Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of restricting, or banning, repetitive protest marches in order to prevent undue restriction on the activities of residents, businesses, and visitors.

The Government is committed to upholding the right to lawful protest while ensuring the public are protected from serious disruption or harm.

Under Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 police have the power to impose conditions on protests where necessary. Under Section 13 of the Act, where a chief officer assesses that conditions will not be sufficient to prevent serious public disorder, they can seek an order prohibiting for a period not exceeding 3 months all public processions in that area. The decision to prohibit processions under Section 13 is exceptional and must be agreed by the Home Secretary.

In the Crime and Policing Act 2026, Section 165 requires police to consider the cumulative impact of repeated protests when assessing serious disruption to the life of the community. This may result in conditions being imposed on the timing or route of recurring protests to reduce repeated disruption to residents, businesses and visitors. This provision came into force on 29 June.

Lord Macdonald of River Glaven KC led a review of public order and hate crime legislation which considered if existing powers appropriately balance protecting public safety and upholding the right to protest. The review was submitted to the Home Secretary at the end of May and she will review the report in detail before setting out the Government’s formal response and publishing the report.