Public Order Bill — Clause 9 — Offence of interference with access to or provision of abortion services — 7 Mar 2023 at 18:00

“place any condition on a public assembly (that is necessary to prevent disorder, damage, disruption, impact or intimidation)”.

“At one end of the spectrum, an officer we interviewed described the current legislation”-

“as providing ‘an arsenal’ of weapons for the police to use, including many appropriate for use in the context of disruptive protests. Consequently, that interviewee”-

“and many others saw no need for change. Arguing against the proposal for a new stop and search power (Home Office proposal 5) another officer stated that ‘a little inconvenience is more acceptable than a police state’.”

“We agree with this sentiment.”

“a little inconvenience is more acceptable than a police state”.

“Lords amendment 6 removes clause 11: power to stop and search without suspicion from the Bill.”

“This would mean senior police officers would not be able to give an authorisation allowing a constable in uniform to conduct a suspicion-less stop and search of a person or vehicle”.

“Removal of this clause from the Bill reduces the tools available for the police to use when responding to serious disruption and the Government cannot support it”.

“Lords amendment 20 removes clause 20: serious disruption prevention orders made otherwise than on conviction entirely from the Bill. This would mean that an order could not be made by a magistrates court on application by a relevant chief officer of police. It is important that the police have the power to seek an order on application, rather than solely at the point of conviction.”

“Offence of interference with access to or provision of abortion services”,

“such communication or prayer shall not, without more, be taken to be-

(a) influencing any person’s decision”,

“You think that a wall as solid as the earth separates civilisation from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet of glass.”

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others…But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”

“Stop and search is a highly intrusive and potentially damaging tool if misused by the police. The fact that you are seven times more likely to be stopped and searched by the police if you are black than if you are white where the police require reasonable suspicion, and 14 times more likely where the police do not require reasonable suspicion, presents a prima facie case that the police are misusing these powers.”-[Official Report, House of Lords, 7 February 2023; Vol. 827, c. 1098.]

“No offence is committed under subsection (1) by a person engaged in consensual communication or in silent prayer”.

“that resulted in, or were likely to result in, serious disruption”,

“Given the extent of the powers contained within the Bill, it is essential that any definition should be placed at such a threshold as to minimise the possibility for abuse.”

“means causing significant harm to persons, organisations or the life of the community, in particular, where…it may result in significant delay to the delivery of a time-sensitive product…or…it may result in a prolonged disruption of access to any essential goods or any essential services”.

“Reasonable Grounds has a firm legal basis, is tried and tested, and therefore affords reassurance to our colleagues engaged in these stops.”

“the number of additional full custody years”-

“lies within the range of zero to one”.

“a wide variation in the number of specialist officers available for protest policing throughout England and Wales”,

“Non-specialist officers receive limited training in protest policing.”

“to more than a minor degree”.

“more than a minor degree”

“policing is not asking for new powers to constrain protests”,

“No offence is committed under subsection (1) by a person engaged in consensual communication”.

“shall not…be taken to be…harassment”

“in…furtherance of a trade dispute”,

“shall not, without more, be taken to”

Debate in Parliament |