POLICE must be given new powers to break up protests after eco warriors bought central London to a standstill for nearly a week, a top cop yesterday warned.
Adrian Usher, head of policing Parliament, said there must be a “sober review” of how demonstrators were able to besiege the Palace of Westminster.
Rex Features
And he called for powers to be beefed up – saying it is not enough that protests are peaceful they must be lawful too.
It comes as Michael Gove will today hold controversial talks with climate change activists Extinction Rebellion.
They sparked days of misery for motorists and commuters by holding sit-down protests across London’s busiest streets.
Grilled by MPs on the spate of protests which have erupted outside Parliament in recent months, the police commander said cops may have to change their tactics.
He told the Human Rights Committee: “We need to move away from the language of talking about peaceful protest to talk about lawful protest.
“A protest being peaceful is only one of the attributes that the police would say are a sign to a protest that make it lawful.
“We will conduct a sober review of our tactics against recent protests.
“But I think it is likely to say the legislation associated with policing protest is quite dated and that policing and protest has moved on and that legislation should follow suit.”
Eco protesters set up camp outside Parliament for several days over the Easter break.
And MPs have faced harassment and abuse from so-called yellow vest protesters in recent months.
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