Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the (a) behaviour and (b) alleged use of force by police in response to the vigil for Sarah Everard in London and demonstrations in Bristol against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in March 2021.

The Government fully supports the public’s right to peaceful protest. However, those rights do not extend to violent or threatening behaviour and the police have powers to deal with any such acts.

The management of demonstrations and the use of the powers available is an operational matter for the police, who take decisions based on the circumstances they are faced with on the ground.

Police put themselves in harm’s way to defend us and the use of force is a vital part of their powers. However, the Government is also clear that all use of force must be lawful, proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances and subject to proper scrutiny.

Following the events on Clapham Common, the Home Secretary asked Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to conduct a full, independent lessons learned review. The report was published on 30 March and concluded that whilst the vast majority of attendees were peaceful and respectful; severe provocations in the evening by a minority of those present warranted the proportionate enforcement actions taken by the police.