Great Britain picketing code now in force: 5 March 2026

From 5 March 2026, the government’s updated Code of Practice on Picketing applies across England, Scotland and Wales. It replaces the 2024 version and is designed to reflect recent changes in primary legislation. If you teach civics or you’re learning how protests and strikes work in the UK, this is the reference document you’ll see quoted in guidance and, at times, in courtrooms. (gov.uk)

A quick orientation helps. A statutory code is not the law in itself; it offers practical guidance that courts, tribunals and the Central Arbitration Committee can take into account when deciding cases. So while you cannot be prosecuted simply for breaching the Code, judges may look at it to assess whether behaviour on a picket line was reasonable or lawful. Think of it as the classroom manual the legal system keeps on its desk. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

Why was the Code revised again? Because Parliament has overhauled strike and picketing rules through the Employment Rights Act 2025. That Act amends section 219 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (the bit that protects unions from certain civil claims during lawful action) and removes now‑obsolete provisions, including the 2016 requirement for picket supervisors and the 2023 regime for “minimum service levels”. The new Code is a housekeeping update to match those changes. (gov.uk)

Here is the standout change you’ll notice on the ground: from 18 February 2026 unions no longer have to appoint a picket supervisor. The old high‑vis and armband requirement has gone. Instead, the Code encourages unions to have an experienced organiser in charge and to keep close contact with the police, but that is guidance rather than a statutory duty. (gov.uk)

You’ll also hear less about “work notices”. That term came from the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, which let employers require named staff to work during strikes in certain sectors. The 2025 Act repeals that regime, so the Code removes related passages. In short: no work notices, and no references to minimum service levels in the new guidance. (gov.uk)

Now, what remains the same? Peaceful picketing at or near your own place of work is still the lawful model, and the Code continues to warn that “secondary” action - where people not employed by the disputing employer are induced to act - does not enjoy the usual legal immunities. Trade union officials can attend a member’s workplace to accompany them on a picket, but that sits within tight rules on location and purpose. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

The Code re‑explains “statutory immunity”. In plain terms, the law can shield unions and individuals from being sued for inducing breach of contract when action is in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute and the statutory steps are met. That shield does not cover other civil wrongs such as trespass or nuisance, and it never excuses criminal offences. This is where careful planning - and good teaching - matters. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

Conduct and numbers are addressed with practical advice. There’s no fixed legal cap on how many people can picket at one place, but police can limit numbers to prevent disorder. As a rule of thumb, the Code says organisers should ensure that, in general, no more than about six people picket each entrance, and often fewer will be appropriate. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

Rights for those crossing a picket line are spelled out. Everyone is free to go to work or make deliveries. Pickets may ask people to stop and may try to persuade them - peacefully - but cannot block doors or roads, or use threatening or insulting behaviour. The Code even reminds drivers they must approach picket lines with care while making clear that pickets cannot force a vehicle to stop. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

If you’re teaching timelines, here are the key dates to anchor lessons. The Employment Rights Act received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025. The headline trade‑union reforms - including the removal of picket supervisors - took effect on 18 February 2026. The revised Code then came into force on 5 March 2026 and now sits as the current guidance. (gov.uk)

What this means for you if you’re on a picket this term: you won’t be looking for a named supervisor, but you should expect an organiser to coordinate, keep numbers proportionate, and liaise with police. Keep activity at or near your workplace, stick to peaceful persuasion, and plan for essential services and community needs - all points the Code emphasises. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

And if you’re an employer, student, or passer‑by encountering a picket, remember that the Code is there to protect safe, lawful expression and the right to work. It balances both by setting out clear do’s and don’ts, and by explaining how courts may weigh behaviour. For deeper reading, the Department for Business and Trade has also published a plain‑English transition guide to the 2025 Act that teachers can use to craft scenarios and case studies. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)