What are your rights when you protest? What can the police require you to do? And what should you know before an arrest, stop and search, or interaction with officers?

At Extinction Rebellion’s Love & Rage 2026, retired police officer and protest liaison Paul Stevens gives a practical introduction to protest rights and police powers.

Drawing on his experience in policing and years working alongside protest movements, Paul covers the right to protest, freedom of expression and assembly, proportionality, police liaison, arrest and custody, stop and search, giving personal details, filming the police and asking a crucial question:

“Under what power?”

The session also explores five key messages used by XR Legal and Green & Black Cross:

No Comment | No Personal Details | Under What Power? | No Duty Solicitor | No Caution

Paul explains what these mean in practice, why protesters are advised to understand them before attending an action, and how knowing your rights can help you make informed decisions when dealing with the police.

Topics include:
• The right to protest and freedom of assembly
• Proportionality and police facilitation
• Arrest and custody
• Stop and search
• Giving personal details
• Filming police in public
• Asking what legal power is being used
• Solicitors and cautions
• Recording interactions with police
• Understanding legal risk before an action

Legal information and resources:
https://extinctionrebellion.uk/act-no...

Green & Black Cross Know Your Rights resources and bustcards:
https://greenandblackcross.org/

This session is for general information and reflects the speaker’s guidance and experience. It is not formal legal advice, and anyone taking part in an action should check current legal guidance.

Extinction Rebellion UK describes itself as a UK community of concerned climate-conscious citizens who Rebel for all Life, using non-violent direct action (NVDA). Its three stated demands are:

Tell The Truth | Act Now | Decide Together

Find Out More: https://extinctionrebellion.uk/

Follow Extinction Rebellion UK:

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#ExtinctionRebellion #LoveAndRage #KnowYourRights #ProtestRights #RightToProtest #Policing #NVDA

Film by: Zoe Broughton Instagram: camerazoe and Vlad Morozov https://voice-media.co.uk