STATEMENT
Today, members of the House of Lords have their last chance to amend part 3 of the Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which covers peaceful protesting.
The Government has made a number of amendments to this bill, making it increasingly punitive. As it stands, this bill threatens to impinge greatly upon our fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and expression, and the public’s ability to hold the Government to account.
Zara Mohammed, Secretary-General of the MCB, has said:
“The new measures in this bill expand police powers and make a draconian bill even more restrictive, further eroding our civil liberties. Furthermore, these measures will exacerbate pre-existing disparities in policing and the criminal justice system. This toxic legislation must be opposed.”
The MCB calls upon members of the House of Lords to reject Part 3 of the bill in its entirety, as well as other measures which infringe upon the right to protest.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- For any further media enquiries, please contact: media@mcb.org.uk
- Read the MCB’s previous statement on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Court Bill, outlining a range of specific concerns over the bill here.
- The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella body with over 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and professional networks.