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<p>This country has a proud history of allowing free speech, but the right to peaceful
protest does not extend to harassment or threatening behaviour. The police have a
range of powers to deal with any such acts.</p><p>These include under the Public Order
Act 1986, chief officers may impose conditions on assemblies to prevent serious public
disorder, serious damage to property, serious disruption to the life of the community
or when the purpose is to intimidate others to compel them not to do an act that they
have a right to do.</p><p>The police also have dispersal powers (in public places)
under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, and the Protection from
Harassment Act 1997 includes criminal offences that protect individuals, who are conducting
lawful activities, from harassment by protestors.</p><p>How these powers are deployed
and the tactics used to manage protests are operational matters for the police.</p>
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