A march in support of a Free Palestine and an end to the conflict in Gaza. Manchester, UK. Photograph: Gary Calton/The Observer
Good morning. The government’s attempts to clamp down on “disruptive” demonstrations in recent years seem not to have deterred activists thus far. Since the crackdown began in 2022 protesters have: vandalised art with soup, paint, safety hammers and glue; scaled war memorials and government buildings; toppled statues; glued themselves to roads in front of traffic; tunnelled underneath railways; and chained themselves to bridges. In response, ministers have bemoaned demonstrators who they view as “selfish” and “wreaking havoc in people’s everyday lives”.
Now, after months of near weekly demonstrations in support of Palestine, the Home Office has announced a new series of measures as part of the criminal justice bill to deter protesters from taking to the streets. Police will be given the power to arrest anyone wearing face coverings at specific demonstrations, climbing on war memorials or in possession of flares and fireworks at protests, with up to three months in jail for some of these new crimes.
