Politics
Government commissions former DPP to review legal protections against ‘hate and intimidation’ following Heaton Park attack
Lord Macdonald is expected to conclude the review by February
November 19, 2025 13:17
Lord Macdonald is expected to conclude the review by February
November 19, 2025 13:17A former director of public prosecutions (DPP) has been tasked by the government to review whether current public order and hate crime laws is up to the standard of protecting communities from “hate and intimidation”.
Lord Macdonald, who was DPP between 2003-2008 – where he was succeeded by Sir Keir Starmer – will be aided by Owen Weatherill, a senior policing expert formerly the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Civil Contingencies and National Mobilisation in examining whether existing legislation is effective and proportionate in protecting communities while balancing the right to free speech.
Their review is set to be concluded rapidly, by February next year.
It comes in the aftermath of the Heaton Park terror attack on Yom Kippur and amid concern about the impact of disruptive and intimidating protests and hate crimes on the cohesion and safety of society.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The terrorist attack in Manchester on October 2 shocked the nation and showed how hatred and division can fuel violence. It happened at a time of growing concern about protests and hate crime in this country.
“Our laws must protect the public, while upholding the right to protest and free speech. That is why we have asked Lord Macdonald to lead this review. His experience will ensure it is thorough and independent.
“Lawful protest and free speech are fundamental rights, but we cannot allow them to be abused to spread hate or cause disorder. The law must be fit for purpose and consistently applied.”
Shortly after the attack on Heaton Park, Mahmood and Starmer visited CST’s headquarters in north west London. Starmer and the home secretary said they were introducing new measures to take account of the “cumulative impact” on the Jewish community of repeat protests.
He went on to take issue with some of the chants heard during pro-Palestine demonstrations, which he said had “to be dealt with in a different way”.
The announcement of Macdonald’s review was welcomed by Lord Walney, the government’s former independent adviser on political violence and disruption.
He told the JC: that he looked forward “discussing with him these issues which have long been vitally important to the protection of Jewish people in Britain.
“It is encouraging that a tight time table has been set for this fresh review. The home secretary needs to grasp this issue with the same decisive vigour she is bringing to reform of the asylum system so Labour ends the doom loop of endless deliberation.”
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