New laws to ensure the police have the tools and powers they need
to better manage the dangerous and highly disruptive tactics used
by a small minority of protestors will be set out in tomorrow’s
Queen’s Speech.
Sparked by the chaos caused by groups like Extinction Rebellion,
Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil this vital legislation will be
introduced as soon as Wednesday. It follows Parliament’s failure
to support these urgently needed measures as amendments to the
now passed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.
In backing the police this Bill will support the Government’s
ambitious legislative agenda to deliver on the priorities of the
British public. New laws to be set out tomorrow will boost
economic growth across the country to address the cost of living,
help to create the conditions for more people to have high-wage,
high-skill jobs and keep the public safe.
Setting out that mission to deliver for the public, Prime
Minister said:
“This Queen’s Speech will get our country back on
track, and I will strive – and this Government will strive –
night and day to deliver it.
“Because in spite of everything we have been through, we are
going to ensure that over the two years we have left in this
parliament, we spend every second uniting and levelling up this
country, exactly as we said we would.”
Addressing cost of living challenges the Prime
Minister is also expected to say in his speech
tomorrow:
“We will get the country through the aftershocks of covid,
just as we got through covid, with every ounce of ingenuity and
compassion and hard work.
“By urgently pressing on with our mission to create the high
wage, high skilled jobs that will drive economic growth across
our whole United Kingdom.
“That is the long-term, sustainable solution to ease the burden
on families and businesses.”
To ensure the British public can go about their lives without
disruption from guerrilla protest tactics the Queen’s Speech is
expected to announce:
- New criminal offences of ‘locking-on’, and going equipped to
‘lock-on’, to others, objects, or buildings in order to cause
serious disruption - carrying a maximum penalty of six months’
imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both, and an unlimited fine,
respectively.
- The creation of a new criminal offence of interfering with
key national infrastructure, such as airports, railways and
printing presses - carrying a maximum sentence of 12 months in
prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
- It will also be illegal to obstruct major transport works,
including disrupting the construction or maintenance of projects
like HS2 - punishable by up to six months in prison, an unlimited
fine, or both.
Finally, as part of the Government’s commitment to backing the
police with the tools they need, the Bill is expected to extend
stop and search powers so the police can seize articles related
to these new offences. New preventative Serious Disruption
Prevention Orders will also be available for those who repeatedly
inflict criminal disruption on the public.
Commenting on the new measures the Home Secretary said:
“The law-abiding, responsible majority have had enough of
anti-social, disruptive protests carried out by a self-indulgent
minority who seem to revel in causing mayhem and misery for the
rest of us.
“The Public Order Bill will give the police the powers they need
to clamp down on this outrageous behaviour and ensure the British
public can go about their lives without disruption.”
