The Joint Committee on Human Rights, comprising of both Members of the House of Commons, and Peers from the House of Lords, has published another report Human Rights Joint Committee - Seventh Report - Demonstrating respect for rights? A human rights approach to policing protest,which has a Chapter entitled:
5 LEGAL REFORM: PROTEST AROUND PARLIAMENT
Unfortunately, the reports of this Committee are routinely ignored, or simply paid lip service to, by the current Labour government.
They intend to propose some amendments to legislation , to stimulate debate:
AMENDMENTS TO THE POLICING AND CRIME BILL
138. It is now four years since Parliament had the opportunity to debate the law on protest around Parliament, since which time the provisions passed in 2005 have been widely discredited. Debate on this issue now would ensure that the Government could hear and reflect on the views of both Houses while drawing up its own proposals and would encourage the Government to conclude its own consideration of the matter without undue delay.
139. We intend to table amendments on protest around Parliament to the Policing and Crime Bill in order to prompt debate in both Houses. The amendments we suggest below are essentially probing amendments, based on our recommendations, rather than a fully worked-out scheme for tackling the problems we have discussed. Crucially, we note that the onus is on the Government to bring forward the necessary reform which commands the support of the police, the parliamentary authorities and the local authorities.
Protest around Parliament: repeal of provisions in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005
To move the following clause:
"In the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill 2005 (c. 15), sections 132 to 138 are repealed."
Surely that should be "Act" rather than "Bill" ?
Imposing conditions on public assemblies: Parliament
To move the following clause:
"(1) The Public Order Act 1986 (c. 64) is amended as follows.
(2) At the end of section 14(1)(a) there is inserted ", if it takes place in the designated area or areas, it is a security risk, or".
(3) After section 14(1)(b) there is inserted the following paragraph:
"(c) it is taking place or will take place in the designated area or areas and will seriously impede, or be likely to seriously impede, access to the Houses of Parliament,".
(4) After section 14(2) there is inserted the following subsection:
"(2A) In subsection (1) "the designated area or areas" means the area or areas specified as such by the Secretary of State:
(a) by description, by reference to a map, or in any other way; and(b) which lie within 300 metres of the perimeter of the Palace of Westminster or Portcullis House".
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