FALMOUTH and Truro MP Cherilyn Mackrory has rejected a call to vote against a new police and crime bill going through parliament today saying it does not silence protest as claimed.

She accused Labour of having a 'knee-jerk' reaction to the policing of the Sarah Everard vigil at the weekend in calling for Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to be rejected and said she will be voting for IT today.

Yesterday former Labour parliamentary candidate for Falmouth and Penryn, Jennifer Forbes called on Mrs Mackrory to vote against the bill going through parliament today saying it literally 'silenced' protest.

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MP urged to vote against bill allowing police to clampdown on 'noisy' protests

The call came after the Metropolitan Police were criticised for the way in which they broke up a vigil to commemorate Sarah Everard who was killed while walking home in London. A Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with her murder.

While Mrs Mackrory says she thinks the police acted disgracefully she says it does not mean she should vote against the bill and it does not remove the right to peaceful protest as some have been saying.

"The part that has caused a lot of concern over the weekend is relating to clauses that assist our police in taking action to stop protests from unreasonable disrupting lives and day to day business, such as we have seen with Extinction Rebellion in London in recent times, for instance," she said in a statement to the Packet.

"This Bill does not remove our right to peaceful protest as some are trying to make out. Some have tried to tie the measures in this bill to the events on Saturday night, which is incorrect as the police on Saturday, although in my view acting disgracefully in handling the vigils, and this should be investigated, were enforcing the temporary Covid-19 restrictions – something totally separate to this Bill.

"This Bill also contains new laws to keep people safe, including many vital measures to protect women from violent criminals as well as Kay’s Law, which is being introduced after a woman died at her ex partner’s hands while he was released under investigation.

"Labour’s reaction appears to be a knee-jerk reaction in response to the poor handling of vigils in London by the Metropolitan Police, and another example where the opposition try to court popular opinion without understanding the wider circumstances.

"Yes, the handling of the vigils on Saturday by some Metropolitan Police officers was disgraceful, and this should be investigated, but by using this as a pretext to vote against this Bill and grab some headlines, Labour are voting against tougher sentences for child murderers and sex offenders, killer drivers and measures that protect the vulnerable.

"The right to peaceful demonstration in our country is at the core of our society. But this needs to be proportionately balanced to prevent people using those same rights to damage property and disrupt lives in the name of protest. I believe this Bill strikes the right balance in doing this."