5 December 2007
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Repeal those provisions of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 that prevent people from protesting (without permission outside) the place where their laws are made."
Details of Petition:
"The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) bans the right of protest (unless it is cleared by a commissioner 6 days in advance) within a 1km radius of the UK’s seat of government. The area covers the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, most government ministries, St Thomas’s Hospital, part of the South Bank and Lambeth Palace. As such the zone presents a threat to freedom of speech in that it prevents people’s voices being heard by those who make our laws. You can read the full text of the act here: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2005/200…"
Read the Government’s response
Thank you for your e-petition calling for a repeal of the provisions in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 which cover demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament.
The Government can clarify that currently sections 132 to 134 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 require the organisers of demonstrations which are planned to take place in a designated area around Parliament to notify them to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in advance. It is an offence to take part in a demonstration if the organisers of the demonstration have not gained permission for that demonstration. However, when notice of a demonstration is given, the Commissioner must authorise it.
A person seeking authorisation for a demonstration must give written notice to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner at least 6 days in advance, or if it is not reasonably practicable, not less than 24 hours before the demonstration is due to start.
The Prime Minister announced in the Green paper, The Governance of Britain, in July that the Government would review the provisions that govern the right to protest in the vicinity of Parliament to ensure that there were no unnecessary restrictions on people’s right to protest and that we would consult widely.
Following on from this, the Home Office published the attached consultation paper, Managing Protest around Parliament on 25th October. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2007-managing-protest
The Government are aware of the concerns expressed in reaction to the current provisions on demonstrations around Parliament and the perception that they have undermined the right to demonstrate peacefully. The Government are clear that there should be no unnecessary restrictions on people’s right to protest and it is right to review provisions which have generated such concern. The purpose of the paper is therefore to seek views on the current framework governing the right to protest around Parliament, looking at the wider context of legislation governing protests in the rest of the country.
If you would like to respond to the consultation paper, you can either email your comments to protestaroundparliament@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or write to the Home Office at:
Managing Protest around Parliament
Public Order unit
Home Office
5th floor Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
LONDON SW1P 4DF
The closing date for comments is 17th January 2008.