Thread by @docrussjackson

Dozens of mainly young #killthebill protesters have been charged by the Police & CPS, which appears to be the biggest use of riot charges against demonstrators since the 80s, giving the impression of “revenge policing” & giving in to political influences.

theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/f…

The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on democracy and the constitution also heard that the police’s use of force, including deploying dogs, batons, and shield strikes, known as “blading”, was often considered disproportionate in the days that followed.

At least 62 protesters reported injuries over the course of the week, including 22 with head wounds & seven who required hospital treatment.

38 protesters charged with riot could face jail terms of up to 10 years. Only 22 people have been convicted of riot since 2011.

So far, 13 people have been sentenced to a total of more than 51 years in prison, including being charged with riot for kicking police shields, kicking police station windows & hitting police vans. A woman was jailed for five months for urinating at the feet of an officer.

The chair of the APPG said Police "massively overreacted at the time & were found out after they misled the press & tried to mislead our inquiry", asking if he riot charges were “seeking to punish people in an excessive & disproportionate way... for challenging the police”.

Davies added that the police should not be handed even more powers in the police and crime bill. “The police abuse the power they have but the government still want to give them all sorts of new powers to restrict protests. They need more accountability not less.”

Shami Chakrabarti said she feared Avon and Somerset police had been influenced by the government’s increasingly harsh and authoritarian approach to public dissent. “Charging people with such serious public order offences is going to chill dissent & protest.”

“It is concerning when it comes after criticism of the force from the home secretary. It is particularly worrying if people face serious charges after they have complained to the media about their treatment. Defensive & political policing only undermines public trust in the law.”