Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether measures to protect the partners and children of people in public life from harassment outside their homes by demonstrators are adequate.

Peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society. However, rights to peaceful protest do not extend to violent or threatening behaviour, harassment or intimidation.

The police have a range of powers to deal with such acts in line with their duties to keep the peace, to protect communities, and to prevent the commission of offences.

Decisions on how these powers are deployed are an operational matter for the independent judgement of chief officers of police.