UK seeks stronger powers to stop disruptive protests

FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves Downing Street for the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government will on Monday announce new proposals to clamp down on protests, broadening the range of situations in which police are able to act to prevent serious disruption.

In recent years, protests, usually on environmental issues, have shut down large parts of central London and blocked traffic on key highways, leading to calls for the police to have more power to stop the disturbance.