Extinction Rebellion: Demonstrations

(asked on 19th October 2019) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to recent events relating to the Extinction Rebellion protests in London, what assessment they have made of the balance between the rights of freedom of expression, association and assembly under the Convention of Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998, and matters of public order and nuisance; in particular, what assessment they have made of the question of conspiracy offences and the protection of those rights; and what steps they intend to take in response to any such assessments.


Answered by
Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait
Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
This question was answered on 31st October 2019

The right to protest peacefully is a long-standing tradition in this country and a vital foundation of our democracy.

There is, of course, a balance to be struck. Protestors’ rights need to be balanced with the rights of others to go about their business. Rights to peaceful protest do not extend to unlawful activity and the police have powers to deal with any such acts.

Reticulating Splines