PM's accusation of 'mob rule' puts right to peaceful protest at risk

In response to the Prime Minister's call for further restrictions on protest, Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UK’s Law and Human Rights Director, said:

“Talk of ‘mob rule’ is extremely dangerous and detrimental to the rights of peaceful protest.

“Freedom of expression and assembly are absolutely fundamental rights in any free and fair society.

“The UK authorities have under taken a major crackdown on protest rights in recent years, with peaceful protest tactics being criminalised and the police being given sweeping powers to prevent protests taking place.”