Staging a Legal Peaceful Protest

Author: Garry Crystal

Holding a peaceful protest in the UK is a right as long as the protest follows the law. But the UK government has brought out new laws that give the police extra powers when dealing with protesters.

Peaceful Protests in the UK

Protesting in the UK is a deeply rooted tradition especially when it comes to protesting against government policy. Think of the suffragettes in the early 20th century fighting for the right for women to vote or the 19 year Greenham Common Women’s protest against nuclear missiles. Over the years governments have always tried to restrict the rights of protesters. But thanks to the European Convention on Human Rights, the rights to a peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and thought are all legal entitlements. UK citizens are now entitled by law to hold peaceful protests without interference from the police or the government.

New Police Powers and Peaceful Protests

Over recent years the government has brought out a wealth of new laws that are intended to combat perceived threats. These new criminal laws include anti terrorism and anti social behaviour laws. The police do now have extra powers such as arresting someone who is photographing a government building who they suspect is acting suspiciously. Although these new laws are in place to increase safety the police are sometimes guilty of abusing their new powers. The government thinking is that peaceful protests are somehow connected to extreme activities, and a heavy police presence is now the norm.

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The Right to Peaceful Protest

It is entirely legal for a group of people to assemble and stage a peaceful protest on a public highway. In fact the police do not need notification of the protest. The public highway should not be blocked off completely, and as long as there are no threats of violence there will be no criminal offence. Notification to the police will be required if the demonstration takes place around Parliament. The police can impose conditions such as the maximum number of people and the duration of the protest. But the police can only do this if they believe these conditions are required to prevent public disorder or damage to property.

Peaceful Protests and Police Conditions

If the police do impose conditions that seem overly strict then the protesters do have a right to ask the reasons for the conditions. Protesters can also try to negotiate these conditions with the police. If the police have acted unlawfully they can be sued under the Human Rights Act. Peaceful protest can only take place on public highways; security guards have no right to move protesters unless the property is on their grounds. Assembling on private grounds without the owner’s permission will be seen as trespassing.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Peaceful Protest Points to Remember

It is important to stick to the law when planning a protest and during the demonstration itself. Key points to consider will include:

Be aware of your rights and research the actual intended protest location
Contact local councils before protesting in case a permit to protest is required
Consider using a protest website and press releases during the protest planning stage
Be aware of people who will try to hijack the protest for their own causes
Do not harass or cause alarm or distress to members of the public; this is against the law
Although not required it is always better to make the police aware that a protest is going to occur
Stick to the conditions imposed by the police if they have made requirements
Any violence or damage to property will be viewed as a criminal offence

Peaceful Protests that End in Violence

The new powers given to the police do make it easier for the police to find excuses to move on protesters. Ignoring conditions set by the police can lead to the protest being broken up and this has resulted in violent clashes. There is the view by many government officials that demonstrations that end up as riots are now expected during public protests. Even the suffragette movement was viewed by many as the opposite of a peaceful protest. Protests that end in violence or riots can often lose public sympathy for the actual cause.

There is no doubt that peaceful protests provide a forum for the public’s voice to be heard. In some cases these protests can make a difference to government policy decisions. It is in the best interests of the demonstrators to behave in a peaceful manner. Demonstrators who are aware of their rights and stick to the law should be able to hold a peaceful protest without interference from the police.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Discrimination Claim Eligibility Checker lets you determines if your situation meets legal criteria for a discrimination claim under UK law. Try it now →

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Irina 16/10/2020 at 11:51 am

Can I close the M1 with group of people to protest against genocide that is happening right now ?

Traditionalist 28/08/2020 at 1:58 pm

Sod this legal right to protest disrupting the normal life and will of the majority.

Dobin 22/05/2020 at 4:19 pm

I am wanting to hold a protest on my own outside my local car dealership where I bought a brand new car costing £35000 only to find the underside of the vehicle is absolutely covered in thick rust from the front to the back which has eaten through all the painted metal components as well as the bare metal, this company has and still is trying all different tactics to get out of giving me a full refund under the consumer rights act 2015, I first brought this to their attention within 30 days of me owning the vehicle, only now because of their delay tactics the matter went into the lockdown period where they are now telling me that they are entitled to deduct some monies for the vehicle, the vehicle has got 888 miles on it and they have made me an offer of £27000 because I have had the vehicle for 108 days, I am wanting to sit on a chair with photorapghs on a placard stating all the reasons for future consumers not to buy from them, can I do this legally or could they sue me for loss of trade.

HAPPY 24/05/2019 at 5:45 pm

CAN I PROTEST OUTSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL AS TEACHER IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE POLICE FOR HITTING MY NEPHEW AND THE SCHOOL ARE DOING THEIR UPMOST TO TRY AND BULLY ME

Rod 30/12/2018 at 6:13 am

I would like to set up a tent outside my local council offices (Charnwood Borough Council) about the way I have been treated by them, Turning Point, the local CAB. local Police over a matter that began with landlord harassment. I have been trying to get to the bottom of why I was treated the way I was, which lead to my phone calls being misdirected when trying to contact a news-paper, my emails misdirected, my IP being put on a blocked list and much else. Please can you advise as to the way forward to legally protest by this method.

Taz 13/12/2018 at 2:51 pm

Hi can I do peaceful protest outside a primary school regarding bulling from staff towards the children and some parents who especially have mental health problems?

