A major new report has outlined what it describes as a “global crackdown” on the right to protest and a growing criminalisation of dissent. “Take Back the Streets: Repression and Criminalization of Protest Around the World” uses case studies from nine countries to demonstrate how those in power increasingly have been cracking down on civil rights.

Ten domestic human rights organisations joined together to form the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations, which published the report. Its aim is to open up public debate on freedom of assembly and expression. What has changed in the way the state deals with protest? One of the key international trends has been the growing militarisation of the police and the range and intensity of weapons at their disposal. This includes higher calibre guns along with a range of supposedly “non-lethal” weapons such as pepper spray, tear gas, tasers and sonic cannon.

These are being used by domestic police forces across the globe. The case studies in the report show how military style weapons are used by police to intimidate, and in many instances to kill or injure, peaceful protesters. The role of riot police in Egypt is a recent example.

Mass arrest and detention are also increasingly common around the world. This tactic is aimed at removing protesters from the streets and physically shutting down demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands of pairs of plastic handcuffs have been produced for the purpose of quick mass detention. Students protesting in Canada last year experienced this first hand.

Global evidence also suggests that protest is becoming increasingly criminalised. Activities in peaceful demonstrations have been made illegal, and anti-terror legislation has been applied to civil disobedience.

For example, the UK Terrorism Act (2000) has empowered police to search without suspicion in any area they choose to “proscribe”. The report concludes that “the use of anti-terror laws to deal with nonviolent political activity and domestic dissent is an increasing risk”.

Surveillance by the state, often hard to detect, was also highlighted in the report. Cases of undercover police infiltrating and provoking protest movements are widely documented around the world.

Despite this global crackdown on dissent we continue to see protests and demonstrations break out, even in the most repressive states.