This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Do not restrict our rights to peaceful protest.
The right to peaceful assembly and protest are fundamental principles of any democracy and the proposed part of this bill that gives the police new powers to tackle disruptive peaceful protests should be removed from The Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
More details
Why is a non-violent protest regarded as disruptive? Protests are a fundamental right to our society and have been through history. It is how policies have been challenged and changed in the past. Without them, you are effectively saying nobody has the right to peacefully challenge anything. If people feel the need to protest then the government should listen and not be shutting down this legitimate way of people voicing their concerns and opinions. This is a dismantling of our civil liberties.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Parliament debated this topic
This topic was debated on 26 April 2021
Government responded
This response was given on 6 April 2021
The public order measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill do not erode the public’s right to protest; the Government will not be removing these measures from the Bill.
Read the response in full
The right to protest is a cornerstone of British democracy and the Government is absolutely committed to maintaining freedoms of expression and assembly. This Bill will enable the police to manage disruptive protests more effectively. The majority of protests in England and Wales will be unaffected by the proposed measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. They will not stop people from carrying out their civic right to protest and be heard.
Existing public order legislation was passed in 1986 and is no longer suitable for managing all the types of protests we experience today. We aim to ensure that legislation remains fit for purpose.
In recent years, we have seen a growing trend in protest groups using highly disruptive tactics that have a detrimental impact on the fundamental rights of others. The misery caused to millions of people by protesters gluing themselves to train carriages, blocking traffic, including emergency vehicles, and preventing newspapers from being distributed is totally unacceptable.
In a recent inspection, the independent policing inspectorate, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that the rights of protesters are sometimes prioritised over the rights of local residents, businesses, and those with opposing views, and recommended a ‘modest reset’ of the balance. This is what this Bill is designed to achieve.
The proposed measures will allow police to better manage highly disruptive protests, protecting the legitimate rights of those affected by the protests whilst remaining compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights set out that everyone has the right to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly and association with others. However, these freedoms are not absolute, and restrictions may be placed for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
The police will continue to be required to pay due regard to Human Rights obligations when making use of any powers to manage protests and they must be able to show that their use of powers is necessary and proportionate.
Home Office
Related activity
MPs to debate petition about rights to protest - share your views
On Monday 26 April, MPs will debate this petition in the House of Commons, and a Government Minister will respond.
Tell MPs about your views on proposals to grant police new powers relating to protest by completing this short survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/0LIDQC/
Your responses to this survey will help MPs to understand concerns about new police powers relating to protests. The Petitions Committee might publish a summary of survey responses, which could include some or all of your comments, and MPs may read them out in the House of Common. What MPs say may be reported in the press and appear on the news, so please don't share any personal information that you don't want to be public.
Please respond by Friday 16 April, to make sure your responses can inform the debate.
Watch the debate
Watch the debate (from 6.15pm, Monday 26 April): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5jP_5j-A0M&feature=youtu.be
You'll be able to read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it happens: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-04-26
What is the Petitions Committee?
The House of Commons Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that looks at e-petitions submitted on petition.parliament.uk. It is independent from Government.
Find out more about the Petitions Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/
Follow the Petitions Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://twitter.com/HoCpetitions
Watch a short video about how petitions work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEOraE08Jk
Petitions Committee publishes results of survey on changes to powers to police protests
Ahead of the debate on Monday 26 April on rights to protest, the Petitions Committee has published a summary of responses to its survey on the potential impact of changes to powers to police protests.
The survey asked why people had signed petitions, including this one, about changes to powers to police protests, and concerns about these new powers. We received over 14,000 responses, and you can read a summary of results here: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/26059/default/
Watch the debate
On Monday 26 April, MPs will debate this petition in the House of Commons, and a Government Minister will respond.
Watch the debate (from 6.15pm, Monday 26 April): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5jP_5j-A0M&feature=youtu.be
You'll be able to read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it happens: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-04-26