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Government officials are planning to grant law enforcement new powers to address recurring demonstrations, specifically aimed on cracking down against Middle East protests, according to the Interior Ministry.

Latest Detentions and Planned Changes

This announcement follows the morning after almost five hundred people were arrested in London for showing solidarity for a proscribed group, a banned organization. These changes could enable police to instruct regular protests to be moved to alternative sites.

The Home Secretary, will also review all legislation regarding demonstrations, with the possibility to strengthen authorities to ban certain protests outright.

Planned Legislative Changes

Under the planned powers, Mahmood will push through rapid changes to the Public Order Act 1986, enabling law enforcement to take into account the "cumulative impact" of ongoing demonstrations. Specific details will be released "at a later date", according to the statement.

Should a demonstration has caused what authorities called "ongoing disruption" at the identical site for multiple weeks, authorities would have the authority to require organizers to move the event elsewhere, with participants who fail to comply risking arrest.

Wider Examination and Public Safety

Mahmood stated that she would "examine existing legislation to ensure that authorities are sufficient and being consistently applied", including police powers to prohibit certain protests completely.

"The right to protest is a basic right in our country. Nevertheless, this right must be balanced with the right of their neighbours to live their lives without fear," the Home Secretary stated.

"Frequent, sizable demonstrations can leave sections of our country, especially faith groups, experiencing insecurity, threatened and fearful of going out. This has been especially noticeable in relation to the significant anxiety within the Jewish population, which has been expressed to me on numerous instances during these challenging times."

"These measures mark an important step in guaranteeing we safeguard the freedom to demonstrate while ensuring all feel safe in this country."

Recent Context and Law Enforcement Reaction

These expanded authorities appear to be aimed at both mass pro-Gaza protests, which took place in the capital and various urban centers over a series of weeks, and gatherings held to support Palestine Action.

On Saturday, authorities arrested approximately 500 individuals at the most recent such protest. The event took place despite government officials, including senior figures, asking that it be postponed following the recent deadly attack on a synagogue in the northern city.

Police Perspective

Following the recent demonstration, the leader of the police representative body stated that police personnel policing protests in the capital were "emotionally and physically exhausted".

"Enough is enough. Our focus should be on ensuring public safety at a period when the nation is on heightened alert from a security threat. Yet officers are being drawn in to manage these relentless protests," the federation chair said.

Additional Legislative Actions

This development follow protest-related provisions in the public safety legislation currently going through parliament, which prohibits the possession of face coverings or pyrotechnics at demonstrations, and makes illegal the scaling of certain war memorials.