ARTURO 31/07/2018 at 9:18 am

Can I stage a peaceful protest at an event organised by the company that I'm protesting against? I will have to pay to enter like everyone else and intend to walk round peacefully with a placard. Can they forcibly remove me?

Zam 19/07/2018 at 10:01 pm

I have done a peacefull protest outside a car dealership sitting on a chair on the pavement facing traffic with my placard saying, the company name customer care sucks I've had a threatening letter of there solicitors. Saying they will get an injunction and sue me for losses if I don't stop, what are my rights please.am I breaking a civil law

Kez 15/07/2018 at 11:28 pm

I am wanting to protest on top of the council roof against social services who removed my children from my care without any real reason . They have lied in court .lied to my local mp and my son was abused in foster care and nothing has been done. Can I get arrested for doing this??

Leedslad 19/04/2018 at 9:56 pm

We want to have a protest to elements in an area of our city, we were going to do this on a public park area. The police contacted our group and said they were aware of this and that we needed permission from the council first especially the parks in case we needed a permit. They also said that we would need liability insurance in case a member of the protest group or a member of the public got injured in some manner while attending the protest. Is this true? I cannot imagine how anyone would be injured at a peaceful protest and especially not through negligence from the organisers. If somebody came along and started causing trouble and they were hurt then that is nothing to do with the protest but the persons won fault. Would a disclaimer to the people attending saying that the organiser is not responsible for any injuries occurred at the protest. This seems a bit much too though as it is not a business and people are not paying to enter into something. Any advice would be appreciated.

Ratna 29/01/2018 at 5:24 pm

I will like to protesf ouside school. The head teacner is helping abusive mother to get custodh of a child of 5, she talked and write letrers to court with lies, because she is against men. In this case my son. She hate him so much, that now she wrote to court saying, that paternal grandmother(me) went to school and start shouting outside, infront of children. This never happened. I went today to school to ask, when this event took place, and I was ask to leave. No answer, as it never happened.
After the hearing tomorrow, Iplan to go with a banner outside school, as the head teacher is interfiering with domestic problems, and child custody, wich is jot her job
Police told me if i go to school i will be arrested. As wil be consider harraselment.
I will go anyway.
Can you give me advice? About school demostratios.
I did one in court for 7 days, when the boy was given to her abusive mother..nothing happened, i stop, as been advice so by the barister, before appeal.

P 03/01/2018 at 11:56 pm

There is a known peadophile living in my area and we were having a peaceful protest outside his house on the public footpath but the police said that we would be arrested because he claimed we were harassing him which isn’t true I was wondering if the police actually could arrest us for just standing there? This is in the Uk

rubio66 06/12/2017 at 10:11 pm

my mother was sold a horse by a dealer that was falsly advertised "that placied you could put your granny on it" after two weeks of preforming as advertised the horse then turned crazy and threw my mother and injured her and also her experienced trainer!! The blood work came back from the vet which was taken at the dealers yard prior to purchese had a result that conclusively confirms the horse was drugged with sedatives. Would I be okay to demonstrate with bill board outside the yard about the potential dangers of buying a horse from this dealer?? thanks for any adivce.

CivilRightsMovement Editor 17/08/2017 at 2:25 pm

It might be more productive to post bad reviews of the company on social media review sites etc.

Nik 16/08/2017 at 3:53 pm

I wish to stand outside the premises of a dry cleaning business with a placard saying this business ruined £800 worth of stock. I have been through the court process to be told we cannot force the defendant to pay after they were found guilty by the judge. They will call the police no doubt. Can I be moved on or arrested?

Dave 27/10/2016 at 6:12 pm

Hi
I am considering a peaceful street demo where partcipants wear Anonymous type masks and show videos to the uk public which shows animal cruelty images and slaughter. Would this be considered as causing alarm or distress and cause police problems? We need to shock people to think about thus but not cause offence in the legal sense.
Thanks

sarah 19/10/2016 at 8:51 am

Hi, I would like to stage a peaceful protest on the opening night of the new '50 shades darker' film as I believe it romanticizes abusive relationships and perpetrates rape culture. the local cinema to me is in Chichester Gate which is not council owed and wanted to know the law on where we can and cant be, the public are allowed free access into the area but didnt know if we'd be in breach by standing on that land

CivilRightsMovement Editor 06/07/2016 at 10:30 am

Please read the above article. The section"Key Factors to Peaceful Protests" tells you where you can assemble and details your rights. The subsequent sections explain what the police and authorities can do if you are not protesting within the remit of the convention of human rights.

LuBu 05/07/2016 at 9:57 am

I have organised a peaceful demonstration against racism in my City.
Apparently, at the location I wanted to do it (City centre), you have to have a permit, and even public liability insurance. I have tried to cancel the event, but people are adamant it should go ahead.

What are the Council's powers if we go ahead?

wally 07/06/2016 at 1:20 pm

From Kenya, Africa.
I have watched how we conduct our protest and it seems we are sitting on time bomb!our opposition have been calling for protest in the last 1 month and so far we have lost many lives and am concern with the next general election, I want to carry out training on how to carry peaceful demonstration in our key slums in major cities across the country.
I need your help for those who have evolve in this line. we are still backward and we end up destroying property and loss of lives. Anyone with ideas on how I can do it better please contact me +254722778042.Thank u

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