Public Order Bill passes milestone
‘This bill is undemocratic and unnecessary… The government must focus on tackling the causes of current crises rather than punishing those who campaign for positive change.’
Quakers are expressing dismay that a bill which would drastically limit the right to protest has passed through parliament.
Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) staff briefed key MPs ahead of the final Commons debate on the Public Order Bill on 18 October. In a joint briefing with thirty other organisations, they called on MPs to vote to remove several clauses. These amendments failed, despite being backed by opposition parties and some Conservative MPs. Amendments allowing the home secretary to apply for injunctions against protesters did pass.
The bill includes measures that were removed from the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act by peers in the House of Lords. These include: ‘Serious Disruption Prevention Orders’ or ‘protest banning orders’; new offences around locking-on and tunnelling (and being equipped to do so); and obstructing transport and infrastructure. The proposals also expand stop-and-search powers, including where police have no reason for suspicion.
Paul Parker, recording clerk for BYM, said: ‘This bill is undemocratic and unnecessary… The government must focus on tackling the causes of current crises rather than punishing those who campaign for positive change.’
MPs did vote to make one major change to the bill – adding a clause to create ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics. Anyone interfering would be charged with a criminal offence.
Just as the Friend went to press, Quakers were considering Rishi Sunak’s victory in the Conservative Party leadership contest to see if the outcome would affect the bill’s progress through parliament.
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