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Written question asked by Bishop of Manchester (Bishops (affiliation)) on Tuesday, 1 April 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 April 2025. It was answered by Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour) on Monday, 14 April 2025 on behalf of the Home Office.

Freedom of Expression

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the police raid on a Quaker meeting house on 27 March for religious and democratic freedoms.

Answer

The use of police powers are a matter for the police, who are operationally independent of Government. The Metropolitan Police have issued a statement about the incident in question, which reads as follows:

“Youth Demand have stated an intention to 'shut down' London over the month of April using tactics including 'swarming' and road blocks. While we absolutely recognise the importance of the right to protest, we have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality. On Thursday, 27 March officers raided a Youth Demand planning meeting at an address in Westminster where those in attendance were plotting their April action. Six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Five of those arrested on Thursday have been released on bail and one will face no further action. A further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday, 28 March. Four of the arrests were at addresses in London and one in Exeter. All five of those arrested on Friday have been released on bail.”

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL6443
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Freedom of expression Police raids
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk