Policing of Protests

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the Labour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, asked the Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson, if she would commission an independent review into the adequacy of legislation on the policing of protests. Ribeiro-Addy highlighted that the right to protest has been crucial in achieving social advancements, but the increasing number of powers to restrict protest has resulted in peaceful protesters being arrested and sentenced to lengthy periods in prison. She asked when a comprehensive review of the state of protest would take place, with a view to repealing powers that unnecessarily restrict the right to peaceful protest. In response, Dame Diana Johnson acknowledged the importance of peaceful protest in the UK's democratic tradition. She stated that there will be post-legislative scrutiny of the legislation passed by the previous government, which will be considered in due course. Conservative MP Richard Holden of Basildon and Billericay then raised concerns about recent footage of Metropolitan Police officers suggesting that the description of Hezbollah as a terror group was a matter of "opinion." Holden asked the Minister to ensure that all officers are fully briefed on the proscribed status of Hezbollah, Hamas, and other terrorist organisations, so that offenders are arrested on the spot and not allowed to "spew antisemitic hate" on the streets. Dame Diana Johnson reiterated that Hezbollah is a proscribed organisation and that the police take great care when policing protests, with extensive briefings for officers beforehand. She acknowledged that it is a difficult job for the police and thanked them for their work in dealing with the many protests over the past 12 months. Labour MP Neil Coyle of Bermondsey and Old Southwark then raised the issue of Southwark police officers struggling to prevent or solve crime due to "extraction duties," where they have to police repeat protests elsewhere in London. Coyle asked the Minister if the Metropolitan Police needs new powers to refuse permission for some repetitive protests in the capital, or if it should use existing powers better to resolve and reduce extraction duties and increase safety in his community. In response, Dame Diana Johnson stated that police numbers are an issue, which is why the government is focused on recruiting more neighbourhood police officers to increase their presence on the streets. She acknowledged that the issue of extraction duties is a particular challenge for the Metropolitan Police when dealing with protests. Finally, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine of Edinburgh West expressed concern about the rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic offences reported at many recent protests, which have contributed to a 25% increase in religiously aggravated hate crimes in the country. Jardine asked the Minister what the government will do to help the police continue to keep communities safe and police protests in a way that does that. Dame Diana Johnson stated that the figures Jardine provided are shocking and that the government is clear that there is no place in society for antisemitism or Islamophobia. She acknowledged that the police have had a difficult job to do in some recent protests, but commended their work to tackle antisemitism and Islamophobia, stating that they take their responsibilities seriously and act without fear or favour.