UK rights watchdog warns against ‘heavy-handed’ policing of Gaza protests

The Guardian (UK) ^ | Fri 15 Aug 2025 | Peter Walker

[Salman]

EHRC calls for clearer guidance for officers to avoid creating a ‘chilling effect’ on freedom of expression

The UK’s official human rights watchdog has written to the government and police expressing concern at a potentially “heavy-handed” approach to protests about Gaza and urging clearer guidance for officers in enforcing the law.

In the letter to Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, and Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan police, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said the perception that peaceful protest could attract disproportionate police attention “undermines confidence in our human rights protections”.

...

[Salman]

All of a sudden the UK authorities care about freedom of expression.

[SunkenCiv]

"Gaza protests."

[TexasFreeper2009]

any opinion on how “heavily handed” Ashley Babbitt was treated from them?

[silverleaf]

Having the coppers show up at doors at 4am to arrest Mom over facebook posts…seems a bit chilling

[ZULU]

🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻

[Danie_2023]

“”All of a sudden the UK authorities care about freedom of expression.””

But only if/when it concerns impeding the freedom of expression of non-whiteys and non-Christians.

[Wuli]

As freedom of speech is official torn asunder by the UK government, its “rights watchdog” worries about protesters in Gaza. For pure hypocrisy you can’t make this stuff up.

[aquila48]

“EHRC calls for clearer guidance for officers to avoid creating a ‘chilling effect’ on freedom of expression”

This from the same government that will arrest you if you say “boo” about the invaders.

[Uncle Miltie]

They’re just pretending.

Meme arrests at 3:00 a.m. continue!

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

The "we were once an empire, we were once a commonwealth, we once ran the British Mandate in Palestine, we were important once" folks are trying to be important, some more. So "we" write to "our" government ---

"In the letter to Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, and Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan police, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said the perception that peaceful protest could attract disproportionate police attention 'undermines confidence in our human rights protections'."

"Could" is such an exact term. Why not communicate with the Israelis directly? It's easy:

The Government Central Support Center

But no. Some British write to the British government, and then a British rag -- begging for donations -- publishes it.

Rather like 'product placement' than diplomacy or basic politics.

[iamgalt]

From the British “Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)”. Well they can go F themselves.

[JimRed]

Paid protesters might hesitate to take the job if they come back bruised often enough.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Right. “Heavy handed policing” is arresting a woman for silently praying near an abortion clinic, or arresting a mother for sharing a meme on X.

[Sam Gamgee]

Yes in Canada I was annoyed about a story in Montreal where a Jewish man confronted a Palestinian protest. First annoyed that this obviously liberal Jew thought anyone at such a protest could be reasoned with. But next after being called a POS and the crowd yelled “Heil” he approached Canadian police to do something about it. Apparently he doesn’t know you can’t arrest somebody for ugly expressions. Why are liberal Jews so quick to censor?