RISHI Sunak has ordered a major tightening of protest laws after a day of hate ravaged central London.
The prime minister has drawn up five areas where legal loopholes in policing need to be closed – including easing a ban on marches after Palestinian activists dressed as Hamas killers and right-wingers injured police officers.
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has identified areas where legal loopholes in policing need to be closedCredit: Getty
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It comes after central London was ravaged by a day of hate, which included right-wing protesters attacking police officers Credit: Story Picture Agency
Stomping on statues and bus stops, as well as the use of flares and fireworks at protests will also be banned, and laws on glorifying terrorists will be tightened.
The King and Queen led a two-minute silence at the Cenotaph without incident, less than 24 hours after violent chaos erupted at Whitehall and Victoria Station when anti-Israel protesters stormed it.
Cops are investigating dozens of hate incidents and anti-Semitic attacks, and Michael Gove is thanking the police for saving him from the mob.
Home Affairs Minister Suella Braverman said more needed to be done to tackle the “sick, inflammatory and, in some cases, clearly criminal shouting, posters” seen yesterday.
The Sun understands the tightening would see:
- New laws drafted to prevent youths from climbing statues, scaffolding and bus stops during protests.
- The law on fireworks, smoke bombs and torches has been tightened.
- The threshold at which the police can ban marches and protests due to security reasons has been lowered.
- A law glorifying terrorists such as Hamas will also be tightened as police say it is too vague to be enforced at the moment.
Ministers are also looking at ways to limit certain chants such as “from the river to the sea” heard at protests by working with organizers to set conditions for the approval of protests.
The crackdown being watched in Downing Street comes after days of hate in central London and weeks of pro-Palestinian protests that have been littered with anti-Semitic placards and chants.
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The restriction would lead to stricter laws on fireworks, smoke bombs and flaresCredit: Reuters
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In light of the chaos, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said it would have been better if the march had not taken place Credit: Alamy
A Downing Street source said the review must “take the doubt out of the legal wrangling” over loopholes in the current protest laws.
But this will require new legislation that could be attached to the crime bill currently going through parliament or introduced as a new, separate piece of legislation.
Yesterday the Defense Secretary called for more arrests by the Met after 300,000 anti-Israel protesters marched through central London.
Some held openly racist signs and others were dressed as Hamas killers.
Grant Shapps said: “I’m sure there are many more arrests due to yesterday’s march, simply because the police were distracted or unwilling to intervene immediately.”
He said that it would have been “better” if the march had not been held, but that he respected “people’s right to protest”.
“As long as it’s legal, that’s fine too. Where it is illegal, it should be prosecuted,” he added.
Ms Braverman said: “Further action is required.”
She added: “The sick, inflammatory and, in some cases, clearly criminal chants, posters and paraphernalia openly displayed at the march marks a new low.
“Anti-Semitism and other forms of racism together with the valorization of terrorism on such a scale are deeply worrying.
She added: “This cannot continue. Week after week, the streets of London are polluted with hatred, violence and anti-Semitism.
“Citizens are exposed to mobbing and intimidation. Jews in particular feel threatened.”
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A police officer came under fire after posing with a child during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London yesterdayCredit: Submitted
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