UK Government Introduces New Anti-Protest Measures

The latest legislation empowers police to arrest individuals for wearing masks at protests and introduces fines for obstructing roads, amid criticism from civil liberties groups.

The UK Government has announced a new set of anti-protest measures, including the power for police to arrest individuals for wearing masks and banning flares and fireworks at protests.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has called for even stricter laws, advocating for the government to have the power to ban protests outright.
Civil liberties groups and climate campaigners have condemned the new laws as an attack on the fundamental right to peaceful protest, warning of a slide into authoritarianism.
Labour has expressed concerns about the impact of the mask ban on political dissidents, urging the government to apply new measures appropriately and proportionately.
The measures are part of amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill and have sparked debate over the balance between maintaining public order and protecting civil liberties.