Your human rights
Efforts to bring to justice domestic extremists – protesters who promote or commit criminal acts as a campaigning tactic – do not affect the right to take part in peaceful and lawful protest.
The Human Rights Act 1998 protects the rights of individuals to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
The Human Rights Act 1998 also protects right of individuals to respect for private and family life.
All individuals have the same and equal rights.
However, these rights are 'limited' to prevent our individual rights from unfairly affecting the rights of other people; the rights of individuals cannot override the rights of others.
If an individual misuses any of these rights, the criminal justice system – the police and the courts – has powers to withdraw or suspend those rights from an individual.
All of the organisations that make up the criminal justice system in the UK have a duty to uphold the right to lawful and peaceful protest. It is the role to the police to facilitate lawful protest.
The criminal justice system also has a duty to uphold the right to lawful employment without fear of intimidation, harassment or other criminality.
It is also the role of the police to protect victims and potential victims of crime.
NETCU fully supports the rights to freedom of expression, of peaceful assembly and association, and respect for private and family life.
NETCU works, along with the other law enforcement organisations in the UK, to uphold the law and protect those engaged in lawful business and employment, while upholding the right to lawful protest.
