Does The Anti-Protest Bill Go Too Far?

[Untitled]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/policing-bill-protests-government-vote-b1818118.html

The anti-protest bill passed by the tories punishes “serious annoyance or inconvenience” with up to 10 years... and gives the home office the power to define “serious disruption” (and presumably “serious annoyance”j

This seems a worrying step toward authoritarianism to me... What’s to stop the UK govt cracking down on political protests they find “annoying” or “inconvenient” like in Russia...? There doesn’t seem to be much.

[Peter Pedant]

canary
orwell deffo NOT at his best

[dave50]

The way the extinction rebellion demonstration in London was handled was pathetic. Allowing them to bring the capital to a standstill for a week? That's the kind of demo that needs outlawing, it should have been cleared by force after day one.

[youngmafbog]

I'm unsure why coronavirus is being bought into this conversation, there are sufficient laws already for that.

This Bill is intended for things like the XR 'protest', however I think there probably already laws that would cover this they just need enforcing rather than new laws.

For me this goes too far. Yes, as mentioned the excuse for a Tory Party we have in power may abuse it but this will be on the Statue books for many years. Labour are in turmoil, Tories aren't Tories what if an extreme Party gets in - that's when the real problems start (And yes see Hitler for one prime example of what happens)

Also I think the law of unintended consequences will come into play here - as always with this sort of law.

[Untitled]

Indeed youngmafbog... the right to protest is more important than "convenience" or "annoyance". But I cannot help but wonder if it passes when we will next see another party in power in this country... I fear we might be heading toward a tory one-party state.

A huge number of UK legal academics have spoken out against this and described as a threat to the right to protest.

[dannyk13]

Prrovided that any demonstration is peaceful I can't see any problems arising from this bill.

[Untitled]

It outlaws them for being "annoying" and "inconvenient" danny... you can be both of those things and still be protesting peacefully.... Plus it's the state that decides what counts. I suspect a lot of anti-government demonstrations will suddenly be found "annoying" or "inconvenient".