Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32)

PART 3 E+W+S Public order

Palace of Westminster, Parliament Square etc E+W

76 Obstruction of vehicular access to Parliament E+W

(1) Part 3 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (Parliament Square etc) is amended as follows.

(2) In section 142A (other controlled areas in vicinity of the Palace of Westminster)—

(a) in subsection (1)—

(i) in paragraph (a), after sub-paragraph (i) insert—

“(ia) Canon Row,

(ib) Parliament Street,

(ic) Derby Gate,

(id) Parliament Square,”, and

(ii) after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa) so much of the highway in the postal district SW1 known as Victoria Embankment as lies between the highway in that district known as Bridge Street and the highway in that district known as Richmond Terrace,”, and

(b) after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) A reference to a highway in subsection (1)(a) or (aa) includes any land immediately adjoining that highway and to which the public have or are permitted access.”

(3) In section 143 (prohibited activities in controlled area of Parliament Square or in Palace of Westminster controlled area)—

(a) in subsection (2), after paragraph (e) insert—

“(f) obstructing, by the use of any item or otherwise, the passage of a vehicle of any description into or out of an entrance into or exit from the Parliamentary Estate, where that entrance or exit is within, or adjoins, the Palace of Westminster controlled area.”,

(b) in subsection (3)(b) for “relevant authority” substitute “relevant person”,

(c) after subsection (4) insert—

“(4A) In subsection (2)(f) the reference to obstructing the passage of a vehicle includes making the passage of a vehicle more difficult.”,

(d) in subsection (5)—

(i) in the words before paragraph (a), for ““relevant authority”” substitute ““relevant person””,

(ii) omit “or” at the end of paragraph (b), and

(iii) after paragraph (c) insert—

“(d) a relevant member of the House of Lords staff, or

(e) a relevant member of the House of Commons staff”, and

(e) after subsection (5) insert—

“(5A) In subsection (5)—

• “relevant member of the House of Lords staff” has the meaning given by section 194(6) of the Employment Rights Act 1996;

• “relevant member of the House of Commons staff” has the meaning given by section 195(5) of that Act.”

(4) Subsection (2) does not affect—

(a) any direction given under section 143(1) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 before the day on which this section came into force,

(b) any order made under section 146(1)(b) of that Act before that day, or

(c) any authorisation given under section 147 of that Act before that day.

(5) Any such direction, order or authorisation applies in relation to the Palace of Westminster controlled area as defined by section 142A(1) of that Act as it had effect immediately before that day.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 76 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 208(1)

I2 S. 76 in force at 28.6.2022 by S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(j)

77 Power to specify other areas as controlled areas E+W

After section 149 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 insert—

“149A Power to specify other areas as controlled areas

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide for any provision of sections 143 to 148 and 149(3) to apply, with or without modifications, in relation to an area specified in the regulations.

(2) An area may be specified in regulations under subsection (1) by description, by reference to a map or plan or in any other way.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may be made only if—

(a) either House of Parliament is, or is proposed to be, located somewhere other than the Palace of Westminster as a result of the Parliamentary building works or for any other reason, and

(b) as a result of that relocation, or proposed relocation, the Secretary of State considers that it is reasonably necessary for activities which are prohibited in relation to the controlled area of Parliament Square or the Palace of Westminster controlled area to be prohibited in relation to the area specified in the regulations.

(4) In subsection (3)(a) “the Parliamentary building works” has the meaning given by section 1(1) of the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019.

(5) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for any other enactment, or any instrument made under an enactment, to have effect with modifications in consequence of regulations under subsection (1).”

Commencement Information

I3 S. 77 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 208(1)

I4 S. 77 in force at 28.6.2022 by S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(j)