To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions (a) she and (b) officials in her Department have had with the Metropolitan Police on (i) the ban on Extinction Rebellion protests in London, (ii) Police identity checks on people walking across Lambeth Bridge and (iii) the stop and search of people wearing Extinction Rebellion stickers before the implementation of those powers; and if she will make a statement.
Answered on
25 October 2019
The right to protest peacefully is a long-standing tradition in this country and a vital foundation of our democracy.
However, the rights to peaceful protest do not extend to unlawful activity and the police have powers to deal with any such acts. How the police use these powers is an operational matter for them.