Public Order Act 2009 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 2 · Assemblies and Processions
19. Legal immunity for participant in lawful assembly or procession
Feedback & supportIf an assembly or a procession —
assembly
“assembly” means a gathering or meeting (whether or not comprising any lecture, talk, address, debate or discussion) of persons the purpose (or one of the purposes) of which is —(a)to demonstrate support for or opposition to the views or actions of any person, group of persons or any government;(b)to publicise a cause or campaign; or(c)to mark or commemorate any event,and includes a demonstration by a person alone for any purpose mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c);
is the subject of a permit;
permit
“permit” means a permit granted under section 7 in respect of a public assembly or public procession;
is peaceful; and
is held in accordance with the conditions imposed on the permit,a person who takes part in the assembly or procession, does not, merely because of his or her taking part, incur any civil or criminal liability because of the obstruction of a public place.
procession
“procession” means a march, parade or other procession, whether or not involving the use of vehicles or other conveyances —(a)comprising 2 or more persons gathered at a place of assembly to move from that place substantially as a body of persons in succession proceeding by a common route or routes; and(b)the purpose (or one of the purposes) of which is —(i)to demonstrate support for or opposition to the views or actions of any person, group of persons or any government;(ii)to publicise a cause or campaign; or(iii)to mark or commemorate any event,and includes any assembly held in conjunction with such procession, and a march by a person alone for any purpose mentioned in paragraph (b)(i), (ii) or (iii);