This Bill would in effect remove the right to protest. It would give police officers the power to ban or place restrictions of their choice upon public demonstrations.

This can occur on the flimsy grounds that a demonstration would make ‘noise’ that has an ‘relevant impact’ on others, including that it MAY cause ‘intimidation’ or ‘serious unease’.

These are conditions that would apply to almost any public demonstration.

This Bill would also mean that someone could be locked up for 10 years if their actions created a RISK of ‘serious inconvenience’ or ‘serious annoyance’ to a section of the public.

This Bill comes after freedom of association has effectively been suspended for months, with organisers slapped with £10,000 fines and demonstrations violently broken up by police. This Bill would mean that lockdown restrictions on protest become a permanent condition.

Josie Appleton

director, Manifesto Club