The Kill the Bill Protests have been the main topic of the news recently, with notable protests occurring in Bristol and Manchester among other cities across the UK.
So, what does the new ‘Police, Crime, Sentencing and Court Bill’ actually mean and how is it different to the current law?
The current law states that the police must determine whether a protest could result in property damage or public disorder before restricting it. However, the new legislation extends police power leaving it up to personal discretion and allowing police to set time and noise limits to any protest. People who do not follow these rules can be persecuted with harsher penalties. For example, damage to memorials can result in time in prison, this came a few months after a statue commemorating Edward Colston was taken down during a Black Lives Matter demonstration.
Most recently hundreds of people took part in a protest in Bristol, where they participated in a sit-down protest as well as a march through the city centre. There have been warnings against breaking Covid restrictions for these protests, which are legal if they abide by restrictions to make them Covid safe.
In light of the protest the bill has been pushed back as the government try to find the balance between protester rights and individuals right to go about their daily lives. Some of the recent protests have been criticised, with 18 people being arrested in Manchester and a protesters in Bristol showing ‘hostility’ and ‘causing disruption’. The Prime Minister and Home Secretary have condemned these events disapproving of the violence against the police.
Protests are due to continue around the UK as a conclusion about the bill has yet to be made.
For more information about the Bill: