Campaigning and the law

Many laws, in addition to charity law, affect campaigning work.

Advertising ban

The 2003 Communications Act bans all "social advocacy" organisations from advertising on TV and radio. The fact that NGOs are not able to place their campaign advertising on these key channels makes it more difficult for them to get their messages across.

Bond believes that a new legislative framework is needed, to enable in principle non-political advertising by NGOs and charities.

This was one of the changes proposed in 2007 by the Advisory Group on Campaigning and the Voluntary Sector, in which Bond participated. Read the report recommending changes to the law.

Right to protest

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005 has introduced restrictions to the right to protest, particularly near Parliament.

The Houses of Parliament Joint Committee on Human Rights have conducted an inquiry into the policing of protest, and recommend some changes to the law. Read more on the right to protest.

Targeting of individuals

Changes to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 also affect the work of campaigners, through the introduction of new offences of harassment. It may now be a criminal offence, for example, for NGOs to target an individual such as the Chief Executive of a multinational company, or to organise certain email campaigns