UK Government Expands Police Powers After Pro-Palestinian Protests and Synagogue Attack Fallout
The UK government has announced sweeping new powers for police to restrict repeat protests in what ministers describe as a bid to “protect public order and community safety.” The measures follow a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and public unrest sparked by last week’s deadly synagogue attack in Manchester. Civil liberties groups, however, warn that the move risks criminalising dissent and eroding democratic freedoms.
What the New Powers Mean
Under the changes, senior police officers will be able to consider the “cumulative impact” of protests held repeatedly in the same area when deciding whether to impose restrictions or bans. Authorities may now intervene if they believe ongoing demonstrations “disrupt community life” or “risk inflaming social tension.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the measures were necessary to restore public confidence and prevent “protest fatigue” in towns and cities that have faced weekly or even daily demonstrations since the Gaza conflict began. “The right to protest is fundamental to British democracy,” she said, “but it is not a right to intimidate, harass or endanger others – especially near places of worship or schools.”
Police will also receive new guidance to help identify when a demonstration poses a credible risk of violence or hate-related incitement. The Home Office said the changes are designed to “balance freedom of expression with the duty to safeguard communities under strain.”
Context: From Gaza to Manchester
The announcement comes days after the Heaton Park Synagogue attack in Manchester, in which two people were killed during Yom Kippur services. The assault, declared a terrorist incident, shocked the nation and prompted heightened security at Jewish places of worship. The suspect, a British citizen of Syrian origin, was later found to have been on bail for unrelated sexual offences.
Following the attack, pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place across several UK cities, with large crowds marching to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and protest Western foreign policy. While most of the protests were peaceful, police reported sporadic incidents of vandalism and clashes with counter-protesters. According to the Metropolitan Police, at least 27 people were arrested in London alone over the weekend for public order offences.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson said the force “welcomes any measures that help us to manage ongoing risks” but stressed that “proportionate policing remains the cornerstone of public trust.”
Supporters: “Protecting Communities Under Pressure”
Jewish and interfaith organisations have expressed relief at the government’s move, arguing that repeated demonstrations near synagogues and Jewish schools have left communities feeling vulnerable. The Board of Deputies of British Jews said in a statement: “We have seen months of protests outside places of worship, often accompanied by hateful chants. The government is right to act decisively to protect community safety.”
Rabbi Daniel Levy of North Manchester added, “Freedom of speech cannot include freedom to intimidate. When our children are scared to walk to school, the balance has gone too far one way.”
Several Conservative MPs also backed the new powers, framing them as overdue. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “We cannot allow the same groups to occupy our streets week after week, sowing division. Enough is enough.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the measures during a visit to Birmingham, saying: “Britain must remain a nation that values protest but not intimidation. These powers are proportionate and targeted.”
Critics: “A Step Toward Criminalising Protest”
Civil liberties advocates, opposition MPs, and protest organisers have condemned the move, warning it will give the police broad discretion to curtail legitimate demonstrations. The campaign group Liberty said the rules risk being used to silence political dissent. “This is another dangerous step in the steady erosion of our protest rights,” a spokesperson said. “Existing laws already allow police to restrict violent or disruptive protests – these new powers are unnecessary and open to abuse.”
The group Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) accused the government of targeting specific movements. “Our marches are peaceful expressions of conscience,” PSC chair Ben Jamal told reporters. “Trying to conflate pro-Palestine protests with extremism is deeply irresponsible. People have a right to demand justice for Palestinians without being smeared as threats to security.”
Labour MP Zarah Sultana criticised the timing of the announcement, saying the government was “using public fear to push through authoritarian policies.” She added: “The answer to hate is not censorship – it’s solidarity.”
Legal scholars have also questioned whether the powers could survive judicial scrutiny. Professor Amira Kamal of the University of London said, “Any new restriction on assembly must be necessary and proportionate. If applied too broadly, it risks violating Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect free speech and peaceful protest.”
Wider Debate on Policing and Protest
This latest move continues a long-running debate over the balance between protest rights and public safety in the UK. The Public Order Act 2023 already expanded police powers to impose conditions on demonstrations deemed “seriously disruptive.” That law was criticised at the time by the United Nations Human Rights Office for granting “excessive discretion” to law enforcement.
However, supporters argue that the scale and frequency of recent protests have overwhelmed police resources and created what one senior Home Office official called “an unsustainable level of tension.” According to internal briefings reported by the Times, more than 600 protests have taken place in England since January 2024, many of them linked to the Gaza war.
Implementation and Next Steps
The Home Office confirmed that new operational guidance will be issued to police forces this week, and the measures will apply immediately across England and Wales. Scotland Yard said it will review protest protocols in light of the announcement but pledged to “uphold the principle of peaceful demonstration.”
The government has promised independent oversight, including an annual review by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to monitor misuse. Yet critics remain sceptical. “Reviews don’t prevent abuse,” said Liberty’s director Akiko Hart. “We need stronger legal safeguards, not vague promises.”
Public Reaction: A Nation Divided
On social media, reaction to the announcement has been sharply divided. Supporters argue the move restores balance after months of chaos, while opponents warn of creeping authoritarianism. Hashtags such as #RightToProtest and #ProtectCommunities trended simultaneously on X, reflecting the polarised mood.
In a statement late Monday, Downing Street urged calm. “This is not about silencing voices – it’s about ensuring safety and respect for all communities,” the Prime Minister’s spokesperson said.
For many, the debate cuts to the heart of British democracy: how to preserve freedom of expression without allowing it to endanger others. As Professor Kamal put it: “Every democracy faces this test. The question is whether the UK can pass it without compromising the very rights it seeks to defend.”
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Editor’s note: This article is based on verified reporting from Reuters, BBC, The Guardian, and official government statements as of 6 October 2025.
