The Police Crime Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill gives the police increased powers to stop and search which will impact disproportionately on Black youth. The sections of the Bill restricting the rights of travellers include provisions that would criminalise the way of life of Gypsy and Traveller communities.

The specific provisions relating to protest propose increasing the powers of the police to place conditions on the right to public processions and assemblies but without detailing what those conditions might be. They introduce a new consideration for the police to take into account, the level of noise. This requires the police to determine whether the level of noise is such that it could cause “serious disruption to the activities of an organisation which are carried on in the vicinity of the procession” or such that there may be a relevant or significant “impact” on persons in the vicinity. The very nature of peaceful protest is that it is noisy – whether through chanting, shouting, or Samba / drumming /musical support.… Read on ...