Concerns Grow Over UK Crackdown on Protest Rights

Author: Sheetal Frank

March 13, 2026

HRRC emphasises that the right to peaceful protest is a crucial democratic freedom. While preventing public disorder and disruptions is important, any restrictions on demonstrations must be carefully executed and remain proportionate without undermining an individual’s ability to express dissent.

Thousands of people march to the US Embassy in London to call for an end to the conflict in Iran [Image credit: Tolga Akmen/EPA-The Guardian]

Thousands of protesters recently marched through Central London to protest against the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and call for an end to the conflict. London’s police force, increased patrols and ordered protesters to stay on designated routes and end the protest at specific times, with dozens of police vans deployed to patrol the area.

The UK has legislation to provide a framework for the policing of protests, such as The Public Order Act 1986, which was initially designed to provide the police with the power to implement restrictions on protests in order to prevent public disorder and major disruptions, which was later reinforced by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

More recently, the UK government established the Public Order Act 2023, which outlines protest-related criminal offences such as serious disruptions, causing road blocks obstructing transport and the act of locking, where a person attaches themselves to another person or an object.

The recent legislation imposed by the UK government has faced criticism from campaigners who argue it undermines human rights protections. The Joint Committee on Human Rights has warned that both 2022 and 2023 acts combined may have discouraging effects on the right to protest in England and Wales.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) highlights the importance of laws already in place in the UK that regulate protests, which already state that police officers can impose restrictions if they deem a risk of serious public disorder, disruptions or damage.The EHRC questions the necessity for new protest laws, which can cause further complexities. 

Human Rights Watch warns that the recent UK legislation, including the 2022 Act and the Public Order Act 2023, has granted the police extensive power over demonstrations, which may restrict the right to peaceful protests - a key democratic freedom. 

Although the UK government has drafted the legislation to prevent public disorder and to maintain safety, critics from civil liberty organisations warn that this can create further confusion, unclear laws and a repressive environment for protesters.

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Glossary

• Civil liberty organisations- An independent non-government group that stands up for fundamental rights.

• Crackdown- A government or authority using strict or harsh measures to curb certain behaviours.

• Democratic freedom- A system which allows citizens to participate in processes such as free elections and is protected by civil liberty organisations like free speech and human rights.

• Demonstrations- A public gathering or action, such as marches, rallies and protests to stand up against or for political or social issues.

• Discourage- To lose enthusiasm or confidence in something.

• Disruptions- To interrupt an event, process or system.

• Dissent- A difference of opinion on a particular subject or plan.

• Equality and Human Rights Commissionis- An independent body in Great Britain to enforce equality and non-discrimination laws.

• Human Rights Watch- A prominent independent international non-governmental organisation that investigates and defends human rights..

• Joint Committee on Human Rights- Is a parliamentary committee of 12 members which was established in 2001 and scrutinises all government bills to ensure it meets Human Rights Act 1998 and investigates human rights issues with the UK.

• Legislation- The process of making or enacting laws

• Peaceful protest- A nonviolent process of expressing disapproval or opposing a social or political change protected under international human rights law.

• Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022- A UK legislation to make stricter sentencing for serious offenders and expand police powers, including protest restrictions.

• Proportionate- A legal principle meaning that actions taken by authorities or governments must be appropriate and balanced when addressing an issue and should not exceed the required measures.  

• Protest – To object or disapprove of what someone has said or done.

• Public Disorder- An act of violence, intimidation or damage in a public space that causes harm, harassment or distress due to looting or rioting.

• Public Order Act 1986- A primary UK legislation which defines criminal offences related to public disorder, such as riot violence and allows the police to impose restrictions based on serious disruptions.

• Public Order Act 2023- A law that controls disruptions during protests, such as locking, obstructing transport and infrastructure and tunnelling and expanding police powers by allowing them to stop and search.

• Restrictions- To limit or control a situation.