Policing of protests

Home Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 29 Nov 2023 Closed: 24 May 2024 Parliament page
9 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
1 Letter
2 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
1 May
2024
Correspondence
25 Apr
2024
Report published
27 Feb
2024
Report published
12 Dec
2023
Oral evidence
12 Dec
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
6 Dec
2023
Oral evidence
6 Dec
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
12 Dec 2023
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Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes · Metropolitan Police Service Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist · Metropolitan Police Chief Constable Chris Haward · National Police Chiefs' Council Dame Sara Khan Robin Simcox · Commission for Countering Extremism The Lord Walney · House of Lords
6 Dec 2023
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Ben Jamal · Palestinian Solidarity Campaign Chris Nineham · Stop the War Coalition Dr Dave Rich · Community Security Trust Gideon Falter · Campaign Against Antisemitism Yasmine Adam · Muslim Association of Britain
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Policing of protests HC 369 27 Feb 2024 17 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
17 results
1 Conclusion Accepted
Third Report - Policing of protests
A delicate balance is required between the right to protest and public safety concerns.
There is a balance to be struck between the right of people to protest and the right of others to go about their everyday lives and to feel safe. The police should have the appropriate powers to safeguard the exercise … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights the Public Order Act 2023, detailing its new measures to address highly disruptive protest tactics while protecting the right to protest, noting the legislation is already partly in force.
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2 Conclusion Accepted
Third Report - Policing of protests
King's Coronation did not adequately test new Public Order Act powers.
Disruptive tactics by protest organisers led to the Government enacting new legislation to provide the police with more powers, via the Public Order Act 2023. Some of these powers were used for the first time during the policing of the … Read more
Government Response
The government states it works closely with police to ensure they have the necessary tools to minimise serious disorder, citing the Public Order Act 2023 and further measures in the Crime and Justice Bill as evidence of this ongoing commitment.
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3 Recommendation Deferred
Third Report - Policing of protests
Initiate post-legislative scrutiny of Public Order Act 2023 two years after Royal Assent.
We recommend that the Government carries out post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023, to begin two years after it received Royal Assent. (Paragraph 24) Israel-Gaza protests
Government Response
The government's response discusses the Police Uplift Programme and efforts to maintain officer numbers and develop workforce plans, completely unrelated to the recommendation for post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023.
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4 Conclusion Accepted
Third Report - Policing of protests
Elected representatives, families, and staff face insecurity from protest activity.
Whilst we respect the right to protest, we are clear that no one, including elected representatives, their families, and their staff, should be made to feel unsafe by protest activity outside their home. Likewise, no one should be intimidated when … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to reviewing the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) in February 2025, which will include considering national threats like public disorder and incorporating suggested updates.
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5 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Policing of protests
Provide urgent government response to Lord Walney's review on protecting elected representatives' offices.
We are aware that Lord Walney’s review, which will look at whether powers for enhanced protection for public spaces could be extended to offices of elected representatives, is with the Home Office. We look forward to a much more urgent … Read more
Government Response
The government's response outlines police funding for 2024-25, including maintaining officer numbers and reviewing the police funding formula, but does not address the recommendation regarding Lord Walney's review on enhanced protection for elected representatives' offices.
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6 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Policing of protests
Balance between protest rights and daily life generally maintained during recent protests.
There is clearly a balance to be struck between the right of people to protest and the right of people to go about their daily lives. We wholeheartedly support both these rights and recognise that finding the balance between competing … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on tackling hate crime through existing legislation and police resources, stating it does not intend to publish a Hate Crime Strategy, rather than directly addressing the committee's conclusion on the balance of protest rights and police operational independence.
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7 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Policing of protests
Repetitive protests significantly strain police resources, impacting other duties and officer wellbeing.
The repetitive nature of the recent large Israel-Gaza protests places considerable resource constraints on the police. This places additional pressure on the Met, which, having failed to meet the Uplift target, already struggles to meet the regular demands of policing … Read more
Government Response
The government's response outlines its strengthened approach to tackling extremism, including changes to Prevent Duty Guidance and a new definition of extremism, without addressing the committee's concerns about police resource constraints and officer wellbeing due to repetitive protests.
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8 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Policing of protests
Consider increasing protest organisers' notice period for informing police if protests continue.
Should these protests continue week after week, the Home Office should consider amending requirements for protest organisers, such as increasing the notice period for protest organisers to inform the police from the current six days, to allow the police to … Read more
Government Response
The government defers action on amending protest organiser requirements, stating it will respond to the recommendations of the Independent Review into Political Violence and Disruption led by Lord Walney 'in due course'.
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9 Recommendation Acknowledged
Third Report - Policing of protests
Resource demands from protests highlight urgent need for a national police workforce plan.
