Boris Johnson to force through new anti-protest curbs in Queen's speech
Source: The Guardian
Boris Johnson to force through new anti-protest curbs in Queen’s speech
Government to announce new offences to stop protesters from ‘locking on’ to infrastructure
Rajeev Syal
Mon 9 May 2022 22.30 BST
Last modified on Mon 9 May 2022 23.26 BST
Boris Johnson’s government will force through police powers to prevent disruptive yet peaceful protests as one of 38 new bills in Tuesday’s Queen’s speech.
In a move to reinstate measures thrown out by the House of Lords in January, the government will announce new offences to stop protesters from “locking on” to infrastructure, extend stop and search powers, and make it illegal to obstruct transport projects.
The public order bill will be aimed at quashing tactics employed by protest groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil.
It will be seen as part of a plan by Johnson to boost his premiership with proposals which will appeal to core Tory supporters.
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In a move that will anger civil liberty groups, the new public order measures will include:
• New criminal offences of locking on, and going equipped to lock on to others, objects or buildings – carrying a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
• 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 and an unlimited fine.
• Measures to make it illegal to obstruct major transport works, including disrupting the construction or maintenance of projects like HS2 – punishable by up to six months in prison and an unlimited fine.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/may/09/boris-johnson-to-force-through-new-anti-protest-curbs-in-queens-speech