Background Use of amplified noise equipment in vicinity of the Palace of Westminster
78.Part 3 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”) authorises constables and authorised persons (the Greater London Authority and Westminster City Council) to direct that certain types of activity should not take place in the controlled area of Parliament Square, that is the central area of Parliament Square and the pavements immediately adjoining that area. The prohibited activities are set out in section 143(2) of the 2011 Act and include operating any amplified noise equipment. Section 147 of the 2011 Act provides the Greater London Authority and Westminster City Council (as the responsible authority) with the power to authorise a person to operate amplified noise equipment within the controlled area. Section 153 extends the controls on amplified noise equipment to the new “Palace of Westminster controlled area”.