Public Order Act becomes law
A new law making it even harder to protest peacefully has been approved by parliament despite opposition from Quakers and other groups.
The Public Order Act received royal assent on 2 May 2023. It gives the police new powers to restrict and criminalise protest activity, including new criminal offences and expanded stop-and-search powers.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights deemed it “incompatible with the UK's international human rights obligations".
And the UK parliament's human rights committee said it would create a “hostile environment for peaceful protestors…putting fundamental democratic rights at risk."
Some measures came into force straight away, including the new criminal offences of locking on, being equipped to lock on, and interfering with key national infrastructure.
These powers were used during the Coronation, with anti-monarchy protestors being arrested on suspicion of being equipped to lock on because they had items such as plastic ties. They were later released without charge.
Other measures will come into force later, such as new offences around tunnelling and obstructing major transport works. Those convicted face harsh fines and prison sentences.
These provisions were removed from the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 by members of the House of Lords after strong opposition from Quakers and other groups in the Police Bill Alliance. But the government re-introduced them in a new bill later in 2022.
Quakers in Britain worked with campaign groups including Liberty to have the Public Order Act scrapped or amended. But gains made in the House of Lords were undone by MPs in the Commons votes during the 'ping pong' stage of the bill.
Siobhán Haire, deputy recording clerk of Quakers in Britain, said: “Peaceful protest is vital to our democracy and is a key way in which many Quakers put their faith into action.
“These new measures are unnecessary and undemocratic. Despite this severe blow to our freedoms, we will continue to work with others to protect and promote human rights in the UK."
Protest is still legal – see Liberty’s website for more information about protest rights