Member

Clause 140 amends the Public Order Act 1986 to impose a duty on police to consider the so-called “cumulative disruption” resulting from repeated protests in a given area. This clause gives the police unprecedented powers to restrict or prohibit protests if they are expected to be too disruptive. This represents a grievous attack on the right to protest, which is vital to our democracy. Its overly broad framework empowers the police routinely to curb freedom of expression and assembly as exercised through peaceful protests. It significantly expands the definition of serious disruption. This would allow the police to prohibit peaceful demonstrations pre-emptively if, in their opinion, an area has been the site of too many protests. That is a very broad discretion. Presumably it would apply if the protests in question were organised by different groups who advocate for different causes. This could create a first-come, first-served version of free speech whereby areas are given what could be described as a protest allowance, at the whim of the local constabulary.