Kill the Bill protestors take to the streets of Falmouth

Organisers Kill the Bill Cornwall group said the event, on April 11, attracted hundreds of protestors opposed to the imposition of 307-page Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. It is the second protest to take place in Falmouth.

Protests have also taken place in Truro.

Kill the Bill march in Falmouth. Picture Fraser Peebles

The bill which was approved by MPs on parliament will hand police and the home secretary greater powers to crack down on protests.

The Government says the bill will allow the police to take a "more proactive approach" to intervening in "highly disruptive" protests deemed to be a public disturbance.

Read next:

• Why I will be voting for the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill today
• Organisers of Kill the Bill march say why they had to protest

The bill will hand the home secretary, Priti Patel, powers to create laws that would define "serious disruption", which would then allow police to intervene in protests which are deemed disruptive by Ms Patel.

Kill the Bill march in Falmouth. Picture Fraser Peebles

In a statement issued on its Facebook page Kill the Bill Cornwall said the bill was 'absurd' and that 'Hundreds of us took to the streets of Falmouth to stand in solidarity with all who oppose authoritarianism. "

Kill the Bill march in Falmouth. Picture Fraser Peebles

Adding: "We are the resistance to authoritarianism and we won't stop until this bill is dead and buried."

The Government says the measures proposed in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will allow police to take a more proactive approach in managing highly disruptive protests.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and the Government is absolutely committed to maintaining freedom of expression.

“But protesters who use disruptive and dangerous tactics – whether gluing themselves to train carriages or blocking traffic, including emergency vehicles – cannot be permitted to trample on the rights of local businesses and communities.

“These new measures will not stop people from carrying out their civic right to protest and be heard, but prevent misery to the public and the loss of millions of pounds to the taxpayer and businesses at the same time.”

The threshold for the use of the power to impose conditions on the use of noise at a protest will be appropriately high. Police will only use it in cases where they deem it necessary and proportionate. 

For an upcoming protest – the Chief Constable of the relevant force will make the decision regarding whether the threshold is likely to be met.

For a protest already taking place, the most senior officer at the scene will decide if the threshold is likely to be met.

Depending on the circumstances, the senior officer would typically be an Inspector, Chief Inspector, or Superintendent.

A Kill The Bill national day of action is planned for the 17th.