Police in England and Wales will have the power to stop protesters who cause “serious disruption to the life of the community,” as new regulations come into effect.
The House of Lords approved amended sections of the Public Order Act 1986 on Tuesday, which provide greater clarity on when police can intervene to stop protesters.
Politicians have agreed to define “serious disruption” as “prevention of, or a hindrance that is more than minor to, the carrying out of day-to-day activities (including in particular the making of a journey).”
This is in contrast to the previous definition, which described “serious disruption” as a “significant delay” to the supply of a time-sensitive product to consumers, or “prolonged disruption” to access to essential services….