Crime and Policing – NC53 – The Right To Peaceful Protest

 

The previous Conservative Government repeatedly undermined fundamental democratic freedoms, introducing heavy-handed laws designed to stifle peaceful protest and criminalise those who speak out. The draconian measures were less about maintaining public order than they were about silencing dissent.

Liberal Democrats have consistently stood firm in defence of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. We opposed these authoritarian laws at every turn, including voting against the Public Order Act, which sought to curtail legitimate protest. 

We are committed to repealing these unjust laws and restoring the protections that safeguard both peaceful assembly and public safety. The police already had the powers necessary to deal with disruption, long before the Conservatives forced through new legislation.