Exclusion zone to Parliament protests

Political protests are to be curbed in a half-mile "exclusion zone" around Parliament, it emerged today.

A map of the zone, drawn up by ministers and slipped out in the Commons, shows that it takes in the whole of Whitehall and the London Eye.

Inside the zone, spontaneous demonstrations, even by a lone protester, will be banned.

Police will be able to set stringent conditions on those who apply in advance, such as a halfhour time limit and a ban on placards and loudhailers. Anyone who fails to comply will face arrest. Critics denounced the measure as a heavy-handed attack on free speech.

The measure will take full effect on 1 August. It is being introduced under a section of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act, passed by Parliament this year. It was originally intended to evict long-term peace campaigner Brian Haw from Parliament Square, and prevent mass protests like the pro-hunt demonstration last September.

Ministers claimed a ban on demonstrations outside Parliament was needed to allow MPs and peers free access in and out of the building.

But the Act gave ministers the power to draw up an exclusion zone anywhere up to one kilometre from the Palace of Westminster. The map of the zone reveals Home Secretary Charles Clarke has used his new power to the full extent. The only significant site left out of the zone is Trafalgar Square after ministers accepted that it is a traditional venue for demonstrations.

Critics pointed out that a protest at the London Eye could not possibly obstruct entry to Parliament. The Eye has been targeted in the past by Fathers 4 Justice protesters. The Liberal Democrats today demanded an emergency Commons debate, claiming the new powers went beyond what Parliament had intended.

Lib- Dem home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said: "Preventing people from freely voicing their opinions outside Parliament was bad enough. What possible justification can there be for banning spontaneous-demonstrations across such a wide area?

"Once again, this Government has shown itself ready to play fast and loose with hardwon British freedoms."

Would-be demonstrators will be able to apply for permission to protest in the zone from 1 July. From 1 August it will be an arrestable offence to stage a spontaneous demonstration in the zone without permission.

Police will give 24 hours' leeway before making arrests, making 2 August the first date on which Mr Haw's four-year vigil could be ended.

MPs and peers, as well as Commons officials and the Church of England, have called for the removal of Mr Haw's peace camp. Opponents have called his shelter and placards an "eyesore" and complain that his loudhailer makes it hard for MPs and their staff to work.

A Home Office spokeswoman said the exclusion zone boundary had been drawn up in consultation with Scotland Yard, and that three factors had been taken into account: the one-kilometre limit in legislation, security risks, and the obstruction of MPs and peers on their way to Westminster.