UK to Expand Police Powers Over Repeat Protests

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced measures to give police broader powers to impose conditions on repeated protests, explicitly allowing them to consider the “cumulative impact” of demonstrations, move locations, restrict times, and review protest laws including Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act with the option to seek bans. The announcement follows weeks of large pro‑Palestine marches and a deadly synagogue attack in Manchester, and came after nearly 500 people were arrested at a Palestine Action‑linked protest in central London. Ministers said repeated demonstrations have caused “considerable fear” in the Jewish community and stretched police resources. Anyone who breaches imposed conditions could be arrested and prosecuted, and the government said organisers who flout new restrictions may face custodial sentences. The government says changes will be brought forward "as soon as possible," while critics and rights groups such as Amnesty warned some enforcement tactics risk breaching human rights protections.