Contributions
2,107 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q Under current legislation, one of the challenges that you obviously face in looking after protest is balancing the right to protest against the right of others to go about their…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q I was trying to be wry; my apologies. I do not know whether you are familiar with Scottish law, but I want to ask you about the comparison with that. In Scotland, we are seeing…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q This is the final question from me. We are seeing an increasing use of civil injunctions in these circumstances where protesters are going to prison. In your view, are there…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q I think we are clear on your view of the Bill, and I gather that you were clear on your view of the Bill on social media before you appeared. Those sweet likes are so…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q I do not mean to rush, but we are short of time. From a human rights point of view, if you were a protester subject to some kind of control or sanction for your activity, would…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q Would the same effect currently be achievable through an injunction against an individual through a civil route? Martha Spurrier: I don’t think so, because I do not think you…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q Sorry, I was not necessarily referring to SDPOs. I meant more widely. At the moment, we have a situation where we see people go to prison in this country for so-called protest…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q In that specific protest, was there no publicly declared reason for the protest? David Dinsmore: Apart from the fact that it was Extinction Rebellion, I would need to go back. I…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q For precision, we should be clear that the measure that was previously considered, which you referred to, Ms Spurrier, was a protest banning order that was an absolute ban,…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Under judicial supervision. Martha Spurrier: Yes, under judicial supervision—but, as we have said, to a low standard of proof, based on no criminal conduct.09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q Obviously it is, and the reason why I raise it is to illustrate the subjective nature of the judgments about where the line is drawn when balancing rights between competing…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q I want to underline that point. Do you believe that the reason you were targeted was the political and social posture of your publications, and that those protesters were…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q What should we do about that? Martha Spurrier: What should we do about protests?09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)No, what should we do about the hard core that you are talking about? Martha Spurrier: What about the hard core we already have? The police already have a whole range of measures…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q But you could, through a civil injunction, stop somebody attending a particular place at a particular time, or associating with particular people or, for example, coming near an…09 Jun 2022HANSARDSerious Violence Duty: Draft Statutory Guidance ConsultationThe Government are today announcing the publication of a consultation on the draft statutory guidance on the serious violence duty (the duty) which will be issued by the Secretary…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q Okay, thanks very much. Mr Sprague, I want to ask you about other jurisdictions—most notably, Scotland. My perception is that Scotland has more draconian sentencing powers in…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q The hon. Member for Ealing Central and Acton has been campaigning for some time on buffer zones around abortion clinics, which would obviously impact individuals’ rights to…09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (Second sitting)Q Okay. Do any of the other witnesses wish to comment on buffer zones?09 Jun 2022HANSARDPublic Order Bill (First sitting)Q Good morning, chief. Thank you very much for joining us. At the outset, can you outline the current protest situation, and changes in protesters’ tactics over the past three or…09 Jun 2022