UK Government: Protest Is Not A Crime

The right to protest has always been one of the most important freedoms in a democracy. From the women’s suffrage movement to the fight to end child labour to winning fair working conditions and weekends off, peaceful protest has been the driving force for positive change in society.

But today, that right is under serious threat.

The new Labour government has chosen to double down on the unprecedented restrictions introduced by the Conservatives. Fresh clauses in the Crime and Policing Bill propose even tighter controls on protest. These include banning face coverings, allowing police to force protestors on limited visas to leave the country if they receive a caution, and more severe restrictions on gatherings.

This is not an isolated move. In fact, it is the fourth anti-protest bill in just four years. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 already gave sweeping new powers to clamp down on protest, and in 2024 five climate activists were sentenced to a shocking combined 21 years in prison — simply for planning a peaceful protest on a Zoom call.

The Public Order Act 2023 has since expanded stop-and-search powers, making it easier to arrest people before protests. Already, protesters have been rounded up for carrying placards or for slow marching. These powers have hit marginalised communities the hardest, with already over-policed groups and people of colour bearing the brunt.

Why Protest Matters

History teaches us that protest is essential. Without it, we would not have many rights and freedoms we take for granted today. Peaceful protest is not a crime; it is the foundation of a healthy democracy.

If we lose this right, we lose one of the most powerful ways to hold those in power accountable.

What Needs to Change

Campaigners are now calling on the government to revoke protest-related clauses in all repressive legislation, including the Crime and Policing Bill, the Public Order Act, and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, and their secondary legislation.

The demand is simple: protect freedom of expression, stop the crackdown on peaceful protest, and safeguard democracy.

How You Can Help

Our democratic freedoms have been hard-won over generations, but they are being quickly eroded. Now is the time to act.

You can stand up for your rights by signing the petition calling on the government to revoke these anti-protest laws. By adding your name, you’re helping defend not only your freedoms but those of future generations.

Protest is not a crime. It’s democracy in action. Let’s make sure it stays that way.

Sign The Petition Here

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