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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent

Right to protest is under attack in England and Wales, reports warn

A pro-Palestinian protester being detained by several police officers
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters have been arrested in the UK since the Palestine Action group was banned under the Terrorism Act in 2024. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

The right to protest is under attack in England and Wales with laws trampling over human rights protections and more oppressive restrictions in the pipeline, two major reports have warned.

Both Human Rights Watch and the cross-party law reform organisation Justice say recent legislative changes have created a chilling effect on lawful protest and should be repealed. Their reports, simultaneously published on Thursday, also say that proposals for more curbs should be halted.

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