New protest clampdown with £1,000 fines for wearing masks and climbing memorials
People who cover their faces during protests could face £1,000 fines under a new clampdown.
New laws will also make it illegal to carry flares and fireworks at demonstrations. And a new offence will be created to stop people climbing on war memorials, with those convicted facing three months behind bars or a £1,000 fine. The Government also says the right to protest won't be accepted as an defence for blocking a road or causing a public nuisance.
The new rules, which are being introduced as part of the Criminal Justice Act making its way through the Commons, give police powers to arrest protesters who refuse to take off face coverings like balaclavas and masks. They could be fined or face a month in prison.
Campaign group Liberty has accused the Government of trying to shut down legitimate protest with draconian new laws. It said: "No matter our backgrounds or who we vote for, we all want people in power to listen to our concerns Anti-protest laws are designed to silence us, protect the powerful and prevent meaningful change."
And Lindsey German, of Stop the War Convenor said: "Of all the problems this country has, climbing war memorials isn't one of them. Even the Met admits our demos are well organised and peaceful. Arrest numbers are lower than Glastonbury.
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"The prime minister and home secretary are deliberately trying to raise tensions and create the impression that people marching for peace are a threat to society. It's unbelieveable that the government is using taxpayers' money on lawyers and wasting parliament's and civil servants' time on this legislation just because a couple of people climbed a war memorial.
"And it's an appalling insult to people who cover their faces for religious or health reasons." Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Recent protests have seen a small minority dedicated to causing damage and intimidating the law-abiding majority. The right to protest is paramount in our county, but taking flares to marches to cause damage and disruption is not protest, it is dangerous.
“That is why we are we giving police the powers to prevent any of this criminality on our streets.” Police chiefs have welcomed the proposed legislation.
Critics have previously accused ministers of stamping down on the right to protest. Amnesty International accused the Government of creating "vague and undefined police and government powers to clamp down on any protests" with 2022's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.
They warned police would be able to shut down demonstrations for being too noisy or likely to cause a nuisance. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman argued they were needed to halt a wave of protests by group like Just Stop Oil. More than 650 of the campaign's supporters were arrested last year.
Chief Constable BJ Harrington, lead for public order on the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “Policing is not anti-protest, but there is a difference between protest and criminal activism, and we are committed to responding quickly and effectively to activists who deliberately disrupt people’s lives with reckless and criminal acts.”
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