Consultation to amend Public Order Act 2023 205/2026

FOI Reference: 205/2026

Request:

Please consider this information a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

The following questions are in relation to this passage, from the Draft Explanatory Memorandum that accompanies the draft statutory instrument 'The Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2025. “Consultation for the option of amending Section 7 has taken place informally via engagement with key stakeholders, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the National Police Coordination Centre, and local police forces who regularly police protest activity targeting the Life Sciences sector. Stakeholders were clear that existing powers did not go far enough to tackle the behaviour threatening the viability of the sector to continue to operate in the UK. The option to amend Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023 was the key outcome of the engagement. The affected parties are clear that once this amendment comes into force, it will have a positive operational impact. Consultation for this amendment took place informally due to the urgency of the threat to the Life Sciences sector as a result of disruptive protest activity.”

Was the force part of the above consultation?

If so, who was the force's representative?

Response:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does not hold the information requested, this is due to the fact that there is no record confirming whether the request was forwarded to this Force. 

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 27/02/2026)