Police to get new powers to shut down protests amid fightback against disruptive tactics

Police are to be given new powers to deal with slow walking protests, as ministers broaden the legal definition of what counts as “serious disruption” during demonstrations.

The change will be made through an amendment to the Public Order Bill and has been hailed by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, as a way to help police counter protesters’ “guerrilla tactics”.

Last year, environmental activists used a strategy of walking slowly along roads, bringing traffic to a near standstill – leaving police uncertain about how to act and facing public anger as they failed to intervene. Environmental groups also sat in front of traffic and scaled motorway gantries.

Police chiefs argued that they could only step in and arrest activists if their behaviour was causing “serious disruption”. It was not clear if slow walking met the legal definition.

The expanded definition will mean police can require that such protests take place on the pavement and take action by removing demonstrators if they refuse.

Once the legal change is made, police officers will not have to treat a series of protests by the same group as standalone incidents, but can instead consider their overall impact.

Officers will also be able to shut down protests before the disruption takes place.

Mr Sunak said: “The right to protest is a fundamental principle of our democracy, but this is not absolute. A balance must be struck between the rights of individuals and the rights of the hard-working majority to go about their day-to-day business.

“We cannot have protests conducted by a small minority disrupting the lives of the ordinary public. It’s not acceptable and we’re going to bring it to an end.

“The police asked us for more clarity to crack down on these guerrilla tactics, and we have listened.”

The climate action group Extinction Rebellion has announced it will temporarily halt protests that cause public disruption, but Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil have vowed to continue.

The new amendment comes after police chiefs urged the Government to provide more clarity on how the law allows them to break up disruptive demonstrations.

Sir Mark Rowley, Metropolitan Police commissioner, said: “It is clearly understood that everybody has the right to protest. 

“Increasingly however, police are getting drawn into complex legal arguments about the balance between that right to protest and the rights of others to go about their daily lives free from serious disruption. 

“The lack of clarity in the legislation and the increasing complexity of the case law is making this more difficult and more contested.

“It is for Parliament to decide the law, and along with other police chiefs, I made the case for a clearer legal framework in relation to protest, obstruction and public nuisance laws. 

“We have not sought any new powers to curtail or constrain protest, but have asked for legal clarity about where the balance of rights should be struck.

“I welcome the Government’s proposal to introduce a legal definition of ‘serious disruption’ and ‘reasonable excuse’. 

“In practical terms, Parliament providing such clarity will create a clearer line for the police to enforce when protests impact upon others who simply wish to go about their lawful business.”