FILE PHOTO: Yellow Vest protester in France. Legal definition of ‘serious disruption’ to be broadened, allowing police to act earlier against demonstrations.
The prime minister wants to broaden the legal definition of "serious disruption" in a new public order bill, to help police stop what he calls a "disruptive minority" who use tactics such as blocking roads or slow marching.
Sunak believes the public and business will support the government's efforts to stop protesters causing serious disruption following a series of high-profile protests by groups such as Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain. But Human Rights Watch, the international NGO, last week criticised the government for a series of recent measures, including restrictions on protest.
Comment: The police had no problems cracking down on anti-lockdown protesters, however, more recently, when Just Stop Oil protesters were vandalising public and private property the police mostly stood down. It's likely that, in part, this was intentional, in order to build the case for the draconian power grab.
By now it's abundantly clear that this sinister security state creep isn't about needing new powers, it's about preparing the ground for laws that will allow the police to target the general public who, once inflation and energy bills become unbearable, and food shortages really begin to bite, will be in uproar.
Already in France 52% of people are calling for a 'social explosion' of protests; and France's government has also been working towards even more draconian police powers in recent years.