• Sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Public Order Act 1986 force organisers to give the police written advance notice of a procession, give the police power to impose conditions on processions, including conditions as to the route of the procession or prohibiting it from entering any public place, preventing leafleting and censoring banners or placards. Section 13 also gives the Police the power to ban a procession. Maximum penalty for refusal to comply: three months imprisonment and/or £2500 fine. A ‘procession’ is any two or more people moving in the same direction.

• Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, as amended by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, contains a similar power for public assemblies, allowing conditions to be put on the number of people who may take part, the location of the assembly, and its maximum duration. Maximum penalty for refusal to comply: three months imprisonment and/or £2500 fine. An ‘assembly’ is any two or more people with the same idea, standing still.

• Section 68 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, as amended by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, prevents any demonstration on private land, including semi-public spaces like shopping centres or the whole of Canary Wharf. Maximum penalty for refusal to comply: three months imprisonment and/or £2500 fine.

• Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 allows police officers to search anyone in a public place for placards, leaflets or other protest materials, without needing any grounds for the search. Maximum penalty for refusal to comply: six months imprisonment and/or £5000 fine. Any details for e.g. bank cards, Oyster, driving license will be recorded.

• Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, as amended by the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, contains a power which can authorise police officers within a given area to stop and search for offensive opinions. Maximum penalty for refusal to comply: one month imprisonment and/or £2500 fine.

• Section 50 of the Police Reform Act 2002 allows police to demand the name and address of anyone suspected of demonstrating. Maximum penalty for refusal to comply: £1000 fine.