Protest organisers should have to give more warning to the police, say MPs

The Home Office has been urged to consider requiring protest organisers to give police more notice of demonstrations if they continue to take place at the frequency and scale of those over the conflict in the Middle East.

The recommendation was one of the key findings of a Home Affairs Committee (HAC) report on policing protests, which found demonstrations, and the “disruptive tactics” of some participants, are causing “unsustainable pressure” on policing resources.

According to the report, policing the protests between October 7 and December 17 last year cost forces across the UK more than £25 million.

It cost the an estimated £18.9 million and other police forces a collective £6.5 million, from the same date to December 10.