The petition of residents of South Cambridgeshire,
Declares that peaceful environmental protestors are being treated as criminals, facing excessive charges, receiving prolonged sentences, and enduring unjust treatment in the media; further declares that the Public Order Act 2023 introduced anti-protest regulations that have proven intimidating to those who wish to continue to raise their voices peacefully; and further declares that the UK’s commitment to the fundamental rights of freedom of assembly, expression and non-violent civil disobedience should be reaffirmed.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to introduce a bill to repeal the Public Order Act 2023.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Pippa Heylings, Official Report, 27 January 2026; Vol. 779, c. 871.]
[P003156]
Observations from the Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones):
The right to peaceful protest is a vital part of our democratic society. It is a long-standing tradition in this country that people are free to gather together and demonstrate their views. However, this right needs to be balanced with the rights of communities to go about their daily lives without experiencing harassment, intimidation, or serious disruption.
The Government recognise that there are differing views on the Public Order Act 2023 and are committed to ensuring public order legislation remains proportionate. To this end, the Government committed to undertake expedited post-legislative scrutiny of the Act. Post-legislative scrutiny began in May 2025, and the Government will carefully consider the results once complete.
The Home Secretary also announced in October 2025 an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation, led by Lord Macdonald of River Glaven KC. The review will ensure police powers remain fit for purpose, are used consistently, and strike the right balance between protecting the public and upholding the right to lawful protest. It will address whether the existing legislation is effective and proportionate, whether it adequately protects communities from intimidation and hate and whether it strikes a fair and sustainable balance between the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest, and the need to prevent disorder and keep communities safe. The review is under way and will report its findings to the Home Secretary by spring 2026.
The Government keep all public order and hate crime legislation under constant review and can confirm there are currently no plans to repeal the Act.