Force makes first use of new powers under Public Order Act to curtail slow march protest outside parliament

Police have arrested more than 60 climate activists taking part in a slow march outside parliament in the first use of draconian new anti-protest powers.

The Metropolitan police used section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023, which bans any act “which interferes with the use or operation of any key national infrastructure in England and Wales”, to order an immediate end to a Just Stop Oil protest on Monday morning.

After forming a line and attempting to direct protesters off the road, police began making arrests, according to Just Stop Oil. Pictures and video circulated by the campaign showed officers kneeling on and handcuffing protesters, and carrying them into waiting police vans.

  • Mighty@lemmy.worldEnglish
    26·
    8 months ago

    Hm “Anti-Protest Power”… Now if that were any other country, it would be an outcry about democracy being destroyed… The right to protest might be one of the most important pillars of democracy… :/

    • metaStatic@kbin.social
      2·
      8 months ago

      Yes there was an outcry in Australia but that doesn’t do much to overturn these fascist laws.

      The only solution is to protest. if they’re not arresting you you’re not protesting anyway.