Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to strengthen public order legislation to address protests by religious and other groups outside family planning clinics.
Peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society. However, the Government is clear that rights to peaceful protest do not extend to harassment, intimidating behaviour or serious disruption to the community and the law provides protection against such behaviour. The police have a range of powers to manage protests and the use of police powers is an operational matter for them.