The right to protest in the UK is facing threats as tough new laws restrict peaceful demonstrations. The government argues that these measures prevent extremist activists from harming the economy and disrupting daily life, but critics view them as an alarming departure from undermining a pillar of democracy. The new laws have led to the arrest of hundreds of environmental activists engaging in peaceful protests.
The legal changes include the creation of a statutory offence of “public nuisance” punishable by up to 10 years in prison and the broadening of disruptive protest definitions. Critics argue that these laws infringe on the freedom of peaceful assembly and set a dangerous precedent, eroding democratic foundations in one of the world’s oldest democracies.