UK police granted sweeping powers after pro-Palestinian protest clashes

The UK government has announced plans to give police expanded powers to restrict protests, citing rising fears within the Jewish community after repeated pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The decision comes in the wake of Thursday’s deadly knife and car-ramming attack on a synagogue in Manchester.

Protests and government response

Despite calls from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Metropolitan Police to delay protests, a pro-Palestinian demonstration went ahead in central London on Saturday, drawing over 1,000 participants. Nearly 500 people were arrested for showing support for the banned Palestine Action campaign.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that police would now have authority to consider the "cumulative impact" of protests when deciding whether to impose restrictions. “The right to protest is a fundamental freedom in our country. However, this freedom must be balanced with the freedom of their neighbours to live their lives without fear,” she said.

Groups such as Defend Our Juries, which organise protests supporting Palestine Action, condemned the move as an "extraordinary new affront to democracy" and pledged to escalate their campaign ahead of a High Court challenge in November.

Solidarity with the Jewish community

Protest organisers said they rejected calls to cancel events, arguing that peaceful protests should continue while showing solidarity with the Jewish community. However, Mahmood stressed the concerns of local residents and religious communities. “Large, repeated protests can leave sections of our country, particularly religious communities, feeling unsafe, intimidated and scared to leave their homes,” she said.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was reportedly booed at a vigil for Jewish victims of the Manchester attack, highlighting the tensions around protest activities.

Details of the Manchester synagogue attack

The assailant, Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, a UK citizen of Syrian descent, was shot dead by police within minutes of the attack. One person was killed outside the synagogue, and another died from a likely police gunshot. Three others remain in hospital with serious injuries, including one accidentally hit by law enforcement fire. Counter-terrorism police have extended detention of four individuals arrested over the incident.

Rising concerns over antisemitism

Mahmood noted a broader trend of rising antisemitism and other forms of hatred in the UK, stating, “There are clearly malign and dark forces running amok across our country.” The government’s decision to grant greater powers to police is intended to prevent further incidents and maintain public safety.

Context

The UK has witnessed repeated pro-Palestinian demonstrations since the October 2023 Hamas attacks on southern Israel and subsequent Israeli retaliation in Gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. The new regulations aim to ensure public safety while balancing the right to protest, though critics argue it may impinge on civil liberties.