UK: Granting Police Greater Powers to Restrict Pro-Palestine Protests

SadaNews - The British government has decided to grant police wider powers to impose restrictions on protests, at a time when the Home Secretary claimed that large and repeated demonstrations in support of Palestinians have sparked "significant fear" among the Jewish community.

A pro-Palestine demonstration took place in central London on Saturday, despite appeals from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Metropolitan Police to postpone it.

The government stated that the "cumulative impact" of the protests would be taken into account when deciding on imposing restrictions on the protesters.

It was reported in a statement that the new powers would be "granted as soon as possible".

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated on Sunday that the government will now review all laws associated with protests.

She said, "The right to protest is one of the fundamental freedoms in our country. But this freedom must be balanced with the freedom of (the protesters') neighbors to live without fear".

Over a thousand people participated in Saturday's demonstration in Trafalgar Square, where about 500 individuals were arrested for expressing their support for the banned group "Palestine Action".

The government's initiative comes after a vehicle and stabbing attack targeted a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday.

The organizers rejected calls to avoid gathering, stating they "stand in solidarity" with the Jewish community following the Manchester attack, but that "cancelling peaceful protests is a victory for terrorism".

Mahmood stated that "large and repeated protests can lead to feelings of insecurity, intimidation, and fear of leaving their homes among certain segments of our country, especially religious groups".

She added, "This was particularly evident in the significant fear experienced by the Jewish community".

When asked by the BBC about the repeated warnings from members of the Jewish community regarding the dangers they face, Mahmood acknowledged that she feels "deeply concerned about the state of relations among community groups in our country".

The minister stated in comments to Times Radio that there is a "problem not only with the rise of anti-Semitism, but also with other forms of hatred".

One person was killed in the attack outside the synagogue in northern Manchester. Another died from injuries sustained during gunfire, which police believe occurred while security personnel attempted to control the assailant.

The United Kingdom has witnessed repeated pro-Palestine demonstrations since the onset of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, and the Israeli war in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people.