As a University, our role is to offer a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for all our students, staff and visitors. We also support, promote and safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law.
The right to protest must be balanced between the rights of protesters to state their views and the rights of students, staff and visitors to work and study, without hindrance and free from intimidation and harassment.
We support our students and staff to exercise their right to take part in protests and demonstrations and expect them to do so peacefully and with consideration for others.
You can make your voice heard within the law:
✘ Do not use words, phrases or images that incite racism or hatred of others.
✘ Do not threaten or harass.
✘ Do not support proscribed organisations.
✘ Do not damage or trespass on property.
Important to know: In accordance with King's Contentious Events & Protest Procedures, if you're protesting you must not take actions that use or threaten violence, intimidate others or constitute hate speech or glorification or support for proscribed organisations. You also must not undermine open debate and the freedom of expression of others.
Think before you act:
✔ Read and adhere to the obligations set out in the King's Contentious Events & Protest Procedures.
✔ Express your views, opinions and differences with civility – in keeping with the King's Community Charter – and always within the boundaries of the law.
✔ Consider the impact your actions and how you communicate may have on others.
✔ Cooperate with reasonable requests from the University officers and comply with instructions from King's event management staff.
✔ Allow others the freedom to assemble and express opinions or beliefs different to your own.
✘ Do not disrupt people’s work or study.
✘ Do not use loudhailers, loudspeakers and other noise-making devices on University campuses.
✘ Do not disrupt University events.
✘ Do not obstruct paths, roads, campus entrances and exits or prevent students, staff or visitors from entering our campuses or buildings.
✘ Do not set up tents or other structures on University campuses that compromise or block access routes.
Arranging and promoting protests or demonstrations:
✔ Protests and demonstrations on King’s premises must be arranged through our events booking process to be permitted.
✔ Protests can be conducted in relation to a planned event but must not inhibit or disrupt the event from taking place or continuing to its planned conclusion.
✔ Protests on University premises must take place within normal opening hours and cannot remain overnight.
✔ Demonstrations, protests and events and external speakers must be risk-assessed in line with the standard University practice.
✔ Send appropriate communications by permitted means, including use of media and social media to explain messages or campaigns.
The University’s responsibilities are to:
✔ Provide a safe environment where students and staff can meet to speak and act freely, within the law.
✔ Manage where protests or demonstrations take place on our campuses to ensure safety and safeguard freedom of speech.
✔ Challenge any behaviours that are not in keeping with the University’s regulations, policies and Community Charter.
✔ Ask protesters on campus who are not King’s staff or students to leave, if prior arrangements have not been made through the event booking process.
✔ Liaise with the relevant authorities if required.
Tell the University about inappropriate behaviour:
Racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, abuse, incitement and harassment are totally unacceptable and have no place at King’s. We take reports seriously and encourage students, staff and visitors to report any incidents targeted at them or that they witness through our online tool, Report + Support. This can be done anonymously.
Useful links:
- King’s Community Charter
- Contentious Events & Protest Procedures
- King’s and KCLSU Joint Statement of Freedom of Expression
- External Speakers Policy
- How does the University handle non-academic misconduct?
- Staff Disciplinary Policy & Procedure
- Academic Staff Disciplinary Regulation