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This open letter is written not only to the Home Secretary, but also as a message of love and solidarity to the Jewish community. In times of fear and uncertainty, when antisemitism resurfaces under the guise of political protest, it is vital that we speak clearly and stand together.
My words below are not motivated by politics alone, but by care and respect for the Jewish friends, neighbours, and families who deserve to live in safety and dignity. This is my commitment to you: that I will use my voice to call for fairness, consistency, and protection under the law.
With love and solidarity,
Open Letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood
Why Has Section 18 of the Public Order Act 2023 Not Been Commenced to Address Pro-Palestine Marches?
Dear Home Secretary Mahmood @ShabanaMahmood
As Home Secretary, you hold responsibility for ensuring public order and safety in England and Wales. Recent pro-Palestine demonstrations have been widely criticised for harbouring antisemitic rhetoric, calls for violence, and support for proscribed groups such as Palestine Action. With escalating unrest, mass arrests, and mounting public concern, exacerbated by recent attacks on synagogues, many are asking: why has the government not commenced Section 18 of the Public Order Act 2023 to empower intervention in these events?
Section 18 empowers the Secretary of State to bring civil proceedings against protest activity where it is reasonably believed to cause, or be likely to cause, serious disruption to national infrastructure, access to essential goods or services, or a serious adverse effect on public safety. This provision was introduced precisely for situations where public assemblies threaten stability and daily life. However, it remains prospective and has not yet been brought into force, despite the Act receiving Royal Assent in May 2023. The official legislation record confirms that Section 18 has never been commenced, and no public explanation has been given by the Government for this delay.
Meanwhile, over 1,300 arrests have taken place at pro-Palestine events this summer alone, including nearly 900 at a single London protest for alleged support of a banned terrorist organisation. Reports continue to link these marches to hate speech, antisemitism, and violence against police officers. Political commentators argue that they have fostered an atmosphere of “vile, antisemitic, Hamas-supporting” sentiment, with some participants openly defying bans on proscribed groups.
Your predecessors have not hesitated to restrict so called “right-wing” demonstrations when deemed necessary. Why, then, do these marches continue unchecked? Is it, as critics suggest, due to perceived biases stemming from your past parliamentary record on Gaza and links to pro-Palestinian activism, or fears of wider unrest if they were curtailed?
Public frustration is growing. On platforms like X, many accuse the government of applying terrorism laws selectively, pursuing arrests after the fact, while ignoring the need to commence powers such as Section 18 that could prevent escalation in the first place. The Public Order Act was enacted to safeguard the public from disruptive and dangerous assemblies, while respecting the right to peaceful protest. These marches, repeatedly linked to terrorism, related offences and hate speech, appear to meet its threshold once activated.
By failing to commence and act under this provision, you risk undermining confidence in both your office and the impartial application of the law. If Section 18 provides the legal means to intervene once in force, why the delay in bringing it forward?
The public deserves transparency, consistency, and protection. I urge you to commence Section 18 without delay, and to ensure that all protests are policed with fairness and balance.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen
thankyou @SBarrettBar you helped without knowing
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