XR, Helston Climate Group against 'authoritarian' PCSC Bill

The bill puts forward a range of drastic changes to enforcement and sentencing in both England and Wales was passed with 359 votes to 263 and will now move on to the committee stage were its clauses and any amendments will be debated.

In what has been widely described as a clampdown on peaceful protest, the bill includes giving the home secretary, Priti Patel, powers to create laws that can define “serious disruption” to communities and organisations, which could then be used by police forces to impose conditions on protests.

Katharine Lewis, Climate Emergency Outreach Officer for the Helston Climate Action Group, said: "Helston Climate Action Group is not a protest group, we are focused on positive climate action in our community. However, we recognise the important role that peaceful protest plays in raising awareness and bringing about positive change.

"The right to assemble peacefully and express our views is fundamental to democracy. It is one of the ways that people can come together in common voice, to highlight important issues and the need for change.

"We are opposed to the Police Crime and Sentencing Bill and the implications this has for peaceful protest.

Extinction Rebellion are specifically mentioned in the bill, which has been widely described as a clampdown on peaceful protest. Picture:Pexels.

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"If this Bill goes through the police will be able to stop protests which cause unease and criminalise those who cause (or might cause) serious annoyance.

"But protest, by its very nature, is disruptive.

"The whole point of protest is to have an impact.

"We are in the midst of a Climate and Ecological Emergency.

"The lives of ordinary people will be significantly more disrupted if we fail to take action on climate change at the rate and scale that is necessary."

Zoe Young, a member of Extinction Rebellion Falmouth, said: "It's slipping into authoritarianism ever faster, the idea that you could receive ten years in jail for peaceful protest takes the UK out of the realms of liberal democracy and into the realms of autocracy and dictatorship.

"The events this weekend in London where women protesting against the murder of a woman by a policeman were then dragged off by policemen gives us a taste of this 'new normal' that is emanating from the present regime in Westminster.

"Clearly it's a response, directly, to the effectiveness of Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter over the past couple of years, and it seems statues on the street have more protection than women or black people.

"It's a deeply and profoundly problematic move and it needs to be resisted by everybody who cares about free speech and civil liberties."

Having passed its second reading, the bill will now move on to the committee stage where its clauses and any amendments will be debated. Picture: Pexels

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Derek Thomas, MP for St Ives, West Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly, said: "I understand why some feel this proposed legislation is an attack on peaceful protest.

"I do not and the right to protest and express yourself is enshrined in the Human Rights Act and police commanders will have to show they have taken this into account.

"The aim of the legislation is to strengthen police powers to enable them to tackle non-violent protests that are causing significant disruption to the public by allowing the police to take a more proactive approach.

"The proposed law includes an offence of "intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance" which is designed to stop people occupying public spaces, hanging off bridges, gluing themselves to windows, or employing other protest tactics to make themselves both seen and heard and which stretch police resources to the limit.

"My view is that the majority of people, including those who take part in peaceful protests, will recognise the need to ensure legislation and police powers protect both the general public and those taking part in peaceful civil action."

The bill also includes legislation that would mean damage to memorials could lead to up to ten years in prison while only doubling the maximum sentence for 'low-level' assaults on emergency service workers to two years.