#pcsc bill

[lesbiansandgayssupporttheminers]

Arrests today in London.

By the sounds of it, none of these people had actually *done* anything.

Britain, the police state.

PS Green and black cross are putting out urgent calls for post arrest support, contact them on twitter if you can help.

[lesbiansandgayssupporttheminers]

So, unfortunately the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts act is set to become law.

It is a real problem and has serious implications for both protest in the UK and for the rights of nomadic groups within the UK.

But it’s really important to be clear it does NOT make protest illegal. It does make protest more risky in terms of getting arrested, and it does place (uncertain) limits on legal protest.

Disinformation doesn’t help- what helps is organising and solidarity.

NetPol have some useful info here: https://twitter.com/netpol/status/1519320148930445312

[breadandrosas]

[breadandrosas]

More London action next Saturday to protest the PCSC Bill - Make it if you can!

[biomedicalscientist]

Bristol protest against the PCSC bill, March 23 2021

[snappysprinkledog]

Ngl I hate to say it but protests going violent last night are really just now going to be used to push the bill through cause like a bunch of politicians and people who weren't completely committed are going to back off the #killthebill movement so they aren't associated with the violent protests last night

[mwydyn]

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has passed a second reading.

It has not yet become law but this doesn’t mean we should relax, due to a large tory majority the second reading passed 359 votes to 263. Every single conservative MP bar two, who merely abstained, voted for it. No other party supported the bill.

It does more than just attack the right to protest in England and Wales:

Strengthen police powers to tackle non-violent protests that have a significant disruptive effect on the public or on access to Parliament 

Including it becoming a crime to fail to follow restrictions the protesters "ought" to have known about, even if they have not received a direct order from an officer.

New court orders to help crack down on knife crime and make it easier for police to stop and search those they suspect of carrying a knife

This will likely lead to even more racial profiling

Tougher punishments for the criminal damage of a memorial, with the maximum penalty set to increase from three months to 10 years

This is directly in response to the George Floyd protests targeting statues of slave traders and colonialists in the summer of 2020

Strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments that significant interfere with a person’s or community’s ability to make use of the land

This will be likely used to further target traveller families and communities

Doubling the maximum sentence for assaulting [a police officer] from 12 months to 2 years.

Enshrining the police covenant in law.

This is part of a larger move to give the police more power including:

a £1.1 billion increase in funding

20,000 more officers

Expanding stop and search powers to more officers

Increasing the number of stop and searches 

I urge you to look into protests happening near you through local organisers on social media

Know your rights before going to a protest even if you do not expect to be arrested 

Don’t share photos or videos where protestors can be identified

Sign this petition for maintaining the rights to peaceful protests

[spookydarlings]

UK Police Crackdown Bill Protests

What can you do to defend your right to protest?

Updating this carrd daily with organisations, actions and information surrounding the ongoing Police Crackdown Bill Protests.