Ministers creating 'hostile environment' for protesters, say MPs

Human rights committee including peers says public order bill lacks nuance and targets peaceful protestsMPs and peers have accused ministers of creating a "hostile environment" for peaceful protests with its proposals for new policing powers.The draft public order bill includes a new offence of "locking on", which relates to demonstrators attaching themselves to something so they cannot be removed. It carries a maximum sentence of up to 51 weeks in prison. Continue reading...