Part 1: Public Order Section 18: Power of Secretary of State to bring proceedings
Section 18 makes provision for a Secretary of State to bring civil proceedings (including applying for injunctions) in relation to protest activity.
	Subsection (1) sets out a power for a Secretary of State to bring civil proceedings where they reasonably believe that one or more persons are carrying out or likely to carry out activities related to a protest and certain conditions are met.
	Subsections (2) and (3) specify that the Secretary of State must also reasonably believe the activities are:
causing or likely to cause serious disruption to the use or operation of any key national infrastructure (as defined in section 8), or
to access to any essential goods or services in England and Wales, or
having or likely to have a serious adverse effect on public safety in England and Wales.
	Subsection (4) provides that proceedings may be brought in the name of the Secretary of State where these conditions are met and the Secretary of State considers that it is expedient in the public interest to do so.
	Subsection (5) requires the Secretary of State to consult such persons (if any) as the Secretary of State considers appropriate before bringing proceedings, in particular having regard to any persons who may also bring civil proceedings in relation to the protest-related activities (for example, the landowner).
	Subsection (7), in line with other offences in the Act, excludes from scope activities done wholly or mainly in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute.