Key Facts

• Clauses 54-56 and clause 60 would amend the Public Order Act 1986.
• Clause 54 imposes conditions on public processions, including serious disruption to a community or activities of an organisation in the vicinity.
• The speaker references past effective demonstrations such as 'Heath out! Heath out!' in the 1970s.
• The clauses lower the legal test required for police to issue conditions on protests.
• Police can issue conditions if a protest is noisy enough to cause 'intimidation or harassment'.
• Protesters may face criminalisation under these new powers.
• The Bill proposes amending protest conditions.
• The MP references Peelian principles for ethical policing.
• Constituents and organizations have contacted the MP opposing these measures.
• The Bill is seen as putting too much power into the hands of the Home Secretary.
• Written evidence from Leeds for Europe addresses points outlined in the debate.
• HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services reported on public order measures, calling for a modest reset.
• Matt Parr's report indicated that most police forces are content with existing legislation.
• The Government is embarking on a prison-building programme.
• Matt Parr recommends more training for police officers rather than lowering the threshold for arrests.
• Lochlinn Parker from ITN Solicitors warns about the complexity of enforcing vague definitions in protests.
• Bob Broadhurst, gold command for the 2009 G20 protests, states that protest tactics mentioned are not new.
• Clifford Stott argues that police will struggle to enforce legislation without infringing on human rights.
• The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is seen as oppressive by some MPs.
• There are concerns that the bill could lead to a gradual loss of protest rights.
• Some MPs argue it contradicts international advocacy for the right to protest.
• The College of Policing’s authorised professional practice (APP) is outdated and needs updating by June 30, 2022.
• Forces need to share legal opinion and case law more effectively on protest policing.
• Police face difficult decisions due to the loose drafting of new laws during the COVID period.
• The Bill targets protesters causing 'serious unease', being too noisy, and causing serious annoyance.
• Clause 54 amends section 12 of the Public Order Act 1986 allowing police to impose conditions on protest marches generating noise with significant impact or resulting in serious disruption.
• Steve McCabe seeks clarity on how attendees will be informed about police-imposed conditions during protests.
• The HMICFRS report noted a shift in the legal test on disruptive noise.
• Sir Peter Fahy, former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, described the legislation as including “some really dodgy definitions.”
• A protest involving 400 socially-distanced musicians playing Holst’s “Mars” demonstrated potential issues with clause 56.
• The legislation may criminalize noise from events such as Pride parades.
• Michael Barton compared the measures to those of repressive regimes.
• The Home Office is offering British national overseas visas to Hong Kongers to escape oppression.
• Liberty argues that the Bill attacks fundamental democratic rights.
• Matt Parr testified that senior police officers outside London felt they had sufficient powers to deal with protests.
• Rights of Women states that the Bill extends police powers and rolls back human rights.
• A petition against restricting protest rights has over 250,000 signatures.
• Two hundred and forty-five organisations signed a letter expressing concern about draconian police powers.
• The government's programme has failed to recognise the impact on organisations.
• Former and current Government Ministers have expressed concerns about restricting protest rights.
• Witnesses from various organisations testified that terms like 'serious unease, alarm and distress' are too vague for protesters to interpret.
• Matt Parr, Her Majesty’s inspector of constabulary, stated that any reset should be modest but the bill has drifted far from this.
• Councillor Caliskan emphasized the importance of planning in advance and good relationships between community organisers, police, and local authorities.
• The Bill has been condemned by hundreds of civil society organisations.
• More than half a million signatures have been collected through petitions calling for the removal of this part of the Bill.
• 700 legal scholars urged the Prime Minister to ditch draconian restrictions on the right to protest.
• Clause 54 amends the Public Order Act 1986.
• The amendment allows the police to impose conditions if noise may result in serious disruption or have a relevant impact on activities nearby.
• Legal academics number over 700 and consider these changes draconian.
• The bill is not about banning peaceful protest.
• Clause 56 increases maximum penalties but does not intend to put more people in prison.
• There is a responsibility on all MPs to use language carefully during debates.
• The Public Order Act 1986 is being updated.
• Some recent protests have endangered public safety, such as delayed ambulances reaching A&E wards during demonstrations.
• 46 police officers were injured during the 'Kill the Bill' protests in Bristol.
• The Public Order Act has been in place since 1986.
• Over 2,500 protests were reported from January to April this year.
• Conditions were imposed on only 12 out of the 2,500 protests.