, but does not address the recommendation regarding Lord Walney's review on enhanced protection for elected representatives' offices.
6
Conclusion
Deferred
There is clearly a balance to be struck between the right of people to protest and the right of people to go about their daily lives. We wholeheartedly support both these rights and recognise that finding the balance between competing rights can be challenging, particularly in terms of operational policing …
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on tackling hate crime through existing legislation and police resources, stating it does not intend to publish a Hate Crime Strategy, rather than directly addressing the committee's conclusion on the balance of protest rights and police operational independence.
7
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 67
The repetitive nature of the recent large Israel-Gaza protests places considerable resource constraints on the police. This places additional pressure on the Met, which, having failed to meet the Uplift target, already struggles to meet the regular demands of policing London. The protests further drain police resource with more than …
Government Response Summary
The government's response outlines its strengthened approach to tackling extremism, including changes to Prevent Duty Guidance and a new definition of extremism, without addressing the committee's concerns about police resource constraints and officer wellbeing due to repetitive protests.
8
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 68
Should these protests continue week after week, the Home Office should consider amending requirements for protest organisers, such as increasing the notice period for protest organisers to inform the police from the current six days, to allow the police to prepare better.
Government Response Summary
The government defers action on amending protest organiser requirements, stating it will respond to the recommendations of the Independent Review into Political Violence and Disruption led by Lord Walney 'in due course'.
13
Conclusion
Rejected
We are seriously concerned about the rise in the number of reported hate crimes since 7 October 2023, as well as the further significant resource needed for the police to respond to them. It is unsatisfactory that the Government has not published its new plan for tackling hate crime since …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the seriousness of hate crime and details existing measures and resources for policing. However, it explicitly states it does not currently intend to publish a new Hate Crime Strategy, though it keeps its approach under constant review.