The Government has fast-tracked legislation to clamp down on protests before the coronation of King Charles III.
Security minister Tom Tugendhat has defended the new laws implemented to stop Just Stop Oil-style rallies, which have brought London to a standstill.
He spoke after a man carrying a knife was on Tuesday night arrested and detained after he threw items including gun cartridges towards Buckingham Palace from the gates.
Mr Tugendhat, the Tonbridge MP and former Tory leadership hopeful, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Wednesday: “The coronation is a chance for the United Kingdom to showcase our liberty and democracy, that’s what this security arrangement is doing.
“Empowering people to come together, freely, openly and demonstrating security can be a liberator, not like in authoritarian states where it is a controller.”
But what are the laws and why are they being enforced?
Suella Braverman has introduced laws involving tougher sentences being given to anyone participating in disruptive action at major events.
Under the home secretary’s changes, anyone who blocks roads, airports and railways could be jailed for up to 12 months — while anyone who glues themself down could face up to six months behind bars or an unlimited fine.
Police will also be able to head off disruption by stopping and searching protesters for items such as padlocks, superglue and digging tools if they suspect they are intending to cause chaos, the Government has said. People caught with these items, with the intention of using them to cause disruption, will also face criminal charges.
Anti-monarchists have been sent warning letters before coronation on May 6.
Protesters glueing themselves down has been a tactic of Just Stop Oil and their linked movement Insulate Britain — and it is speculated the powers have such groups in mind.
Just Stop Oil is set to complete a slow march from London’s Parliament Square every morning in the run-up to the coronation on Saturday.
Ms Braverman said: “The public shouldn’t have their daily lives ruined by so called ‘eco-warriors’ causing disruption and wasting millions of pounds of taxpayer money.
“The selfish minority must not be allowed to get away with this. We are giving our police and courts the tools they need to stop this chaos and I back them in making full use of these powers.”
The anti-monarchy group Republic has said it will not be encouraging members to glue themselves down but will be holding a peaceful rally in London on the coronation day.
The Government received Royal Assent for its Public Order Act on Tuesday (May 2), which means the new powers have come into force on Wednesday, May 3.
It is an amendment to the original 1986 act and has been adapted to help police stop disruptive protests as their tactics have changed.
