The Government has fast-tracked legislation to clamp down on protests before the coronation of King Charles III.
Security minister Tom Tugendhat has defended the new laws implemented to stop Just Stop Oil-style rallies, which have brought London to a standstill.
He spoke after a man carrying a knife was on Tuesday night arrested and detained after he threw items including gun cartridges towards Buckingham Palace from the gates.
Mr Tugendhat, the Tonbridge MP and former Tory leadership hopeful, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Wednesday: “The coronation is a chance for the United Kingdom to showcase our liberty and democracy, that’s what this security arrangement is doing.
“Empowering people to come together, freely, openly and demonstrating security can be a liberator, not like in authoritarian states where it is a controller.”
But what are the laws and why are they being enforced?
What are the new anti-protest laws?
Suella Braverman has introduced laws involving tougher sentences being given to anyone participating in disruptive action at major events.
Under the home secretary’s changes, anyone who blocks roads, airports and railways could be jailed for up to 12 months — while anyone who glues themself down could face up to six months behind bars or an unlimited fine.
Police will also be able to head off disruption by stopping and searching protesters for items such as padlocks, superglue and digging tools if they suspect they are intending to cause chaos, the Government has said. People caught with these items, with the intention of using them to cause disruption, will also face criminal charges.
Anti-monarchists have been sent warning letters before coronation on May 6.
What protests are the laws meant to prevent?
Protesters glueing themselves down has been a tactic of Just Stop Oil and their linked movement Insulate Britain — and it is speculated the powers have such groups in mind.
Just Stop Oil is set to complete a slow march from London’s Parliament Square every morning in the run-up to the coronation on Saturday.
Ms Braverman said: “The public shouldn’t have their daily lives ruined by so called ‘eco-warriors’ causing disruption and wasting millions of pounds of taxpayer money.
“The selfish minority must not be allowed to get away with this. We are giving our police and courts the tools they need to stop this chaos and I back them in making full use of these powers.”
The anti-monarchy group Republic has said it will not be encouraging members to glue themselves down but will be holding a peaceful rally in London on the coronation day.
Have the anti-protest laws been rushed through?
The Government received Royal Assent for its Public Order Act on Tuesday (May 2), which means the new powers have come into force on Wednesday, May 3.
It is an amendment to the original 1986 act and has been adapted to help police stop disruptive protests as their tactics have changed.
“These new measures are needed to bolster the police’s powers to respond more effectively to disruptive and dangerous protests,” the Government said.
The bill was put through the House of Lords last November, where it was given ascent to become law.
The Runnymede Trust, a race equality think tank, said it was being “rushed through”.
Jun Pang of Liberty, the UK’s largest civil liberties organisation, said: “The Public Order Bill will make it much harder for people at the sharp end of state violence — marginalised communities in particular — to protest against injustice.”
The Government says it has followed all necessary processes to approve the bill. It says while it often takes a year for a bill to become law, it is not uncommon for it to be fast-tracked.
What have opposition parties said about the anti-protest laws?
People have a right to freely assemble and express their opposition to the monarchy.
— Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (@BellRibeiroAddy) May 3, 2023
The Government has no right to try and intimidate protesters who want to make their voices heard.
But they've passed Bill after Bill attacking the right to protest.https://t.co/iqJ35KfKDQ
Labour has opposed the changes. Party leader Sir Keir Starmer told the Telegraph: “I don’t accept that if you are walking at a funeral pace that that is not obstructing the highway.
“And I think if police were told, in terms, ‘Yes, that is an offence, get on and do something about it’, they could get on and do something about it tomorrow morning.”
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy added: “People have a right to freely assemble and express their opposition to the monarchy.
“The Government has no right to try and intimidate protesters who want to make their voices heard.”
Mr Tugendhat said in response: “[People will] have the liberty to protest but they would not have the liberty to disrupt others. That’s where we’re drawing a difference.”
