Protesters to be banned from sporting masks due to fears about extremists

Extreme activists have “hijacked” protests for good causes and are threatening democracy, a major independent review has suggested.

Lord Walney, who has led the investigation into political violence and disruption, declared “chaos cannot be condoned” as he condemned a rise in criminal damage to buildings, road blockages and intimidation of MPs. The former Labour MP described regular pro-Palestine marches across the UK as a “phenomenon”, acknowledging that they had triggered “intense scrutiny” in laws around public order.

Lord Walney said “noble” protest movements were being increasingly infiltrated by law breaking and political extremism. He warned “hostile states” that seek to “sow division in our communities” have been emboldened and raised fears about the promotion of extreme content online and the radicalisation of individuals in their bedrooms.

It came as Michael Gove gave a speech in central London condemning a rise in antisemitism at protests and on university campuses in response to Israel ’s attacks on Gaza. In a series of recommendations, Lord Walney said the Government should restrict protest organisations that use criminal tactics, as well as consider creating protest buffer zones around MPs’ constituency offices and local council chambers.

Under his recommendations, protest organisers may have to pay for the cost of policing large demonstrations that cause disruption or break the law, while face masks to hide identities could be banned. He also urged ministers to take action against repeated marches, such as defining a limit on how often pro-Palestine marches can take place.

Campaigners hit out at what it said was a “sinister and shameful development” in the Government’s attempts to ban groups with whom it disagrees. The publication of the report came as the High Court ruled the Home Office acted unlawfully over regulations which lowered the threshold for police to intervene in protests.

Lord Walney’s almost 300-page report examined protests that have taken place over several years including those in relation to Brexit, as well as those led by Black Lives Matter, Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion. It mentioned individual activists including anti-vaxxer Piers Corbyn and “notorious antisemitic conspiracy theorist” David Icke as he emphasised the range of political movements from the Far Right to Far Left that had emerged.

Good Law Project executive director Jo Maugham said: “We are firmly into the territory of our government banning organisations whose politics it disagrees with. Clamping down on dissent does not make issues like global conflict and the climate crisis go away.” The barrister also raised concerns that Lord Walney’s lobbying links to an arms company and oil firm had influenced his report.

Lord Walney, who was appointed to lead the review in 2021, urged the Government to “tighten its response to activists who threaten our democratic way of life”. He said: “Noble causes such as the battle against climate change have been hijacked by extremist groups determined to bypass democratic norms and cause maximum disruption to society.” He added there must be a “balance” between protecting peaceful protest and ensuring “unlawful disruption is made more difficult”.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said the Government will consider Lord Walney’s recommendations, adding: “I will take every possible step to safeguard the people and institutions upon which our democracy depends.”