Rishi Sunak warns police as protests descend into mob rule

Chancellor Rishi Sunak warned police chiefs that there was “a growing consensus that mob rule is about to replace democratic rule”.

He wants a stronger police response, saying it is necessary to protect politicians and the democratic process.

This includes an “immediate response” by police to an intimidating protest at an MP’s home.

But human rights group Amnesty International said the prime minister was “grossly exaggerating the issue”.

Mr Sunak was speaking a day after the Home Office announced a £31m package aimed at protecting MPs, which he said was a response to the impact of the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict.

Police bosses have now been called to Downing Street, where the Prime Minister has urged them to use existing powers to crack down on intimidation, disruption and vandalism “with urgency”.

“It is clear to everyone that we are witnessing a pattern of increasingly violent and coercive behavior aimed at challenging free debate and preventing elected officials from doing their jobs,” he said. That can never be tolerated,” he said.

“It is completely undemocratic…We will do whatever it takes to protect our democracy and the values ​​we all hold dear.

“That’s what the public expects. It’s the foundation of our democratic system, and it’s critical to maintaining public trust in our police.”

Police have been advised that protests outside MPs’ homes or offices should generally be considered intimidating and should therefore “initiate an immediate response”.

A Home Office document said: “Elected members have been threatened and their homes have been targeted. Parliamentary sessions have been repeatedly disrupted and, in some cases, abandoned… Last Wednesday, protesters… threatened to force Congress to ‘shut its doors.’

“These are not isolated incidents, nor are they legitimate means of achieving change through the power of peaceful debate… They are as un-British as they are undemocratic.

“If we need to maintain public trust and maintain the integrity of our democratic process, we cannot allow this to continue.”

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, one of the groups behind a series of large demonstrations in London and other cities in recent months, said it did not support protests outside the homes of MPs, but said it defends the right to peacefully protest outside its offices. Council room.

While Labor is understood to believe the proposals are wise, the Prime Minister’s words say otherwise.

Conservative Donna Jones, chair of the Police and Crime Commissioner, told BBC Newsnight that police currently have sufficient powers and are using them to arrest protesters. Ta.

Ms Jones, who attended the Downing Street rally, said: “We’re all hearing the message from pro-Palestinian groups. We’re hearing it, we’re aware of it, and whatever they say… I understand that this is a type of illegal activity that must be stopped.”

But former Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Del Babu said words like “mob rule” were “unhelpful”.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that asking people not to demonstrate could have “unintended consequences” and lead to more people taking to the streets.

Justice Minister Mike Freer, who plans to resign at the next election due to security concerns, said extra funding for security measures “doesn’t get to the root cause” of why people feel they are emboldened to attack MPs. ” he said.

He said that failing to address this cause would only lead to “an iron ring around MPs” and “change the whole style of democracy”.

Amnesty International UK law and human rights director Tom Southerden warned that fundamental rights were being eroded.

“The talk of ‘mob rule’ greatly exaggerates the problem and risks delegitimizing the right to peaceful protest,” he said.

“Freedom of expression and assembly are absolute fundamental rights in a free and fair society.

“The UK has seen a major crackdown on the right to protest in recent years, with peaceful protest tactics criminalized and police given wide powers to prevent protests from being held. .”