Public order proposals would ‘essentially take away a person’s right to protest and would almost certainly result in a court challenge,’ the U.K government stated in March 2021.
The new directives would allow police to identify disruptive protestors with electronic tags and restrict where they travel, who they meet, and what they do in person or online, even if they have not committed a crime.
Opposition MPs argued the prime minister would violate the proposed rule himself if he fulfilled his plan when he protested and wanted to “lay down in front of the bulldozers” to halt the construction of a new runway at Heathrow Airport.
May 24,Priti Patel MP tweeted “The Public Order Bill will give police the tools they need to stop a small minority using disruptive tactics to wreak havoc on the road network & essential services like ambulances. Yesterday the Bill passed its first stage in the Commons – delivering on the people’s priorities.”
“This proposal of protest banning orders essentially takes away a person’s right to protest and we believe banning people from attending peaceful protests would very likely to lead to a legal challenge,” the Home Office continued.
“It appears unlikely that a court would issue a high penalty to someone who is peacefully protesting. Consequently, we believe it unlikely the measure would work as hoped.
This will “target peaceful protesters and passers-by who aren’t disrupting anyone or anything at all … the government is extending powers normally made available for serious violence and terrorism to peaceful protests.” said Ms. Cooper Labour MP.
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