More than 40 rights groups, charities, and unions in the UK have strongly rejected the government’s proposed amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, describing it as a “dangerous” attempt to expand police powers and restrict the right to protest.
In a joint statement titled Defend the Right to Protest Civil Society, 44 UK-based civil society organizations, including Greenpeace, the Trades Union Congress, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and Jewish Voice for Liberation, emphasized that freedom of expression and assembly is a “precious” right that must be defended. The groups criticized the amendment, which would require police to consider the “cumulative impact” of repeated protests in a given area when imposing restrictions, as an extreme measure that could broadly curtail lawful demonstrations.
The organizations warned that, if enacted, the law could allow police to restrict events based on previous or planned protests in the same area, potentially limiting a wide range of peaceful activities. They noted that government statements suggest the powers were prompted by pro-Palestine rallies, but highlighted that the law’s impact would extend far beyond that, affecting protests such as anti-racist marches, farmers’ demonstrations, or Pride events.
The joint statement also criticized the government’s framing of the proposal as a measure to protect vulnerable groups, arguing that restricting peaceful protest would not enhance safety or rights. The NGOs urged the government to immediately abandon the proposal and to repeal the series of anti-protest laws upon which it builds, reaffirming the importance of safeguarding the right to protest in England and Wales.
