Committees

Security, safety and protest: the role of Human Rights

Inquiry

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has launched a new inquiry to examine recent changes to laws relating to protest. 

In recent years, Parliament has passed legislation to give police more powers to police and restrict protest. New criminal offences have been established for protest related activities. The Government has argued that the growth of protests in recent years had placed an intolerable pressure on police resources. It also cited the changing nature of protest, with an increase in “guerilla tactics” causing unacceptable levels of disruption to wider society and fear in targeted communities. 

Civil liberties organisations and protest groups have criticised the measures for restricting the right to protest, warning that the crackdown on protest and harsh new powers that treats the peaceful expression of dissent as a criminal act. 

In this new inquiry, the Joint Committee on Human Rights will examine if the Government has struck the right balance between its duty to protect the public and its duty to respect the right to protest. It will also examine the reforms meet the UK’s human rights obligations. 

Launching the inquiry, Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Lord David Alton said: 

“The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Everyone should have the opportunity to have their voice heard and to express their views. Equally, wider society is entitled to go about their without undue disruption or fear. We have launched this inquiry to look at the Government’s approach to balancing these rights. 

“We want to understand if the expansion of police powers relating to protest has been proportionate or if they will have a chilling effect on the right to protest. We will also examine if the new laws are effective in protecting wider society from the potential negative consequences of disruptive protest.” 

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was 11:58pm on 13 May 2026.

Upcoming events

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Past events

Wednesday 1 July 2026
2:00pm Private
2:15pm Public
Security, safety and protest: the role of Human Rights - Oral evidence 1 July 2026
2:15pm
  • Claire Haynes (Detective Superintendent at Metropolitan Police)
  • Chief Constable Mark Hobrough (Lead for Public Order at National Police Chiefs' Council)
  • Assistant Chief Constable Claire Armes (Lead for Public Order Public Safety Tactics, Training & Equipment at National Police Chiefs' Council)
  • Assistant Chief Constable Jennifer Wilson (Contact and Crime Management, Matrix, Force Operations and Criminal Justice, and Strategic Lead for Public Order and Public Safety at Merseyside Police)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 15 April 2026
2:00pm Private
2:15pm Public
Security, safety and protest: the role of Human Rights - Oral evidence 15 April 2026
2:15pm
  • Paul Parker (Recording Clerk at Quakers in Britain)
  • Akiko Hart (Director at Liberty)
  • Raj Chada (Partner and Head of Crime, Financial and Regulatory Department at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors)
  • Sir Andy Cooke (former HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary and HM Chief Inspector at Fire and Rescue Services)
3:15pm
  • Prof Katrina Navickas (Professor of History at University of Hertfordshire)
  • Prof Geoff Pearson (Professor of Law at University of Manchester)
  • Dr Richard Martin (Associate Professor of Law at LSE)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.

  • Email: jchr@parliament.uk
  • Address: Joint Committee on Human Rights, Houses of Parliament. London. SW1A 0AA