Skip to content

How Protest Became a Crime in the UK: "We’re All Arrestables Now"

What do these laws mean for democracy, and who is being targeted? From activists to everyday citizens, no one is exempt.

How Protest Became a Crime in the UK: "We’re All Arrestables Now"
Published:

This week on In Solidarity, we're in discussion with openDemocracy's senior investigative reporter and feminist activist, Sian Norris. Sian joins us on the podcast to reveal how recent laws are quietly dismantling the right to protest in the UK.

Drawing on six months of in-depth reporting, Sian breaks down the true impact of the Public Order Act 2023 and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. These laws allow protests to be stopped before they even begin, based on little more than suspicion. What does this mean for democracy, and who is being targeted? From activists to everyday citizens, no one is exempt.

This is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the increasingly authoritarian political climate in the UK -- and around the world.

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/conservative-labour-protest-ban-climate-gaza-just-stop-oil-extinction-rebellion-black-lives-matter/

In Solidarity is openDemocracy’s podcast about people, power, and politics.

Support the show by visiting openDemocracy.net/donate.

Credits: Presented by Carla Abreu Edited and produced by James Battershill, Ayodeji Rotinwa & Carla Abreu

Theme song ‘Odyssey’ performed by Edward Abela


More in Interview

See all

More from Sian Norris

See all