Protests and Demonstrations at the University

f you are planning a protest, demonstration or similar activity on University premises, or an activity which is likely to have a significant impact on University premises or activities, we ask you to notify the University as early as reasonably practicable.

Please email:

freedomofspeech@wlv.ac.uk 

You do not need to provide a detailed case for why you hold a particular view, and the University will not assess whether it agrees or disagrees with the position being expressed.

Notification helps us understand what is planned and consider whether there are any practical arrangements that could help the protest take place safely and effectively while protecting the rights of others.

Where possible, please include:

• your name and contact details, and whether you are a student, member of staff or acting on behalf of a recognised University or Students' Union group;
• the proposed date, start and finish time;
• the proposed location or route;
• a brief description of the purpose and nature of the protest;
• the approximate number of people expected to attend;
• whether speeches, chanting, placards, banners, amplification or other equipment are planned;
• whether external participants are expected;
• whether the protest relates to another event or visiting speaker;
• whether you are aware of a possible counter-protest or any particular safety concerns; and
• the name and contact details of someone who can act as the principal organiser or liaison contact.

Don't worry if you do not know all of this information when you first contact us. We can discuss the arrangements with you.

We will consider the information you provide and, where appropriate, contact you to discuss the arrangements.

The purpose of this process is to identify reasonably practicable steps that can enable lawful protest to take place, rather than to determine whether the University agrees with the views being expressed.

Most protests should be capable of proceeding without significant intervention.

Where there are identifiable concerns, the University may consider proportionate arrangements relating to matters such as location, access and exit routes, crowd management, stewarding, security, noise, timing, interaction with another event or protest, and emergency arrangements.

Where restrictions are considered necessary, the University will consider the particular circumstances, the importance of freedom of speech, the evidence supporting the identified risk and whether a less restrictive measure could appropriately address it.

Notification is intended to help the University facilitate and safely manage lawful protest. It is not a process for deciding whether the University approves of a particular viewpoint.

Where reasonably practicable, we ask organisers to contact us in advance because early discussion usually gives us more opportunity to support the activity and address practical issues.

We also recognise that protests can sometimes arise spontaneously. A failure to provide advance notification does not, by itself, mean that an otherwise lawful protest is prohibited.

Where a spontaneous protest takes place, University staff may engage with participants to understand what is happening, address any immediate risks and help enable the activity to continue safely.

People are entitled to disagree with a protest and may themselves have the right to engage in lawful counter-protest or counter-speech.

The existence of opposing views will not, by itself, be a reason to prevent either group from expressing them.

Where protest and counter-protest are expected at the same time, the University will consider what reasonably practicable arrangements can enable both to take place safely.

The University will not normally prevent lawful expression simply because others object to it or threaten to protest against it.

Depending on the circumstances, peaceful protest may include activities such as assembling, displaying placards or banners, distributing information, making speeches, chanting, expressing criticism, campaigning and engaging in lawful counter-speech.

Protest can be vigorous and challenging. People participating in University life should expect to encounter views with which they strongly disagree.

However, freedom of speech does not provide a right to engage in unlawful conduct.

Protest should not involve violence or threats of violence, unlawful harassment or intimidation, damage to property, dangerous behaviour, obstruction of emergency access, or conduct that unlawfully prevents other people from exercising their rights.

There is also an important distinction between protesting against an event or speaker and preventing others from hearing them. Protesters may express strong opposition to a speaker, but sustained disruption that prevents an event from taking place or prevents a speaker from being heard may result in proportionate intervention.

The University will seek to enable peaceful protest while also enabling teaching, learning, research and other legitimate University activities to continue.

This does not mean that a protest can never be seen or heard. Some disruption, disagreement or discomfort may be an ordinary consequence of protest.

Where there is a significant risk that a protest will prevent an essential University activity from taking place, we will consider whether practical arrangements can address the issue without unnecessarily restricting the protest.

University Security are there to help maintain a safe environment and facilitate lawful University activity.

Their role is not to decide whether a protester's viewpoint is acceptable.

Where intervention becomes necessary, the University's approach will ordinarily be to engage and communicate first and to use the least restrictive response reasonably available in the circumstances.

Immediate action may, however, be necessary where there is a serious or imminent risk to safety or where potentially unlawful conduct occurs.

Protests may attract photography, recording, media interest or social media activity.

Participants should be mindful of the rights and privacy of others and should comply with applicable law and University requirements. The fact that an individual does not wish to be photographed or challenged does not, by itself, determine whether another person's activity is lawful, and circumstances will be considered individually.

If media attendance is anticipated, please tell us when notifying the University so that appropriate arrangements can be considered.

If you are organising a protest, are considering doing so, or have concerns about a planned protest or counter-protest, please contact us.

You do not need to wait until every detail has been decided.

Email: freedomofspeech@wlv.ac.uk

We would much rather engage with organisers early and work together to enable lawful expression safely.

If you believe your own freedom of speech or academic freedom has been restricted by the University, you can also use the University's Report + Support arrangements to raise a concern and access information about the appropriate internal and, where applicable, external routes.