Rishi Sunak is planning to tighten protest laws after Armistice Day violence, it is claimed

Rishi Sunak is planning to tighten protest laws including making it easier to ban marches after Armistice Day violence, it is claimed.

More than 300,000 people attended a Pro-Palestinian protest march in central London yesterday which called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

145 counter-protesters were arrested around Westminster, as far-right groups clashed with Metropolitan Police officers , and today seven men were charged with disorder for offences like racial hatred.

The Met is also investigating potential hate crimes following reports of antisemitic chants and signs at the pro-Palestine march.

The Sun newspaper claims in response to the violence, the Prime Minister has identified five areas where he believes there are legal loopholes relating to policing which need to be closed to prevent further violence at rallies.

The measures are said to include making it easier for police to ban marches due to safety concerns, outlawing trampling on statues and bus stops and using flares and fireworks.

Mr Sunak, who yesterday condemned the “despicable” actions of far-right protesters, is also believed to be considering tightening laws on glorifying terrorists due to police saying they are too hard to enforce currently.

Ministers are also said to be examining ways to restrict certain chants like “from the river to the sea” made at protests by working with organisers to set conditions for approving demonstrations.

According to a Downing Street source said the review must “put it beyond doubt legal wrangles” over loopholes in protest law currently.

It is understood the measures would require new legislation that could be attached to the Crime Bill which is currently being scrutinised by Parliament or be introduced as part of a new separate law.

The Prime Minister said yesterday: “I condemn the violent, wholly unacceptable scenes we have seen today from the EDL and associated groups and Hamas sympathisers attending the National March for Palestine.

“The despicable actions of a minority of people undermine those who have chosen to express their views peacefully. Remembrance weekend is a time for us to come together as a nation and remember those who fought and died for our freedoms.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Suella Braverman threatened “further action” against pro-Palestine protesters at the march.

Ms Braverman said in a statement: “Our brave police officers deserve the thanks of every decent citizen for their professionalism in the face of violence and aggression from protesters and counter-protesters in London yesterday.”

The Home Secretary added that it was an “outrage” that multiple officers were “injured doing their duty” amid the protests after the Met confirmed that nine of its officers had been injured.

She went on to claim there had been clearly “criminal” chants, placards and paraphernalia openly on display at the Pro-Palestinian march, adding: “Antisemitism and other forms of racism together with the valorising of terrorism on such a scale is deeply troubling.

“This can’t go on. Week by week, the streets of London are being polluted by hate, violence, and antisemitism. Members of the public are being mobbed and intimidated. Jewish people in particular feel threatened. Further action is necessary.”

The Home Secretary was heavily criticised ahead of the protest for claiming in an article for The Times that the marches were “an assertion of primacy by certain groups – particularly Islamists – of the kind we are more used to seeing in Northern Ireland”.

She also claimed that “some of Saturday’s march group organisers have links to terrorist groups, including Hamas” and suggested there is “a perception that senior police officers play favourites when it comes to protesters”.

Suella Braverman condemned “sick, inflammatory and, in some cases, clearly criminal” chants and placards at a pro-Palestinian march.

The Home Secretary also demanded “further action” as she warned that London’s streets are “being polluted by hate, violence and antisemitism”, in comments that appear unlikely to calm tensions.

She praised police for their “professionalism” in the face of “violence and aggression from protesters and counter-protesters”.

When i contacted Downing Street for comment about the claim there are plans tighten protest laws, it said it had nothing more to add to statements Mr Sunak and Ms Braverman had made about the demonstrations this weekend.