Starmer’s predecessor as Director for Public Prosecutions to lead major review of protest laws
Sir Keir Starmer’s predecessor as Director of Public Prosecutions will lead a comprehensive review of protest powers and hate crime laws.
Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood announced in October that police forces would be given new powers to impose conditions on repeated protests and promised an independent review of existing protest and hate crime laws.
The move follows an attack on a synagogue in Manchester that left two people dead.
Lord Ken Macdonald KC, the former chief executive of the Crown Prosecution Service, which is now responsible for making decisions in England and Wales, has been tasked with considering whether the legislation needs to go further to keep people safe.
Ms Mahmood commissioned the review after becoming concerned about the impact of both public protests and hate crime on cohesion and safety.
Lord Macdonald, formerly the defense barrister, is being asked to review existing offenses for aggravated conduct and “incitement” of hatred.
It was asked to examine whether the law adequately protects communities from hatred and intimidation.
Ms Mahmood said: “The terrorist attack in Manchester on 2 October shocked the nation and showed how hatred and division can fuel violence.
“This comes at a time of growing concern about protests and hate crimes in this country.
“Our laws must protect the public while protecting the right to protest and freedom of expression.”
He added: “Legal protest and freedom of expression are fundamental rights, but we cannot allow them to be abused to spread hatred or disrupt order. The law must be fit for purpose and consistently applied.”
Human rights group Liberty has previously warned that plans to restrict repeated protests risked “stripping the right to protest in the UK to its core”.
In early November, Ruth Ehrlich, Liberty’s head of policy, said: “Police already have broad powers to restrict protests, but these measures add to an ever-expanding network of anti-protest laws.”
They suggested ministers focus on examining “why existing laws are supposedly failing” and ensure people’s rights to demonstrate are protected.
