The Public Order Act 2023 introduced section 11, allowing suspicionless stop-and-searches for protest activity when authorised by an inspector or above for up to 24 hours. The Metropolitan Police used these powers 47 times, with 40 searches conducted at a July Gaza protest by Youth Demand in Russell Square Gardens. Big Brother Watch reported zero arrests resulting from those 40 searches. Authorities must reasonably believe an offence like public nuisance or locking on may occur or that prohibited objects may be present to authorise section 11. Civil liberties concerns include potential selective targeting of protesters and risks to free assembly.
The Metropolitan police have used controversial powers to stop and search protesters almost 50 times since they were introduced, with nearly all instances at a peaceful pro-Palestine demonstration, a civil liberties group has found. Police in England and Wales can carry out suspicionless stop and searches in relation to protest activity under section 11 of the Public Order Act 2023, which came into force on 20 December 2023.
When the Public Order Act was passed, civil liberties groups warned that these draconian new powers could be used to stifle protest rights. The apparent targeting of pro-Palestine protest in the prime minister's constituency only underlines the danger these broadly drawn stop and search powers pose to our right to free assembly. This Met police data gives an alarming impression of police selectively targeting protesters. Zero arrests from 40 searches suggests that there was no justification for officers to use these powers at that protest.
The section 11 power can be used when a police officer of inspector rank or above authorises its use in a specific area for a period not exceeding 24 hours. They must reasonably believe that an offence such as public nuisance or locking on may be committed in the area, or that people there might be carrying prohibited objects in relation to such offences.
#public-order-act-2023 #stop-and-search #metropolitan-police #pro-palestine-protest #civil-liberties
Collection
[
|
...
]