New UK Police Powers: What Could It Mean for Protests and Public Safety in the UK?

In a recent move to improve public safety, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced amendments to the landmark Crime and Policing Bill aimed at granting police in England and Wales with enhanced powers to regulate protests. These revisions, which focus on preventing intimidation and protecting places of worship, come in response to rising concerns over religiously motivated protests and hate crimes that have targeted religious communities. While the details are still being finalized, the implications of this new legislation for the right to protest, public safety, and law enforcement procedures should be considered.

Safeguarding Places of Worship

The proposed amendments would give police the ability to impose conditions on protests, including altering protest routes and timings to prevent disruption to those attending places of worship. This comes in the wake of violent incidents during the summer of 2024, when religious venues including mosques and synagogues were targeted by protests, making it risky or impossible for worshippers to practice their faith peacefully. This influenced a wave of religiously motivated hate crimes which has prompted the government to take action to protect the rights of vulnerable groups. With increasing incidents of intimidation and violence near places of worship, the government has decided that stronger measures are necessary to ensure the safety and security of individuals in these sensitive areas.

Balancing The Right to Protest and Public Safety

The government’s intention is to create a balance between the right to protest and the right to worship freely without fear of harassment or disruption. Nonetheless, the new powers granted to the police to impose conditions on protests could face resistance. Critics argue that these measures could infringe on the right to free speech and protest, raising concerns over the potential for overreach and restrictions on equal rights. While the proposed legislation is intended to prevent violence and intimidation it may lead to tensions, especially among those who view these restrictions as an infringement on their civil liberties.

These new powers also have the potential to unintentionally trigger larger or more aggressive protests in areas outside the scope of the new regulations. By introducing restrictions on locations, this could displace and move protests, rather than preventing them, creating new security challenges for law enforcement and further escalating tensions.

Enforcement practicality

A key issue with this legislation is the capacity for ambiguity regarding what constitutes "intimidation." The subjectivity of this term could lead to inconsistencies in how the law is applied, potentially increasing tensions between communities and leading to accusations of bias or unfair treatment. There is a risk that some groups or demographics may be disproportionately impacted, particularly if the law is not enforced consistently. Additionally, UK police forces are already under critical levels of strain at present with issues such as low morale, poor wellbeing, staff shortages and increasing crime demands that are too high. Being further stretched with additional responsibilities such as managing protests under the new legislation may move resourcing away from other critical jobs. It should be carefully considered whether the police have the capacity to take on this extra tasking which may require specialized units, training, and funding. Therefore, the practicalities of giving this extra work to the police require real consideration before adding further strain to already overburdened police department and systems.

Looking Forward

By announcing the amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, it signals a strong government commitment to safeguarding public safety and ensuring that vulnerable communities, especially those targeted by hate crimes, are better protected. The evolving policy landscape underscores the need to stay ahead of and adapt to the emerging and existing threats. As the new legislation is progressed and implemented it will require monitoring to ensure that it is fit for purpose to maintain public order and protect communities and not resulting in unintended backlash