Protesting - is it becoming illegal?
The former Greater Manchester police chief, Sir Peter Fahy, said he gave evidence in Parliament expressing his concern that the new law was "poorly defined and far too broad".
A controversial new law which saw six anti-monarchy protesters arrested on Coronation day has been criticised as too crude and too broad. Conservative MP David Davis has called for the law to be scrutinised by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Affairs Select Committee. Ex-Greater Manchester police chief Sir Peter Fahy said "poor police officers" were left to interpret the law "passed only a few days" before the Coronation. But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the law was "the right thing to do".
The Metropolitan Police has expressed "regret" over the arrests after a review found there was no proof the six protesters, who were arrested when their vehicle was stopped near the procession route, were planning to use "lock on" devices. In total, 64 protesters were arrested on Saturday.
Is the new law fair? Is it becoming illegal to protest? For 5 Questions On, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Affairs Correspondent, Daniel Sandford, looks at the policing of protests in the UK.
Image Credit: Reuters
