A controversial law intended to target protests by “woke militants” and “eco-warriors” have come into effect in England and Wales on Tuesday.
Police are now able to set noise limits and other restrictions on marches and rallies, including one-person protests.
They also no longer have to prove that protesters who fail to follow the restrictions knew about the restrictions.
The new rules are part of the wide-ranging Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts (PCSC) Act, a large portion of which came into effect on Tuesday.
Protesters throwing the statue of Edward Colston into Bristol harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bristol, England, on June 7, 2020. (Ben Birchall/PA Media)
Under the new law, senior police officers can impose restrictions such as start and finish times, route, and size, on protests that they believe may result in serious public disorder, serious damage to property, or serious disruption to the life of the community….