Following the policing priorities inquiry, we concluded that it was no longer sufficient for individual police forces to design their own workforce plans and recommended that the Home Office set out and implement a national workforce strategy that addresses officer … Read more
Government Response
The government states it continues to work with forces to maintain officer numbers and supports individual forces in developing their own workforce plans. It is working with national policing partners to develop longer-term plans but does not explicitly commit to the Home Office setting out a national workforce strategy itself.
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10 Recommendation Acknowledged
Third Report - Policing of protests
Urgently set out a ten-year policing workforce plan addressing numbers, skills, and London's challenges.
We again recommend that the Home Office set out a workforce plan and strategy for policing over the next ten years as a matter of urgency. As previously set out, the plan should address officer and staff numbers and skills … Read more
Government Response
The government states it continues to work with forces to maintain officer numbers and supports individual forces in developing their own workforce plans. It is working with national policing partners to develop longer-term plans but does not explicitly commit to the Home Office setting out a national workforce plan and strategy itself.
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11 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - Policing of protests
Review Strategic Policing Requirement to ensure public order models suit evolving protest approaches.
In the absence of a national workforce plan and strategy, the Home Office and partners within policing must review the Strategic Policing Requirement and supporting documents, to ensure that public order requirements and operating models remain fit for purpose in … Read more
Government Response
The Home Office commits to reviewing the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) every two years, with the next review in February 2025, to assess national threats including public disorder. It will also maintain a repository for suggested updates to the SPR.
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12 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - Policing of protests
Ensure police funding accurately reflects demand and provides adequate resources for the service.
We recently called for an urgent review and update of the Police Allocation Formula, setting out points for future review in advance to facilitate effective planning by PCCs and forces. The Home Office must ensure that police funding recognises the … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms a total police funding settlement of up to £18.5 billion for 2024-25 and recognises the current police funding formula is out of date. It states it is currently undertaking a review to introduce new funding arrangements as soon as possible, with a focus on quality and longevity.
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13 Conclusion Rejected
Third Report - Policing of protests
Government's failure to publish updated hate crime strategy is unsatisfactory amid rising incidents.
We are seriously concerned about the rise in the number of reported hate crimes since 7 October 2023, as well as the further significant resource needed for the police to respond to them. It is unsatisfactory that the Government has … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the seriousness of hate crime and details existing measures and resources for policing. However, it explicitly states it does not currently intend to publish a new Hate Crime Strategy, though it keeps its approach under constant review.
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14 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Policing of protests
Set out timetable for publishing an updated government strategy for tackling hate crime.
The Government must set out in its response to our report when it intends to publish an updated strategy for tackling hate crime.
Government Response
The government acknowledges the seriousness of hate crime and details existing measures and resources for policing. However, it explicitly states it does not currently intend to publish a new Hate Crime Strategy, thus rejecting the recommendation to set out a timeline for its publication.
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15 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - Policing of protests
Publish responses to commissioned reports on freedom of speech and community safety.
The Government has commissioned reports to increase the evidence base in the complex areas of law where the right to freedom of speech intersects with the need for all communities to feel safe as they go about their daily lives. … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines actions it has already taken regarding tackling extremism, including reinforcing the role of the CCE, changing the Prevent Duty Guidance, strengthening the focus of Prevent on ideology, increased work across government to tackle antisemitism and blasphemy, and the Home Secretary welcomed the report by Dame Sara Khan and Sir Mark Rowley on the challenges of tackling extremism and on 14 March, DLUHC announced a new definition of extremism.
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16 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - Policing of protests
Publish Home Office response to ‘Operating with Impunity’ report by April 2024 deadline.
We find it surprising that the Government has not yet responded to the reports it commissioned from the Commission for Countering Extremism regarding hateful extremism, particularly the report ‘Operating with Impunity’ by Dame Sara Khan and Sir Mark Rowley. Sir … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines several actions it has taken to strengthen its approach to tackling extremism, including reinforcing the CCE, changing Prevent Duty Guidance, and announcing a new definition of extremism which draws on the 'Operating with Impunity' report. However, it does not explicitly commit to publishing a formal response to the report by the requested April 2024 deadline.
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17 Recommendation Deferred
Third Report - Policing of protests
Publish Home Office response to Lord Walney’s review by May 2024 deadline.
We recognise the work completed by Lord Walney in his role as the independent adviser on political violence and disruption. Given that the review considers evidence relating to the ongoing protests, the Home Office should consider and publish its response … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges Lord Walney's Independent Review into Political Violence and Disruption and states it will respond to the report's recommendations in due course, without committing to the requested May 2024 deadline.
Home Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 17 of 9 classified
Accepted 7
Acknowledged 2
Deferred 6
Rejected 2
Total 9 recs + 8 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
1 May 2024 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Home Secretary regarding the Policing of Protests Government Response, dated 26 April 2024
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