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Last week, the UK High Court ruled that the government’s anti-protest measures taken earlier this year were unlawful, a rare piece of good news for human rights and democracy in the UK. freea UK civil liberties group, praised the decision as “A victory for democracy.”
Last June, then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman significantly increased police powers, lowering the threshold for police intervention in protests from those causing “serious disruption” to those causing “significant or more” disruption. As a result, hundreds of protesters were arrested, including Climate activist Greta Thunberghe was acquitted in February.
Controversially, the House of Lords Already rejected Braverman proposed the amendment a few months ago during the passage of the Public Order Act 2023. Rather than bringing it back to Parliament for reconsideration, Braverman used the so-called Henry VIII powers to force the amendment through. Controversial clauses This allows ministers to amend Acts of Parliament without parliamentary approval: Liberty director Akiko Hart described the move as an attempt to “sneak dangerous powers … through the back door”.
In its 56-page rulingIn the case, the High Court ruled that the Home Secretary had no power to lower the threshold. The court also ruled that the Home Office had violated the law by not consulting groups that might be affected by the new powers, instead consulting only what the Free Press called a “small group of stakeholders”, and that the process was “unfair” and “one-sided”.
While the ruling is cause for celebration, it is also a ray of hope in an otherwise bleak human rights situation in the U.K. Tough new anti-protest measures The measures were recommended by the government’s political violence adviser. If adopted, they would have Shrinking civic space.
The right to protest has always been Continuous attack This has been going on for several years in the UK and urgent action is needed to reverse this trend which has disastrous consequences for human rights.
No matter who is in power, July election The wholesale assault on freedom of expression and assembly should be halted and the Public Order Act 2023 repealed. The UK needs to restore its status as a country committed to human rights and the rule of law.
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