The effect of this part of the POA is to make it more and more difficult to protest. These laws are also widely subject to abuse, one of the most notorious examples being at the G20 protests in 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2009/apr/15/g20-protests-police-press
The only solution is repeal. Only once this has been done there can be a sensible discussion as to what powers the police should have in terms of policing protest by consent, with appropriate sanctions for police who abuse their powers, not until.