The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, is a piece of legislation introduced by Home Secretary Priti Patel which seeks to increase police powers to curb protests, freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. It seeks to slap 10-year prison sentences for people who vandalise statues, and increase stop-and-search powers to the police. On the 5th July 2021, it passed its third reading at 354 Aye votes to 273 No in the House of Commons, meaning that it is on track to become law.

Many on the Right, particularly those within the Conservative Party were given a fright from the widespread Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter protests last year. The former saw the disruption of public transport in many cities, especially London, and the latter saw the tagging of government buildings and the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, and the removal of Edward Colston in Bristol. As the BLM protests took place close to the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, some have reasoned that the protestors were only able to get that far because of a lack of police presence and more importantly, a lack of police powers. This piece of legislation was concocted to meet civil disobedience with the increased weight of the state by increasing police powers, and as part of its ongoing “culture war” – as seen with denying the existence of systemic racism within the United Kingdom, and its attacks on anti-racist education. The bill makes it a criminal offence to create a “public nuisance” through protests – saying they should not be loud enough to cause “serious unease, alarm or distress” to people “in the vicinity”, and police officers can decide if a protestor is being too noisy. Its prohibition on “unauthorised encampents” also has discriminatory implications for the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities.

#KillTheBill protests mobilised across the country in response to the proposals set out in the bill, unifying many different activist organisations, trade unionists and a few charity groups. A few MPs turned up supportive of opposition to the bill. Both outside and inside parliament, the Police, Courts and Sentencing Bill has been criticised for being draconian, repressive, and in conflict with the recognition of people’s human rights. Its heavier sentences of muggings, stabbings and murders, and the increased stop-and-search powers given to police suggest a “tough on crime” approach by the government.

It remains to be seen, but it is possible that this bill can still be overturned. If people feel strong enough against something, there’s very little that can stop them, not even the state. It was the reaction to the “poll tax” that ultimately brought down Margaret Thatcher. The fights for climate justice, racial justice and gender justice requires disruption. We don’t need permission to stand up for them.

See also:

• The global George Floyd protests
• Black Lives Matter
• Extinction Rebellion
• Diversity of tactics
• The “poll tax”
• GRT