Gareth Davies MP has welcomed the Government plan to amend the Public Order Bill to broaden the legal definition of ‘serious disruption’ from protests. This will ensure that the police have greater flexibility over when to intervene to stop the disruptive minority who use tactics such as blocking roads to inflict delay and misery on the public.
While the Government has already given police additional powers to prevent protestors using guerrilla tactics, there has been some uncertainty over what reaches the threshold of ‘serious disruption’. Therefore, this legal clarity will create a clearer line for the police to enforce when protests impact upon others who are going about their lawful business.
These measures will work alongside other actions already taken by the Government, including the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
