There is a deterrent aspect in the 6 months
But is it really so different to protests outside embassies etc that also cause massive inconvenience and loss for others due to road and business closures and so on? In London especially, they are too often about foreign issues that are nothing to do with, and of no interest to, UK citizens in general. The Tamil protests in 2009 cost us £7 million in police overtime alone. Peacefully standing around with placards is fine but making people miss a day's pay or ruining their holiday for something that is if no interest to them isn't. Neither is hugely hiking up police costs.
Maybe they should tighten up on protests generally, let a magistrate weigh up the public interest and decide the scale.
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