Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help prevent protesters from interfering with (a) roads, (b) airports, (c) railways and (d) other key national infrastructure.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (PCSC Act) came into force on 28^th April 2022. This legislation raised the maximum penalty for wilful obstruction of the highway, ensuring offenders receive proportionate sentences for the disruption they cause. The PCSC Act 2022 also introduced a statutory offence of public nuisance and abolished the existing common law offence. This provides clarity to the police and potential offenders, giving clear notice of what conduct is forbidden.

The Public Order Act 2023, which received Royal Assent on 2^nd May 2023, will improve the police’s ability to respond to highly disruptive tactics such as interfering with roads and other key national infrastructure. The lock-on offence, alongside the wilful obstruction of the highway offence, will enable police to deal effectively with protestors who interfere with roads.

In addition, the Public Order Act 2023 introduced the new offence of interference with key national infrastructure. This offence covers any behaviour which prevents or significantly delays the operation of key infrastructure. This includes airports, railways, printing presses and downstream oil and gas infrastructure. This offence will attract a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.