How to organise a protest

It’s important to make sure that you’re clear on why you’re getting out onto the streets, and also that you’re being heard by the right people. This could be gathering support from others in your community, or it could be drawing attention of your issue to a decision-maker.

Whatever is getting you out on the streets, make sure you are following our position on Protest and Non Violence Direct Action. We only organise and participate in lawful non-violent direct action in order to achieve our objectives  – consistent with our rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and other relevant democratic rights.

Please note: as above this guide provides general information only. It is not legal advice.

Before your protest

Permission

You don’t need to ask the police for permission to protest, and police have a legal obligation to facilitate your protest.

If you’re planning a protest march in England or Wales, you must provide written notice at least 6 days before your planned event to the police.

In Northern Ireland, you complete a Form 11/1 and hand it directly to the police station nearest the starting point at least 28 days before the planned event.

Friends of the Earth wishes to minimise the risk of arrest for anyone attending protests that we organise. Generally, we will always seek to make attendees aware of any police conditions that are in place. We suggest that you do the same. This can be done via an online guide to make information readily available to attendees.

Making your protest more accessible and inclusive

If you can, look for and choose areas that are accessible to all, and that disabled people can navigate without assistance. Provide a map of the protest location or march route and include information about accessibility. For example: where dropped kerbs are along the route, the location of seating and benches, if there are uneven sections of pavement, potholes or gravel that restrict wheelchair access or are hazardous to blind people, how long the route is or how long the protest will last, parking information, and if there are accessible toilets nearby that are useable.

Consider taking part in a training run by disabled people or getting advice on how to support disabled people wanting to attend your protest. You could speak with disabled people in your community to find out about their experience and what to look out for when planning a protest.

Meeting points

Scope out accessible meeting points that are easy to find, such as a statue in a square. If you’re planning to march, plan a route that is as flat as possible and not too long. Ideally, it should start and/or end at a point where decision-makers and/or corporate executives (ie, those whose policy you want to influence) will hear and notice your protest. Communicate this to all your organisers and attendees and provide regular updates if the information changes.

If attending a protest, set a meeting point and time to meet your local action group, friends, family and whoever you’re going with. Ensure you all have one another’s contact details in case someone is running late or having trouble finding your meeting point.

Risk assessments and insurance

If you’re planning a protest as a registered Friends of the Earth local action group, you must complete a risk assessment and email it to [email protected] at least 2 weeks in advance of your protest. Here's more information here about providing proof of insurance. As long as your protest is safe, legal and meets the criteria of our insurance policy, it should be covered – it's always best to check with your regional support staff and [email protected] before committing to and promoting your protest.

Arts and crafts – designing your props

Plan ahead with your local action group and organise an arts and crafts day! These events are a great way to get creative and design eye-catching placards, banners and posters with important messages, and a chance to have some fun with your group’s members and supporters. Bring some friends along too – arts and craft sessions are an excellent way to get more people involved in your group.

Promoting your protest

Depending on the purpose of your protest, you will likely want to maximise the number of people present on the day to amplify your message. There are many ways to build support and maintain a powerful presence on the day:

• Email your supporters and ask them to join. Encourage them to bring friends and family.
• Contact your regional support staff at Friends of the Earth. They can organise a promotional email to supporters in your area.
• With your local action group, run a community mapping session and identify allies you can connect with and invite along.
• Engage new audiences and promote your protest on social media. Check social media our guide for tips.

On the day

What to wear

If you’re stewarding a protest, make sure you wear a hi-vi vest with your role printed on it. The protest organisers will most likely provide these for volunteer stewards.

Comfort and safety should always be a priority when participating in a demonstration or march. Wear clothing that covers your skin to protect you from the sun, and to cover any distinctive tattoos that could identify you in photos. Also wear or bring wet weather gear such as a rain jacket in case the weather changes.

You don’t need to wear a face mask, however, to make your event more inclusive for people vulnerable to Covid-19, we encourage you to do so. This shows a conscious act of solidarity and inclusivity to vulnerable communities and creates a sense of safety as more people feel comfortable to participate.

Other considerations:

• It’s best to leave valuables such as jewellery and watches at home – just so they don’t get lost or damaged on the day.
• Wear glasses instead of contact lenses. You may not have a chance to change your contacts throughout the day.
• If you’re on your period on the day, wear pads instead of using tampons or MoonCups as access to toilets may be limited on the day. Keep spare pads on you for yourself and others.

What to bring and do on the day

You may be out for a couple of hours to a whole day – so bring along plenty of water and snacks to stay hydrated and fed.

Health and safety:

• Bring hand sanitiser, especially if you plan to share food with others.
• If you’re worried about the noise from audio-amplifying equipment or need sensory support, bring earplugs.
• Keep some first aid supplies on hand, such as plasters and bandages. There may be tripping hazards along the protest route such as curbs, loose pavement or holes in the road.
• If you take medications, bring these along with you – preferably in a prescription bottle – in the unlikely event that you are arrested, or are delayed from getting home (eg, if the police using kettling, which means they contain people on a protest in a particular area, and prevent them from leaving for a period of time).
• Keep a copy of emergency phone numbers and medical information that someone may need to know. This is in case you are injured and need medical attention, not just in the unlikely event of being arrested or kettled.

