Quakers urge parliament to curb increasingly repressive protest laws
Quakers in Britain have urged politicians to curb increasingly repressive protest laws, warning that recent and proposed legislation is preventing them from practising their faith.
In a submission to the Independent Review of Public Order and Hate Crime Legislation, alongside a briefing on the Crime and Policing Bill, the faith group argues that recent changes are stifling religious freedom.
The evidence draws on anonymised testimonies from Quakers and the organisation's own experience, including a police raid on Westminster Quaker Meeting House in March 2025.
For Quakers, faith and action are inseparable, the submission says, and protest is not simply a civic activity but a spiritual one.
“Recent developments such as expanded protest powers, vague legal thresholds, and the proscription of Palestine Action have created a climate of fear and uncertainty for our members," it says.
Quakers report being arrested during peaceful witness, silenced in court and deterred from offering ministry or exploring moral questions during meetings for worship.
“These experiences undermine democratic participation and Quakers' ability to practise their faith freely."
Quakers' concerns were raised directly with government this week. Recording Clerk Paul Parker and Public Affairs Officer Billy Vaughan joined other Christian groups at a meeting with the review team at the Home Office on Tuesday.
Crime and Policing Bill
Separately, Grace Da Costa of Quakers in Britain addressed members of the House of Lords on the protest-related provisions of the Crime and Policing Bill.
Building on the written briefing, she urged peers to back a proposal from Jenny Jones, a Green Party member of the House of Lords, to remove Clause 124, which would restrict protests “in the vicinity" of places of worship.
Da Costa said the wording was dangerously vague and could have wide-ranging consequences, particularly in cities where places of worship are densely located.
Quakers are also calling on peers to oppose a late government amendment (number 372) which would give police sweeping new powers to restrict or effectively ban recurring protests.
“Protests are a vital way for people's voices to be heard, and cumulative impact is a vital part of successful protest," the briefing says.
“Causes such as the anti-apartheid movement would never have succeeded without repeated action."