Public Order Bill, Third Reading

The Public Order Bill seeks to provide the police with new powers to tackle protests. The Bill had its Third Reading in the House on Tuesday 18 October 2022. 

New Clause 4 would allow injunctions to prevent serious disruption to effective movement of essential goods or services to be bought against “persons unknown”. I voted to support this New Clause, which was not passed, Ayes: 188 and Noes: 313.

New Clause 5 would remove “noise generated by people” from the definition of serious disruption found in The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. This would have meant that when deciding what constitutes serious disruption, police cannot do this on noise alone. I voted to support this New Clause, which was not passed, Ayes: 186 and Noes: 311.

New Clause 11 introduces buffer zones around Abortion clinics. This Clause will make harassing, obstructing or interfering with any women attending an abortion clinic a criminal offence. I voted to support this New Clause, which was passed, Ayes: 297 and Noes: 110.

Amendment 1 would remove Serious Disruption Prevention Order’s from the bill. I voted to support this Amendment, which was not passed, Ayes: 235 and Noes: 302.

I voted against the Bill, which was passed, Ayes: 283 and Noes: 234. The Bill had its First reading in the House of Lords on 19 Octobers 2022, it will now have its second reading in the Lords on 1 November 2022.