This Act creates new criminal offences targeting protest tactics like locking-on and tunnelling, strengthens police stop-and-search powers, introduces Serious Disruption Prevention Orders for repeat offenders, and restricts access to abortion clinics. It affects protesters, police, and infrastructure operators.
A Bill to make provision for new offences relating to public order; to make provision about stop and search powers; to make provision about the exercise of police functions relating to public order; to make provision about proceedings by the Secretary of State relating to protest-related activities; to make provision about serious disruption prevention orders; and for connected purposes.
Status: Act of Parliament
Current House: Unassigned
Stage: Royal Assent
Sponsored by: Priti Patel, Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Introduced: 2022-05-11
Royal Assent: 2023-05-02