UK Parliament / Open data

Public Order Bill

Proceeding contribution from Andrew Lewer (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 7 March 2023. It occurred during Debate on bills on Public Order Bill.

I could not agree more with my right hon. Friend, and that is the concern. The part of the Bill I am referring to is Lords amendment 5; put forward in the House of Lords by Baroness Sugg on the matter of “interference” within buffer zones.

I understand that many people will find it highly inappropriate for vocal or difficult protests to be held right outside abortion clinics, and I categorically condemn harassment against women at all points in their life, let

alone near an abortion facility. However, that is a world away from the police being able to detain people and question them over what they are doing if they are merely standing there or praying quietly—or worse, if they are praying silently and are then asked by the police, agents of the state, “What are you thinking about?”

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
729 cc201-2 
Session
2022-23
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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