Public Order Act 2023 offences
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/25/004031/Q
Version Date: 24/12/2025
Please provide the information below for the period from commencement of
the relevant provisions of the Public Order Act 2023 to the most recent date for
which figures are available, in relation to protests, demonstrations, vigils and
other public assemblies.
A. Public Order Act 2023 offences
For arrests made under the following provisions of the Public Order Act 2023:
• Section 1 – Offence of “locking on”
• Section 3 – Offence of “tunnelling”
• Section 7 – “Interference with use or operation of key national
infrastructure”
• Any related conspiracy offences, including but not limited to:
o Conspiracy to commit an offence under section 1
o Conspiracy to commit an offence under section 3
o Conspiracy to commit an offence under section 7
For each of the above, please state (where held):
1. Total number of arrests.
2. Number of suspects charged directly by the police (without CPS
charging decision).
3. Number of cases referred to the CPS for a charging decision.
4. Number of suspects charged following CPS authorisation.
5. Number of prosecutions resulting in conviction (if known to the force).
6. Number of prosecutions resulting in acquittal (if known to the force).
7. Any other protest-related conspiracy charges linked to the above
incidents (e.g. conspiracy to cause public nuisance, conspiracy to interfere
with key infrastructure, conspiracy to commit criminal damage), specifying the
offence wording and statutory provision used.
B. Equality-monitoring data
For the arrests listed above, please provide aggregate equality-monitoring
data (where recorded), broken down by:
• Sex
• Age group
• Ethnicity
• Religion or belief
• Disability
If some of these fields are not recorded or not extractable within the appropriate cost limit, please provide what is available and briefly describe any gaps.
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