The Chief Inspector of Constabulary delivered on 20 November an outline report on “effectively managing protest” requested by Home Secretary Priti Patel, and is due to produce the full report by February 2021.
The Network for Police Monitoring reckons the prospect is of increasing police powers against protesters above the level already given by the Public Order Act 1986.
Explicit exemption from virus curbs for political protests done with due care was deleted for the current lockdown, but may be reinstated from 2 December. On 29 November police had a heavy presence at a London protest against the new security law in France, but did not try to disrupt it. Most police action has been against anti-lockdown protests (which tend deliberately to flout covid-distancing and mask rules). But not all.
