Disrupting a private meeting

Name of the law(s): Sections 68 & 69 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Relevant to: Anyone planning to protest at a private meeting.

For information on protesting at public protests, see our guide here.

What is a private meeting?

A private meeting is a meeting that is not open to the public and takes place on private land.

What are the relevant offences?

The most common offence for disrupting a private meeting is aggravated trespass

Trespass alone is a matter of civil law, which means that the police have no power to arrest you for it; police may nonetheless help owners or their representatives (e.g. security) remove trespassers. 

You must be doing two things to commit aggravated trespass: (i) Trespassing, and  (ii) Intentionally obstructing, disrupting, or intimidating others from carrying out ‘lawful activities’.

In many cases people are removed by security rather than arrested.

Please see our page on Trespass/Aggravated Trespass for more information including maximum penalties.

There is also a risk of being charged with False Imprisonment, if exits are blocked and people cannot leave.