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2,978 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsI do not believe that any such letters were sent in my name, so I cannot comment on who may have received them. I suspect, although I am not certain, that those letters related to…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsIt is easy to criticise after the event, but yes, I do agree that the police did a good job in extremely trying, difficult and fast-moving circumstances, and in which judgments…09 May 2023HANSARD Draft Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (Extraction of Information from Electronic Devices) (Amendment of Schedule 3) Regulations 2023The shadow Minister seems to agree with my recollection. I hesitate to delve into the history of this, but I think it is clear that this simple move is sensible, and I hope it…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsThat is absolute nonsense. This legislation is preventing disruption to the lives of our fellow citizens. I wholly repudiate the suggestion that it was rushed through; there was…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsWith great respect, that is nonsense. Comparing the policing of the coronation with Putin’s Russia, where opposition figures are incarcerated and people such as Alexei Navalny are…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsThe coronation was a once-in-a-generation moment, a moment of national pride and a moment when the eyes of the world were upon us. It was a ceremony with roots over a millennium…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsI have the greatest respect for the hon. and learned Member and take her questions seriously. She asked about pressure; the police are operationally independent and make decisions…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsYes, I would like to join the hon. Gentleman in thanking the police, the armed forces personnel and the civilians involved in laying on the coronation for a successful and,…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsI caution my right hon. Friend against asserting that those people were wrongfully arrested. That is a legal threshold and it has not been established that it was met. On the…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsI agree with the shadow Minister that it is important to maintain the balance to which she refers, but as I said in my opening and subsequent responses to the hon. and learned…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsAgain, exactly what happened is an operational matter for the police. Clearly, last Saturday the police had a lot going on in central London, policing the largest public event we…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsNo, that is not the purpose of the Public Order Act, which is designed to prevent people from deliberately disrupting the daily lives of their fellow citizens, as we have seen…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsNo, I do not agree, and I have already explained why.09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsI do not accept that analysis. The powers are designed to prevent disruption where it might occur or where it is occurring. That includes things such as locking on, which we have…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsThe new legislation contains a specific clause, added during its passage, protecting journalistic freedoms. An incident took place in Hertfordshire a few months ago, in November,…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsThe overall gold commander at the event is one of the Metropolitan police’s most experienced public order commanders—at the rank of commander. Many officers have had specialist…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsNo, I do not agree.09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsI agree that communication between local authorities and the police is important and that that join-up needs to happen. The question the hon. Lady asks is probably best directed…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsI do not accept that. I have already pointed out the operational independence of the police and I have said that briefings by the Met on the coronation were received not just by…09 May 2023HANSARDCoronation: Policing of ProtestsNo. What we saw on Saturday was the police doing their best, in very difficult and challenging circumstances, to prevent disruption while allowing and facilitating peaceful…09 May 2023