There is a balance to be struck between the right of people to protest and the right of others to go about their everyday lives and to feel safe. The police should have the appropriate powers to safeguard the exercise of both these rights. The differing scale, nature and frequency of protests over recent years has led to increased scrutiny of the way in which the right to protest is exercised and policed.

There is a balance to be struck between the right of people to protest and the right of others to go about their everyday lives and to feel safe. The police should have the appropriate powers to safeguard the exercise of both these rights. The differing scale, nature and frequency of protests over recent years has led to increased scrutiny of the way in which the right to protest is exercised and policed. Type: conclusion | Number: 1 | Paragraph: 22 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: The Public Order Act 2023 (the Act) received Royal Assent on 02 May 2023. The Act introduces a variety of measures including the new offences of locking on and causing serious disruption by tunnelling, alongside the introduction of Serious Disruption Prevention Orders which target protestors who are