New public order powers to prevent individuals causing repeated
serious disruption come into force today, as the government
continues with its plan to protect the public from criminality at
protests.
Serious Disruption Prevention Orders will empower the police to
intervene before individuals cause serious disruption, for those
who have previously committed protest-related offences or ignored
court-imposed restrictions.
The new orders can impose a range of restraints on an individual,
including preventing them from being in a particular place or
area, participating in disruptive activities and being with
protest groups at given times. They can also stop individuals
from using the internet to encourage protest-related
offences.
These orders can be imposed on those who have, on at least two
occasions, committed protest-related offences, for example
locking-on, or breached the conditions of an injunction. The
specific restrictions contained within each order will be decided
by the court and can last up to two years. They can also be
renewed if the person remains a threat.
Serious Disruption Prevention Orders were introduced as part of
the Public Order Act 2023, which was passed last year, and are
court orders. Breaching an order will be a criminal offence and
will carry a maximum penalty of six months in prison and/or an
unlimited fine.
Home Secretary said:
“The public has a democratic right to protest and this government
will always uphold that.
“However, recent months have shown certain individuals are just
dedicated to wreaking havoc and causing severe disruption to the
everyday lives of the public.
“This is why we have introduced these new powers to ensure that
anyone who ignores warnings from our law enforcement cannot
continue to cause turmoil unpunished.”
The introduction of the new orders is the latest step in the
government's crackdown on disruptive protests, and ensure that
the police have the powers and tools they need to keep our
streets safe.
This builds on action announced earlier this year which will
prevent protestors from using facemasks to conceal their identity
at certain protests, make climbing on designated war memorials a
criminal offence and ban the possession of flares and
pyrotechnics at protests.
The Criminal Justice Bill will also prevent individuals using the
right to protest as a defence for committing criminal offences.
This string of measures ensures that people can exercise their
democratic right to protest while ensuring the public can go
about their daily lives safely and without serious
disruption.
In the last 6 months, there have been more than 1,000 protests
and vigils, with police making over 600 arrests nationally. The
police's response has cost forces millions of pounds and required
thousands of officers' shifts.
Under public order legislation, serious disruption may occur when
protest activity prevents or hinders day to day activities or
construction or maintenance works, causes delays to deliveries of
time-sensitive products or disrupts access to essential goods and
services in a way which is more than minor.
