New laws to clamp down on disruptive protesters come into force

Serious Disruption Prevention Orders empower the police service to intervene before individuals cause serious disruption, for those who have previously committed protest-related offences or ignored court-imposed restrictions.

The new Serious Disruption Prevention 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 Serious Disruption Prevention Orders can be imposed on those who have, on at least two occasions, committed protest-related offences or breached the conditions of an injunction. The specific restrictions contained within each Serious Disruption Prevention Order will be decided by the court and can last for up to two years. They can also be renewed if the individual 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 such an order will be deemed a criminal offence and carry a maximum penalty of six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Wreaking havoc

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Members of the public have a democratic right to protest and this Government will always uphold that right. However, recent months have shown certain individuals are simply dedicated to wreaking havoc and causing severe disruption to the everyday lives of the public. This is why we’ve 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 Serious Disruption Prevention Orders is the latest step in the Government’s crackdown on disruptive protests and ensures that the police service has the powers and tools it needs to keep the streets safe.

This move 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 protest events.

What’s more, the Criminal Justice Bill will serve to prevent individuals from using the right to protest as a defence for committing criminal offences.

This string of measures ensures that individuals can exercise their democratic right to protest, while ensuring the public can go about their daily lives safely and without serious disruption.

Police response

In the last 6 months, there have been more than 1,000 protest events and vigils, with police making over 600 arrests nationally. The police service’s response has cost forces millions of pounds and required thousands of officers’ shifts.

Under public order legislation, serious disruption may be deemed to 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 otherwise disrupts access to essential goods and services in a way which is more than minor.