Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on Sunday that British police will be given new powers to restrict protests, taking into account the “cumulative impact” of repeated demonstrations.
The move comes after the arrest of nearly 500 people during pro-Palestinian marches in London on Saturday, with 488 accused of supporting the banned group Action Palestine.
Mahmood said large-scale protests had caused “considerable fear” within the Jewish community following the terrorist attack on Manchester synagogue on Thursday, which left two people dead and several injured.
The government will amend Sections 12 and 14 of the 1986 Public Order Act, allowing police to impose conditions or even ban protests altogether if they repeatedly occur in the same places or lead to ongoing disorder.
“The right to protest is a fundamental freedom in our country. However, that freedom must be balanced with people’s right to live their lives without fear,” Mahmood said.
Police forces will also be instructed to use “the full range of powers” available to prevent public disorder. Local councils have been urged to cooperate, while security has been reinforced at 538 synagogues and Jewish community sites across the country with support from the Community Security Trust.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed the move:
“We’ve been calling for these powers for months. The recent protests have been deeply irresponsible and offensive in the wake of the Manchester attack.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Gaza protesters to “show some respect for grieving Jews,” as he seeks to balance free expression with public safety in a capital increasingly divided by religion and politics.
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