New: Priti Patel has added Lords amendments to the policing bill which effectively criminalise the act of protest inews.co.uk/opinion/priti-…
There's a lot of crap thrown around every day by this government, but it's worth paying particular attention to what is happening with this bill. There are provisions in it so extreme they constitute a fundamental attack on British freedom.
I describe most of them in the piece: Aggressive expansion of stop-and-search, brutal punishments for trivial protest behaviour, very broadly worded offences about "locking on". But the most egregious example is the Serious Disruption Prevention Order.
This is basically a protest Asbo. It can be handed to people convicted of a protest related offence or - and this is crucial, someone who has never been convicted of any crime.
Once the order is imposed, it effectively removes the individuals human rights. They can forced to report to the authorities whenever they demand it, as often as they demand it.
They can also be banned from going to certain places, or socialising with certain people, or possessing certain items, or partaking in certain activities.
It's also a free speech issue. Someone who used their social media account to promote a demonstration could be found in breach of the order.
And again: These orders can be imposed on people who have never been convicted of a crime. They are one of the most draconian ideas I've ever seen in this country's legislation.
If you want to follow what's happening with this bill, please follow the experts, all of whom helped me out with this piece - @Elle_Drews @g__ferris @AdamWagner1 @fairtrials & @Libertyhq
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