If you value your ability to join a protest, or to make your feelings heard as an individual, then you may want to check the legislation being proposed in the 2021 revisions to the UK Government’s Police Bill (amendments to The Public Order Act 1986).
Whatever your cause, whoever you are, this legislation, if enacted, would significantly impact your right to protest. This is a civilian issue and would be a major change to the historical freedoms we have had in place since Magna Carta was signed on 15 June 1215.
You could be arrested, either as one of a procession, or as an individual, if:
‘the noise generated by persons taking part… may result in serious disruption to the activities of an organisation, which are carried on in the vicinity of the procession; or
‘it may cause such persons to suffer serious unease, alarm or distress’
Government legislation is not an easy read. So grab a stiff drink and a highlighter and go to Part 3, Public Order (p45) is all about ‘noise’ and Part 4 Unauthorised Encampments (p55) is about trespass law.
What to do?
SCT is joining the nationwide campaign created by Amnesty International, and supported by a wide range of organisations, and opposed to the Police Bill revisions 2021. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wKRynO7Yt8 Listen to The Guilty Feminist #noisyandannoying podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNJLCDqAYbc Support the campaign started by comedian Deborah Frances-White https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/noisyandannoying Contact your MP: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/
