Vocal Voices

Well that is what has been done by the Lords: for now.

Civil protests have to be allowed, by right. Controlling them has also to be allowed, and is. There are already laws in place.

This bill could have would have virtually made all protests, even by one person, illegal.

If the police had used their existing powers against the likes of Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain we would not be here. Peaceful protest is one thing, closing down the ordinary lives of others by blocking roads etc. in order to do so, is another.

Make no mistake. The Bill is the thin end of the wedge to totalitarianism. Yes, we need to patrol protests, but we should never close them down.

I entirely agree with your argument Frank. It is essential that we do not lose our right to protest but equally essential is that we should not allow those who are protesting to close motorways, roads, railways etc and prevent people legitimately going about their daily business. I am highly suspicious that protestors may feel that they can close down whatever they like now and that they wont be stopped. Whilst the majority of us are law abiding there are always those who think they will win the day by aggressive tactics and stopping people from picking up their children or attending hospital appointments is very aggressive as far as I am concerned.

I absolutely agree Meds.
The right to protest should not include a free pass to disrupt the country and inconvenience your fellow citizens.
That said I do fear that we are on a slow slide to authoritarianism, and the joke is that there will be few protests against that because people will be told that it isn't happening.

The bill is a typical ham fisted government response to a real, live, problem. Like those ER idiots right now.

The problem is how they define it.

"Stop the protests" say the ministers
"We don't have the right" say the police
"What to we need to do in order to stop the protests?" say the ministers
"Give us more power" say the police and the councils.

End result? The Bill.

Instead of saying to the police and councils, "What powers do you already have and what have you used?". Plus "Why did you not use the full powers you have?". They ask what the police and councils want to stop this happening.

If they asked the question, they would get a surprise. Police and councils are very good at not using the powers they have then demanding more to deal with situations.

That's the thin end of the wedge.

Exactly!

The powers are already there.