Understanding those rights
The Convention provides that everyone is entitled to these rights, subject to specific limitations in some circumstances, for instance for the prevention of disorder or crime or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
This means that in some cases the police may find it necessary to place limited limitations on protests. Some sections of the Public Order Act, for example, allow senior police officers to impose conditions on processions if he or she reasonably believes the route may result in:
- serious public disorder
- serious damage to property
- serious disruption to the life of the community
- if the purpose of the procession is to intimidate others with a view to compelling them not to do an act that they have right to do or compelling them to do an act they have right not to do.
or
Ultimately, operational decisions, such as whether to impose conditions are a matter for the individual police forces concerned. Our goal is to prevent crime and disorder, not legitimate protest, and so police will always strive to be even handed and proportionate in any response to protest.
