THESE 18 pictures show protesters marching through Brighton yesterday to voice their disapproval at a controversial policing bill.

The protesters started at the Peace Statue by Hove Lawns, before to the Jubilee Clock Tower and then down North Street to the police station on John Street.

They ended the protest march at the Level near St Peter's Church.

Protesters stopped at the Jubilee Clock Tower junction, as well as the junction at the bottom of North Street to voice their disgust at the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is currently in its report stage in the House of Lords.

The bill includes plans to give police in England and Wales more powers to impose conditions on non-violent protests judged to be too noisy and thereby causing “intimidation and harassment” or “serious unease, alarm or distress” to the public.

These include imposing start and finish times and setting noise limits - and protesters refusing to comply could be fined up to £2,500, under the proposals.

The conditions would apply to a single person staging a protest as well as groups.

The Argus: Protesters stood outside of Brighton Police Station in John StreetProtesters stood outside of Brighton Police Station in John Street

Many people beeped their horns and clapped in support of the group, who were chanting “this is what democracy looks like” and chants about home secretary Priti Patel.

While a few people walking past shouted their disapproval at the protest.

One of the protesters said at the end: “This is not the first and won’t be the last time, we’re here to protest for our beliefs.

“So what I want everyone to do next time we’re out here, bring all the people you know. We’re going to come back and express how we feel.

 

“This is not over. We’re just getting started, we’re not going to allow this bill to pass.”

One of the protesters, from Brighton, said she has been contacting councillors and MPs asking for their support.

She said: “As a female I would have nothing if I didn’t have the right to protest. Not to vote, and little in the ways of work. Suffragettes before me stood up for their rights and that has given me, a woman, a right to protest, to vote, to work and be equal.

“We don’t want to turn into a police state, turning into a police state puts us one step closer to an Orwellian future. We don’t want that.”

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