Caroline Lucas opposes 'dangerous and undemocratic' new bill

Speaking via videolink in the House of Commons today, the Green MP urged the government to refuse the "dangerous, disproportionate and undemocratic" Police, Court, Sentencing and Crimes Bill a Second Reading.

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Ms Lucas said: "As one of the few MPs to have been arrested during a peaceful protest and subsequently after a week’s court case, acquitted in court of any wrongdoing, I have first-hand experience of the disproportionate action of the police.

"I am therefore proud to be co-proposing a cross party reasoned amendment that seeks to deny this Bill a Second Reading."

LF170414C12.PHOTO BY LIZ FINLAYSON.Supporters of Green MP Caroline Lucas on the steps of Brighton Magistrates Court after being cleared of all charges relating to her arrest at Balcombe during an anti fracking protest.

The bill has sparked widespread backlash with many opposing plans to grant police further powers to restrict protests.

The government says the proposed legislation will allow the police to take a “more proactive approach” to managing “highly disruptive” protests that are deemed to cause a public disturbance. This includes allowing officers to impose time and noise restrictions on "non-violent" demonstrations, including those involving a single person.

Ms Lucas said: "This bill is a disgrace. It is dangerous, undemocratic, and disproportionate.

"Dangerous because it is trying to neuter protests and undermine our most precious rights – to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and to peaceful protest.

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"The government is seeking to impose far-reaching conditions that would have the effect of shielding those in power from criticism.

"They would make Greta Thunberg sitting alone with a placard a potential criminal.

"Likewise all the brave and passionate young people who know the future of humanity, and of our planet, depends on peaceful protests exposing just how inadequate government action is to the scale of the climate and nature emergencies.

Caroline Lucas addressed the crowds

"Yet the Home Secretary wants the power to decide whether these protests are 'necessary', whether they’re too noisy or causing too much disruption – so she can silence any criticism that doesn’t meet her approval.

"And by increasing the maximum penalty for exercising the right to protest; creating new restrictions on where protests can take place; and by eliminating important aspects of current human rights law that require the state to facilitate protest, she wants to deter any dissent yet further.

"If anyone is in any doubt about just how frightening the measures in this Bill really are, then consider that the European Movement, Best for Britain and profound Eurosceptic Richard Tice have joined forces to oppose them.

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"The right to peaceful protest is absolutely fundamental to our democracy and this dangerous and sweeping attempt to curtail it is a serious assault on democratic freedoms."

Ms Lucas said the bill was also undemocratic, accusing the government of "rushing it through Parliament" with just a week between its publication and its second reading.

She said: "It is a knee-jerk reaction to last year's Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion protests, because some right-wing MPs didn’t like them.

Caroline Lucas taking part in the 'international rebellion' in London

"In particular, the process is silencing the voices of marginalised communities who should be heard, as well as the MPs that seek represent them.

"And just this weekend we have seen who else is in the government’s sights - women attending peaceful vigils in memory of Sarah Everard who were pinned to the ground simply for exercising their rights."

The body of Ms Everard was found in a rural area near Ashford in Kent last week. Serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, appeared in court accused of her kidnap and murder.

Ms Lucas said policing at the vigil held for the 33-year-old at Clapham Common over the weekend had been "disproportionate", with officers dispersing crowds and making several arrests on the grounds that the event was a breach of coronavirus lockdown rules.

She said: "Having seen the disproportionate response from police on Clapham Common on Saturday night – it beggars belief that the government is giving more powers and discretion to the police via this legislation.

"As one of the few MPs to have been arrested during a peaceful protest and subsequently after a week’s court case, acquitted in court of any wrongdoing, I can tell her I have first-hand experience of the disproportionate action of the police.

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"I am therefore proud to be co-proposing a cross party reasoned amendment that seeks to deny this Bill a Second Reading.

"As the amendment makes clear, the legislation will perpetuate the systemic racism that infects out criminal justice system too. Including by expanding stop and search, which sees black men targeted, and by creating a new trespass offence that criminalises the way of life of nomadic Gypsy and Traveller communities.

"And it does nothing to prevent male violence against women and girls or to start to dismantle the misogyny that’s baked into every part of our criminal justice system.

"Women like Sarah Everard, Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman needed more than extra street lighting. They and countless other women deserve a legislative framework that upholds and defends their fundamental rights.

"Every UK citizen will be affected by what’s an unmitigated and deliberate attack on our universal rights, and I urge every MP who believes in free speech and democracy to oppose this bill."