What is the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill?

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is a piece of legislation passing through the Houses of Parliament which proposes an overhaul of current policing, criminal justice and sentencing laws.

Its planned changes to protest rights – proposed by the government to limit direct action campaigns by pressure groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain –, including a new policing power to impose restrictions when protests are too noisy and an expansion of the ‘controlled area’ around Parliament where certain protests are prohibited, have encountered great controversy.

Mass ‘Kill the Bill’ protests bringing together different movements have occurred across the UK against the Bill’s proposed restrictions on protest rights.