NEW protest laws designed to 'crack down on dangerous disorder' are being developed following recommendations by the former Barrow MP.

Under government plans to change the law, protesters who climb over war memorials or try to hide their identity could face jail.

Police in England and Wales will be given powers to arrest protesters who cover their face in a bid to avoid prosecution, while people who scale national monuments could face a three-month prison sentence and a £1,000 fine, as part of the proposals.

The measures – which will be added to the Criminal Justice Bill currently being considered by Parliament – will also make it illegal to carry flares and other pyrotechnics at protests amid efforts to 'crack down on dangerous disorder', according to the Home Office.

The new laws follow a review by former MP Lord Walney, a government advisor on political violence and disruption.

In the review sent to the Home Office, Lord Walney reportedly recommended a ban of face masks at protests and suggested group should pay towards policing costs.

He said 'disorder seen at 'the anti-Israel marches' means there is an argument for groups to cover 'some policing costs'.

Officers already have the power to ask people to remove face coverings at designated protests – where forces believe crimes are likely to occur.

But the new offence will allow police to arrest protesters who disregard their orders, with those who flout the rules facing a month behind bars and a £1,000 fine.

Protesters will also no longer be able to cite the right to protest as a reasonable excuse to get away with 'disruptive' offences, such as blocking roads, the Home Office said.

In a discussion on the new laws in the House of Lords, Lord Walney said: "I welcome this package, a number of measures in which I recommended in my role as the Government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption."

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Recent protests have seen a small minority dedicated to causing damage and intimidating the law-abiding majority.

“The right to protest is paramount in our county, but taking flares to marches to cause damage and disruption is not protest, it is dangerous.

“That is why we are giving police the powers to prevent any of this criminality on our streets.”