Recommendation 21

The preparatory conduct offence in clause 15 could criminalise preparing to protest at certain key sites—and indeed could carry a maximum sentence of life for Legislative Scrutiny: National Security Bill 53 preparing to protest. It will be important to ensure that those exercising their right to protest are not inadvertently caught by this provision and, importantly, that it is not policed in a way to suggest that they would be so caught. The Government should set out how they intend to ensure that clause 15 is not used to unduly interfere with the right to protest.