British politics is once again in the spotlight after the government announced a controversial plan to grant police sweeping new powers over repeated protests, a move that has ignited fierce debate across the United Kingdom. The announcement, made on October 6, 2025, by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, comes in the wake of escalating pro-Palestinian demonstrations and a recent deadly attack at a Manchester synagogue.
The Home Office stated that the new measures will allow senior police officers to consider the "cumulative impact" of ongoing protests in the same location, particularly when these gatherings cause distress or disruption to local communities. The change is intended to give law enforcement the authority to restrict, relocate, or impose conditions on demonstrations that are deemed to have a repeated negative effect.
Mahmood, speaking publicly and in interviews, emphasized the delicate balance between the right to protest and the rights of others to feel secure in their neighborhoods. "The right to protest is a fundamental freedom in our country," she stated, as reported by BBC. "However, this freedom must be balanced with the freedom of their neighbors to live their lives without fear. Large, repeated protests can leave sections of our country, particularly religious communities, feeling unsafe, intimidated and scared to leave their homes."
These remarks echoed growing concerns from Jewish communities following the tragic events of October 3, when two Jewish men were killed in a knife and car-ramming attack at a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The assailant, a British man of Syrian descent, was shot dead by police and is believed to have been inspired by extremist Islamist ideology, according to government officials. The attack has heightened fears among religious minorities and intensified scrutiny of public demonstrations perceived as threatening.
The immediate catalyst for the government's move was a massive protest in central London on October 4, where nearly 500 people were arrested during a demonstration supporting Palestine Action—a group banned in July after members broke into a British air base and damaged military planes. The group, which seeks to disrupt the operations of weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government, was labeled a terrorist organization, making support for it illegal. Since its proscription, more than 2,000 people have been arrested at protests linked to Palestine Action, with over 130 charged with terrorism offenses, according to figures cited by The Associated Press and CNN.
The October 4 protest was organized by Defend Our Juries, a group that has vocally opposed the ban on Palestine Action. Despite calls from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and police to cancel the demonstration in light of the recent synagogue attack, organizers pressed ahead, arguing that "canceling peaceful protests lets terror win." Among those arrested were Jewish activists, including the 79-year-old daughter of a Holocaust survivor and an elderly Jewish man with a terminal illness, as well as the 83-year-old Anglican priest Reverend Sue Parfitt. Video footage from the protest showed frail and disabled individuals, including a blind man and people in wheelchairs, being taken into custody—a scene that drew widespread attention and criticism.
Defend Our Juries condemned the government's plan, describing it as "a dangerous, authoritarian escalation" and "an extraordinary new affront to our democracy." The group announced plans for further mass civil disobedience in the lead-up to a court hearing challenging the ban on Palestine Action. "We urge all of our supporters to sign up to show we will not stand by as our fundamental rights are stripped away," a spokesperson said, as reported by AnewZ.
Human rights organizations and opposition politicians have also raised alarms. Amnesty International UK's Tom Southerden called the proposal "ludicrous" and accused the government of cynically seeking to appear tough while undermining basic democratic freedoms. Liberty, another prominent rights group, argued that police already possess "huge powers to restrict protests" and warned that further restrictions could "fuel tensions by removing legal and safe ways for people to be heard." They added, "Being able to use protest to challenge governments and stand up for what we believe in is central to our democracy. It must be upheld."
Political figures across the spectrum have weighed in. Labour MP Zarah Sultana accused Mahmood of violating civil liberties and seeking to ban pro-Palestinian protests altogether, writing on social media that the home secretary was "not content with locking up pensioners and priests for opposing the ban on Palestine Action." UK Green Party leader Zach Polanski told Sky News that it was "deeply irresponsible" to conflate protests against the Gaza conflict with the Manchester synagogue attack. "Democratic nonviolent protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I think it’s worrying when governments are increasingly trying to crush down dissent and using what is a brutal attack … to point at a protest and say people don’t have a right to speak out about a genocide," Polanski said.
Even within the Jewish community, opinions are divided. The Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed the government's announcement but called for additional measures to ensure the safety of Jewish citizens. At the same time, some Jewish activists have joined the protests, highlighting the complexity of the current climate and the diversity of opinions within affected communities.
The government insists that the new powers are not an outright ban on protests but rather a means to impose reasonable restrictions, such as relocating a demonstration or changing its timing, to minimize disruption and ensure public order. Mahmood clarified in a BBC interview, "What I will be making explicit is that cumulative disruption … the frequency of particular protests in particular places is in and of itself a reason for police to restrict or place conditions." She added, "I don’t think it’s offensive to ask people to show a little humanity towards a community that has suffered such a terrible tragedy … I think just because you have a freedom, it doesn’t mean you have to use it at every moment of every day."
The proposed changes will be introduced as an addition to the existing Public Order Act and must be debated and approved in Parliament before becoming law. The Home Office has committed to reviewing police powers, including the ability to ban protests outright, to ensure they are sufficient and consistently applied.
All of this unfolds against the broader backdrop of the Israel-Gaza conflict, which has fueled frequent and sometimes heated demonstrations in the UK since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 67,000 Palestinians have died in the ensuing conflict, while over 1,200 Israelis were killed in the initial assault. Protests in the UK have been largely peaceful but have occasionally featured chants and slogans that some argue cross the line into antisemitism, prompting further debate about the boundaries of free speech and public order.
As Britain grapples with rising tensions, both within and between its diverse communities, the proposed protest restrictions have become a lightning rod for debate over security, civil liberties, and the very meaning of democracy. The coming weeks will reveal whether Parliament and the public accept the government’s argument for tighter controls—or whether the backlash will force a reconsideration of how best to balance freedom and safety in challenging times.
