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Ministers are planning to grant law enforcement new authorities to address ongoing demonstrations, specifically aimed on cracking down against Middle East demonstrations, as stated by the Interior Ministry.

Latest Detentions and Planned Changes

This announcement follows the morning after nearly 500 people were arrested in the capital for showing solidarity for a proscribed group, a banned organization. The new measures could allow authorities to order frequent protests to be moved to alternative sites.

The Home Secretary, will also examine all legislation regarding demonstrations, with the potential to strengthen authorities to prohibit some protests outright.

Planned Legal Modifications

Under the planned powers, Mahmood will push through swift changes to the Public Order Act 1986, allowing police to consider the "cumulative impact" of ongoing demonstrations. Specific details will be provided "in due course", as per the announcement.

Should a demonstration has caused what officials called "ongoing disruption" at the identical site for multiple consecutive weeks, authorities would gain the authority to require organizers to relocate the gathering elsewhere, with those who fail to comply risking arrest.

Wider Review and Community Security

The Home Secretary added that she would "examine current laws to ensure that powers are adequate and being uniformly enforced", including law enforcement authorities to ban some protests entirely.

"The freedom to demonstrate is a fundamental freedom in our country. Nevertheless, this right must be balanced with the freedom of their neighbours to live their lives without anxiety," the Home Secretary stated.

"Large, repeated protests can leave certain communities, especially religious communities, feeling unsafe, intimidated and fearful of going out. This has been especially noticeable in relation to the significant anxiety within the Jewish community, which has been expressed to me on many occasions during these recent difficult days."

"These measures represent an important step in ensuring we safeguard the freedom to demonstrate while ensuring everyone feel safe in this country."

Recent Situation and Law Enforcement Response

The broader powers seem targeting both mass Gaza-support protests, which took place in the capital and various urban centers over a series of weeks, and gatherings held to back the proscribed organization.

On Saturday, authorities detained approximately 500 individuals at the latest similar demonstration. The event occurred despite ministers, including political leaders, requesting that it be delayed following the recent tragic incident on a synagogue in the northern city.

Law Enforcement Perspective

Following the recent demonstration, the leader of the Metropolitan Police Federation stated that officers managing demonstrations in the capital were "drained both mentally and physically".

"This cannot continue. Our concentration should be on keeping people safe at a period when the nation is on increased security from a terrorist attack. Yet officers are being pulled away to manage these relentless protests," the federation chair stated.

Additional Legal Actions

This development come after protest-related provisions in the crime and policing bill currently under parliamentary consideration, which bans the possession of masks or fireworks at demonstrations, and criminalises the scaling of certain war memorials.