Cops will get sweeping new powers to break up protests which bring chaos to the streets
POLICE will be given sweeping new powers to break up protests which bring chaos to the streets.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is drawing up laws to ban guerrilla tactics that disrupt businesses or transport links.
Senior officers will be allowed to impose a wide range of restrictions to prevent demos causing a public nuisance or harming livelihoods.
A Criminal Justice Bill will allow them to dictate start and finish times, and set maximum noise levels — enforced by tougher sentences.
It follows a print plant blockade by Extinction Rebellion fanatics that disrupted the distribution of 1.5 million newspapers.
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The new laws will close a loophole used by protesters to breach conditions so that an offence will be committed if the protester ought to have known about restrictions.
An offence of public nuisance will also be codified in statute, giving greater clarity over what is forbidden.
A Home Office source said: “We must stand firm against the guerrilla tactics used by these groups.”
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