People have been rallying in cities across the UK to protest against a new bill they say is an attack on the right to demonstrate. The controversial 'police and crime bill' would grant police greater powers to crack down on disruptive protests, but critics say it will also make it more difficult to hold peaceful demonstrations.
In a statement, the Home Office told DW: "Freedom to protest within the law is a fundamental part of our democracy, but the police must swiftly deal with the selfish minority of protestors whose actions endanger the public (...)."
The UK government is targeting environmental activists. It wants to stop disruptive protest. Public nuisance will be a new offense, carrying a maximum penalty of up to ten years in prison or an unlimited fine. And that's highly controversial.
NGOs and human rights groups have staged many protests. They see the bill as an attack on democracy itself. And even conservative legal observers like the former attorney general are concerned.


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