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UK court rules brand-new authorities powers to enforce conditions on protest are unlawful

Britain's government went beyond its powers by lowering the limit in 2015 for cops to enforce conditions on serene demonstrations, a relocation which would require more significant changes to the law, London's High Court ruled on Tuesday.

The ruling handed a victory to civil liberties group Liberty, which took the federal government to court over modifications to public order laws which it says offered the authorities nearly limitless powers to closed down demonstrations.

The case was heard in February in the middle of a wider crackdown on protest movements in Britain and across Europe, as environmental activists used direct action at demonstrations over climate modification.

Judges Nicholas Green and Timothy Kerr discovered that the regulations approving the new powers were unlawful. The government was permitted to appeal the decision, and the ruling obstructing the new powers was suspended till any appeal might be heard.

Liberty's director Akiko Hart said in a statement that the new powers had been presented with the clear objective of stopping protesters that the government did not personally concur with.

Katy Watts, a legal representative with Liberty, added: We hope today's. ruling makes the Government take stock, which they instead. work to safeguard our rights instead of strip them away even more.

The Home Office invited the granting of the right to appeal. and said the federal government will think about all other options to. keep this essential power for police.

The right to demonstration is a fundamental part of our democracy. however we should also safeguard the obedient bulk's right to go. about their lives, the Home Office representative included.

Liberty's legal action focused on the Public Order Act,. under which the cops can impose conditions on a demonstration if it. could trigger major interruption to the life of the neighborhood.

The law was modified last year, to enable cops to impose. conditions in cases where a demonstration might trigger more than. small disruption. Liberty said that change was illegal.

The High Court ruled that in changing the law the government. exceeded its powers, which did not extend to lowering the. threshold for police intervention without passing brand-new main. legislation in parliament.