LONDON: Britain’s human rights watchdog has urged ministers and police chiefs to avoid “heavy-handed” tactics when policing demonstrations over the war in Gaza, saying that such actions risk creating a “chilling effect” on the right to protest, it was reported on Friday.
In a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, the Equality and Human Rights Commission chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner said the “right to protest is a cornerstone of any healthy democracy” and any interference “must be lawful and assessed case by case.”
Her intervention follows reports of individuals facing police action at recent demonstrations despite not expressing support for any banned organizations.
The EHRC cited the case of Laura Murton, who in July was threatened with arrest under the Terrorism Act by Kent Police in July for holding a Palestinian flag and signs reading “Free Gaza” and “Israel is committing genocide” during a demonstration in Canterbury.
Murton told officers she did not support any proscribed groups but was reportedly warned that her actions were linked to Palestine Action — which in July was banned by the government.
Membership of or support for the group is a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
“Heavy-handed policing or blanket approaches risk creating a chilling effect, deterring citizens from exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly through fear of possible consequences,” Falkner said.
“This concern extends beyond those directly affected by police engagement to the broader health of our democracy, because the perception that peaceful protest may attract disproportionate police attention undermines confidence in our human rights protections,” she added.
She called on the UK government and police to ensure “all officers receive clear and consistent guidance on their human rights obligations” so that “the appropriate balance is maintained between public safety and the protection of essential human rights.”
In a separate statement, she said that the right to peaceful protest was fundamental to British democracy and must be protected even when dealing with complex and sensitive issues.
“We recognize the genuine challenges the police face in maintaining public safety, but we are concerned that some recent responses may not strike the right balance between security and fundamental rights,” she said.
“Our role as the national human rights institution is to uphold the laws that safeguard everyone’s right to fairness, dignity and respect. When we see reports of people being questioned or prevented from peaceful protests that don’t support proscribed organisations, we have a duty to speak out,” she added.
Last weekend, more than 500 people were arrested in London, most on suspicion of displaying items deemed supportive of Palestine Action. Police figures indicate that half of those detained were aged 60 or older.
Downing Street has described Palestine Action as “a violent organisation that has committed violence, significant injury, extensive criminal damage,” citing evidence and security assessments presented in closed court. The group has rejected the claims as “false and defamatory,” saying they were contradicted by the government’s own intelligence.
Meanwhile, campaigners including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Quakers in Britain have urged Attorney General Richard Hermer to delay prosecution decisions for those arrested until after a High Court challenge to Palestine Action’s proscription, set for November.
They argued that moving ahead before the court’s ruling “raises significant legal and moral questions” and that delaying action “would demonstrate restraint, fairness and respect for the ongoing legal process.”
Murton’s lawyers have also issued a letter of claim to Kent Police over her case, which they said was intended to remind forces across the country of their obligations to protect peaceful protest.
