It is legal to protest in the UK, and the right to protest in England and Wales is protected under the European Convention of Human Rights.
However, it is important to note that this legal right only applies to peaceful demonstrations, and does not extend to any acts of violence or damage caused during a protest.
The right to protest is not unconditional and can be limited in certain circumstances , such as when a protest or assembly is deemed to threaten public health. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, ‘lockdown’ rules restricted the right to protest by making it an offence for groups to assemble.
The police can also impose conditions on protests if they believe that:
The conditions placed on protests can vary and are determined by the police in order to prevent this behaviour.
This guide explains how your right to protest is affected by the new protest laws - the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (PCSC) 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023. It will be particularly useful if you might be treated unfairly at a protest or demo.
The information in this guide applies to people over 18 in England and Wales.
Last updated: April 2024
New protest laws have made the headlines recently. You might have heard about lots of arrests of climate change protesters, anti-monarchists at the Coronation, and pro-Palestine marchers. You might be wondering how the new protest laws affect you.
This guide will give you an overview of these new protest laws, and explain what rights and protections you have, particularly if you are at greater risk of being discriminated against. It gives you the information you need to make decisions about what you want to get involved in.
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Do I have the right to protest? Can the police limit my right to protest?
Disclaimer : this article is for general information. It’s not intended to be used as legal advice. For information on how to get legal advice, please see our page here.
In 2022, the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Act 2022 (also called the Policing Act or the PCSC Act) was passed. It has changed the law on protesting, and you can read more about it here. In 2023, the Government introduced the Public Order Act. More information on this Act is available here.
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