By Oliver Hanlon

Cardiff University’s campus-wide injunction restricting unauthorised protest encampments, physical blockades, and building occupations, which has been a source of frustration for many groups on campus since it was granted in June 2025, will officially terminate at 11 pm on the 31st of July 2026.

 

University management has stated that protests on campus will now be handled through internal processes, with the university reserving the right to reseek the injunction under the original lawsuit, meaning management can apply to restore High Court proceedings should direct action resume.

 

The ruling was handed down by the High Court of Justice in Cardiff on the 21st of July, following a mandatory review hearing to assess the order’s operational necessity.

 

Neither the defendants nor the intervener appeared or submitted evidence at the review.

 

The University Executive Board chose not to seek an extension, concluding that the operational and security risks that prompted the initial legal action have been “sufficiently mitigated” over the past academic year.

 

The restrictions were originally granted on the 13th of June 2025 in response to a series of direct-action protests by student groups, including Cymru Students for Palestine. 

 

Vice-Chancellor Larner stated in her witness statement that “during this period, the University experienced significant disruption and escalating conduct, including large influxes of protesters following external rallies and marches, the display of an Israeli flag bearing the words ‘Wipe your Feet,’ and masked protesters blocking access to the Main Building“. 

 

Larner further stated that “examinations had to be relocated at short notice, Horseshoe Drive was rendered unavailable for University events throughout the period, and graduation celebrations had to be moved behind fencing“.

 

The university claimed that handling the demonstrations cost approximately £200,000 in security and operational responses. 

 

Campaign groups and the European Legal Support Centre strongly opposed the legal action, arguing in public statements and court filings that the university was using civil injunctions to silence solidarity protests and restrict fundamental rights to free speech and assembly.

 

The injunction established restrictions across 11 primary campus properties where, under the terms of the 2025 order, setting up tents or gazebos, occupying land without consent, or directly obstructing access to university premises constituted contempt of court. 

 

With the court order set to expire, Cardiff University will manage campus demonstrations through internal processes and frameworks rather than further judicial restrictions. 

 

For the 2026/27 academic year, the institution will rely on Version 3.2 of its Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech; students will be able to book protests through an online event and speaker-booking procedure, which presumes that the university will consent to such protests.

 

The updated framework operates alongside new protest conduct guidelines developed in consultation with Cardiff Students’ Union.

 

In a statement to Gair Rhydd, the Sabbatical Officers at Cardiff Students’ Union stated:

 

“Cardiff Students’ Union is pleased to see the High Court Injunction come to an end. As we stated at the time, the injunction was a clear attack on students’ rights to protest. We hope the university will work with us to ensure safe protests on campus and allow our students to use their freedom of speech and expression”.

 

Under the updated Code of Practice, organisers must submit booking forms 21 days in advance for events flagged as posing potential security or operational risks.

 

The University Secretary retains absolute discretion to impose binding conditions, such as mandatory stewarding, neutral meeting chairs, or entry checks, or to cancel events if safety cannot be assured.

 

Organisers also remain financially liable for extra security or property damage arising from specified events.

 

Regarding the shift in policy, Vice-Chancellor Larner stated: “After careful consideration, the University Executive Board has decided not to apply for an extension of the Injunction beyond its expiry on 31 July 2026. The University consider that the original purpose for which the injunction was sought… has now been sufficiently mitigated.”

 

In a statement to Gair Rhydd, Time To Act Cardiff stated:

 

“We welcome the removal of the injunction, but these new systems are not designed for free protesting… Social injustice can happen at any time. Students should not face a gag order or need to seek permission to express what is a fundamental right: the right to stand up for your community and others.”

 

With most students away for the summer break, we will have to wait to see how students feel about this system in the new academic year.