Commenting on the UK Government’s plans to proceed with its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, Wales TUC General Secretary, Shavanah Taj said:
We share the concerns being widely expressed about the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. We urge the UK Government to think again and stop its rush to legislate.
The Bill would give wide-ranging powers to the police to limit the ability of people – including trade unions – to protest, make their voices heard and to hold the powerful – including bad employers – to account.
It would also see increased penalties for those breaching police conditions on protests and make it easier for the police to assert that such conditions have been breached. And it threatens to criminalise gypsy and traveller communities. This undermines the Welsh Government’s vision of creating a Wales free of fear.
The UK Government should not be forcing through a law that has such massive implications for civil liberties – especially in the middle of a pandemic.
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