If you are concerned about being arrested on the day, Liberty advises you to bring along an old phone with essential numbers saved in case you are arrested: police have the power to take it and search for evidence. Turn off facial and fingerprint recognition and use a passcode to lock your phone. You could bring along a portable charger too.

If you’ve organised regular check-ins with friends, family members or your group, remember to follow through and notify them of your whereabouts.

Connecting with new people:

Protest actions are a great way to connect with different communities and groups with the same values and ideas. You’ll likely have some meaningful conversations and explore ways to campaign together in the future and be interested in supporting one another. To make the most of the day, bring along a pen and notepad to record one another’s contact information, or save it in your phone so you can follow up after the event. You could swap social media details to stay in touch as well or invite them to your next team meeting.

Props and visual aids:

Don’t forget to bring along banners, placards and posters with creative messages about your campaign. Eye-catching props can convey catchy messages and engage people watching or interested in your protest.

Take photos with your local action group so you can share this with your mailing list of supporters and Friends of the Earth staff.

At the end of the day

You’ll likely have chosen a meeting point for the end of the protest to make sure no-one gets separated from your group or targeted by police. Make sure everyone you came with is accounted for, by doing a quick headcount or a check-in over the phone. Stay at your meeting point until you’ve confirmed everyone is safe.

After your protest

Follow up is essential for maintaining momentum and ensuring everyone stays engaged and committed to your campaign. Have a few next steps planned that you could invite everyone to, such as a debrief meeting, a team meeting or a team social. You could invite them to a Friends of the Earth welcome webinar to introduce them to our network.

If you organised the protest, send a thank you email out to everyone who volunteered or signed up to participate. As an organiser, you should organise a meeting to debrief the protest with all those involved in putting it together. Invite attendees and anyone you connected with on the day to the next event or action you have planned.

Report back to your regional support staff to share how your protest action went, whether it achieved its objectives, what you learned and what your next steps are. If you feel comfortable, we can also share this with groups in the network so they can learn from your experience and explore whether a protest action is the right tactic for their local campaigns.

Threats from the far right

Some groups in our network have experienced threats from Reform UK or far-right groups. We believe the intention of these people is to frighten groups into hiding and silence. We know that together we're a strong and powerful movement, and we won't be silenced by these small but aggressive groups. That said, please take extra precautions when organising a protest.

Before your protest

• If any far-right activity is planned, please include it in your risk assessment and send it to your regional staff contact at [email protected]
• Read and follow this guidance on preparing for disruption at events
• Check social media and the news for any updates on what’s happening in your area, but please be aware that far-right groups may spread misinformation to scare and intimidate.
• Reach out to other local community and neighbourhood groups in your area to find out if they’ve heard of any planned far-right activities.
• Ask the local police if they know of any planned far right activity or disruption when you inform them of your protest.
• Remember that group and community members who are marginalised by race and religion may need extra support during this time. Have an open and supportive conversation about what members of your group feel comfortable doing, and give people the space to decide whether they feel comfortable attending or not. No-one should feel pressured to attend a protest.
• Contact groups in your area who may experience marginalisation to offer solidarity and find out if they need any support.
• Set an agreed safe meeting place in case you need to leave your protest. 
• Agree how you'll communicate with each other during the protest (for example, by setting up a WhatsApp or Signal group, or making sure you stick together). 
• If you learn that the far-right disruption will be seriously dangerous and violent, you may need to cancel your protest/ event. 

On the day of your protest

• Ask your police liaison officer to find out if there's any planned far-right activity. Follow their advice on what to do and share it with protesters.
• If far-right agitators are present, do not engage with them. The best thing you can do is ignore them.
• They may try to take photos of you and use these to harass you online. Do your best to avoid being photographed and use placards or banners to block their view. You can also use items to cover your face, such as a mask, a scarf or a spare shirt. Hiding your identity is one of the best ways to stop far right groups from creating and sharing online content. If they can't identify you and target you online, they may not use any of their content filmed at your action or event online.
• If far-right agitators begin to get violent or threaten violence, the police should step in to de-escalate the situation. Your safety and wellbeing is of the utmost importance; if you and other protesters don't feel safe, leave the protest. Don't leave anyone from your group behind or alone. Go to your agreed safe meeting place to debrief and contact your regional staff to inform them.

Protest law

We've drawn up guidance to help you and your group get to know some of the laws around protest. It's an overview of the types of protest-related offences, the sentences they carry upon conviction, and includes some practical ways to approach organising and participating in a protest. 

This guidance is based on, and draws significantly from, material from Liberty. We'd like to thank them for this, and for their kindness and support for local action groups. Find out more about Liberty, the actions they take for civil rights and how we can work together. We're grateful to Shahida Begum barrister at Garden Court Chambers for reviewing and editing this guidance.  

Disclaimer: The guidance does not constitute legal advice, which must always be tailored to the specific facts of a given case or circumstance. It’s also important to note that some of the offences described in this document are very new, with few or no prosecutions relating to them to date.