UK authorities plan to enhance police powers to regulate protests following concerns raised about repeated large-scale pro-Palestinian demonstrations causing unease within the Jewish community. The move comes after a recent violent incident at a synagogue in Manchester. Despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s appeal to postpone it, a pro-Palestinian rally took place in central London over the weekend.
Under the new government initiative, police will have the authority to take into account the overall impact of protests when considering imposing restrictions on demonstrators. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized the importance of balancing the right to protest with the need for people to live without fear.
During the London protest at Trafalgar Square, more than 1,000 individuals participated, leading to the arrest of close to 500 people showing solidarity with the banned Palestine Action group. Defend our Juries, an organization supporting Palestine Action’s cause, criticized the new measures as a severe threat to democracy in a statement released on Sunday.