People from various city groups and none took their noisy protest to Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith’s Tory HQ front door in Bitterne on Saturday (Jan 15), to oppose the police bill currently winding its way through parliament.
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Similar ‘Kill the Bill’ protests were due to take place around the country, calling on the House of Lords to reject the legislation. In London many hundreds reportedly marched from Holborn towards Parliament Square chanting and carrying banners.
Meanwhile back in Bitterne, as Extinction Rebellion drummers pounded out protest rhythms in the private car park, Conservative social club members enjoying a Saturday afternoon inside looked out in bewilderment - and finally started filming proceedings through the window.
Critics of the bill argue it “contains some of the most draconian crackdowns on the right of peaceful protest we’ve seen in our lifetime”, following on from Black Lives Matter and Insulate Britain protests.
“The legislation includes provisions to crack down on demonstrations if they are too noisy or cause ‘serious annoyance’, and seeks to toughen the punishment for people who damage statues,” reported Huffpost last year.
On Monday, the policing bill is being rushed through the Commons. It contains some of the most draconian crackdowns on the right of peaceful protest we've seen in our lifetime. https://t.co/pCphJRwmXj
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) March 12, 2021
Katherine Barbour, a Green Party candidate in forthcoming Southampton local elections, said: “We’re outside Royston Smith’s offices in Bitterne … to show our views towards the Conservatives about the bill that’s going through parliament at the moment … trying to take [the right to protest] away from us as individuals and communities.”
But Royston Smith told bitternepark.info peaceful protests won’t be affected.
“The Bill will allow judges to hand out tougher sentences to child killers, dangerous drivers and vandals,” he said.
“The controversy is the additional powers police will have over protestors. Some are suggesting protests will be banned, this is not true. Protests such as Extinction Rebellion who put other people’s lives in danger and prevented ambulances from reaching hospitals could be criminalised and I think most people would think that was sensible.”
It was reported on Friday that Labour members in the House of Lords will oppose “last-minute amendments to the police and crime bill, which human rights activists have described as ‘a dangerous power grab’, in a move that could kill the proposals entirely”.
