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| Protests: Police powers to tackle tactics come into effect | Protests: Police powers to tackle tactics come into effect |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| New measures aimed at curbing protest methods often used by environmental groups have come into effect. | New measures aimed at curbing protest methods often used by environmental groups have come into effect. |
| Police in England and Wales now have powers to move protesters who disrupt transport, while offenders could face three years in jail for tunnelling. | Police in England and Wales now have powers to move protesters who disrupt transport, while offenders could face three years in jail for tunnelling. |
| The Home Office says the Public Order Act 2023 will target "a selfish minority" but critics argue they threaten the right to protest. | The Home Office says the Public Order Act 2023 will target "a selfish minority" but critics argue they threaten the right to protest. |
| Groups such as Just Stop Oil have continued with high-profile protests. | Groups such as Just Stop Oil have continued with high-profile protests. |
| Under the new laws, those found guilty of tunnelling or "being present in a tunnel to cause serious disruption" could be jailed for up to three years. | Under the new laws, those found guilty of tunnelling or "being present in a tunnel to cause serious disruption" could be jailed for up to three years. |
| Taking equipment to a tunnel carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison, as will obstructing major transport works. | Taking equipment to a tunnel carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison, as will obstructing major transport works. |
| The digging of makeshift tunnels has been used for many years as a form of protest, against projects such as the building of the HS2 rail project, as well as by groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil. | The digging of makeshift tunnels has been used for many years as a form of protest, against projects such as the building of the HS2 rail project, as well as by groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil. |
| The British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence Police will now have powers to move static protests, a common tactic of campaign groups. | The British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence Police will now have powers to move static protests, a common tactic of campaign groups. |
| Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the heightened measures will target "selfish protesters" who cause "mayhem" on the streets. | Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the heightened measures will target "selfish protesters" who cause "mayhem" on the streets. |
| In recent months, the government has also introduced new powers to tackle tactics used by protest groups, including slow-walking and "locking on". | In recent months, the government has also introduced new powers to tackle tactics used by protest groups, including slow-walking and "locking on". |
| Despite the enhanced measures, environmental groups have continued to take action, including briefly halting Saturday's annual Pride parade in central London in a protest against one of the event's sponsors. | Despite the enhanced measures, environmental groups have continued to take action, including briefly halting Saturday's annual Pride parade in central London in a protest against one of the event's sponsors. |
| A Just Stop Oil spokesperson told the BBC the "draconian" measures were targeting young people who "just want a liveable future". | |
| Extinction Rebellion urged the government to stop curtailing the right to protest and instead "stop issuing new licences for oil, coal and gas". | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Policing | Policing |
| Home Office | Home Office |