Public Order Act 2023 (c. 15)

Part 1 E+W Public order

Exercise of police powers in relation to journalists etc E+W

17 Exercise of police powers in relation to journalists etc E+W

(1) A constable may not exercise a police power for the sole purpose of preventing a person from observing or reporting on a protest.

(2) A constable may not exercise a police power for the sole purpose of preventing a person from observing or reporting on the exercise of a police power in relation to—

(a) a protest-related offence,

(b) a protest-related breach of an injunction, or

(c) activities related to a protest.

(3) This section does not affect the exercise by a constable of a police power for any purpose for which it may be exercised apart from this section.

(4) In this section—

• “injunction” means an injunction granted by the High Court, the county court or a youth court;

• “police power” means a power which is conferred on a constable by or by virtue of an enactment or by a rule of law;

• “protest-related breach”, in relation to an injunction, means a breach which is directly related to a protest;

• “protest-related offence” means an offence which is directly related to a protest.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 17 in force at 2.7.2023 by S.I. 2023/733, reg. 2(e)