Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued to police forces on protests that disrupt (a) sporting and (b) music events.

It is unacceptable that athletes who put tremendous effort into their training, as well as spectators who spend their hard-earned money to attend, are having their experiences spoiled by a selfish minority. The Government is committed to tackling the guerrilla tactics used to disrupt major British events. That is why we recently introduced new legislation through the Public Order Act 2023, criminalising actions such as ‘locking on’. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 also made it easier to tackle public nuisance caused by protesters.

The College of Policing have primary responsibility for publishing police guidance and are operationally independent. They have recently worked with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to publish the National Protest Operational Advice document (National protest operational advice (college.police.uk)), which provides operational guidance on the handling of protests, including those that disrupt major events, and the application of the Public Order Act 2023.

In addition, the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice on Public Order Public Safety (Public order public safety | College of Policing(opens in a new tab)) has recently been updated and provides guidance on the policing of major events. The document signposts to both the Public Order Act 2023 and the National Protest Operational Advice document.

The Home Secretary recently chaired a roundtable with cabinet colleagues, police and sports representatives. The Home Office will continue to work with event organisers and police to ensure plans are in place to protect sporting events.