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Anti-social injunction plan 'threat to free speech' | Anti-social injunction plan 'threat to free speech' |
(about 1 month later) | |
Carol singers and charity collectors could find themselves before courts under a planned law aimed at cracking down on nuisance behaviour, a new cross-party campaign group has warned. | Carol singers and charity collectors could find themselves before courts under a planned law aimed at cracking down on nuisance behaviour, a new cross-party campaign group has warned. |
Injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance are to replace anti-social behaviour orders in England and Wales. | Injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance are to replace anti-social behaviour orders in England and Wales. |
Ministers say Ipnas will be easier to obtain and enforce than Asbos. | Ministers say Ipnas will be easier to obtain and enforce than Asbos. |
The Reform Clause 1 group say the bill is too sweeping and will have a "chilling effect on free speech". | The Reform Clause 1 group say the bill is too sweeping and will have a "chilling effect on free speech". |
Peers are currently debating the proposals and the campaign hopes to persuade politicians that the reform - contained within Clause 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill - should be rewritten. | Peers are currently debating the proposals and the campaign hopes to persuade politicians that the reform - contained within Clause 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill - should be rewritten. |
Former shadow home secretary David Davis, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and former Director of Public Prosecutions Lord Macdonald, are among those opposed to the legislation. | Former shadow home secretary David Davis, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and former Director of Public Prosecutions Lord Macdonald, are among those opposed to the legislation. |
They say it is so badly drafted that almost any action could be construed as causing a nuisance. | They say it is so badly drafted that almost any action could be construed as causing a nuisance. |
The campaign also has the support of a number of groups including Big Brother Watch, the Christian Institute and the National Secular Society. | The campaign also has the support of a number of groups including Big Brother Watch, the Christian Institute and the National Secular Society. |
'Massive power' | 'Massive power' |
Keith Porteous Wood from the National Secular Society said: "This draconian legislation could be applied to ordinary people from football fans to political campaigners." | |
He said the government had made "vague promises" that Ipnas will never be used in an inappropriate fashion but this was "simply not good enough". | He said the government had made "vague promises" that Ipnas will never be used in an inappropriate fashion but this was "simply not good enough". |
He added that parliament's Home Affairs Committee and the Joint Committee on Human Rights had called for greater clarification in the legislation. | He added that parliament's Home Affairs Committee and the Joint Committee on Human Rights had called for greater clarification in the legislation. |
Reform Clause 1 campaign director Simon Calvert said protesters, street pastors and people expressing strong opinions in public could also be affected. | Reform Clause 1 campaign director Simon Calvert said protesters, street pastors and people expressing strong opinions in public could also be affected. |
He said: "This is a crazy law. It will not deter thugs and hooligans who are normally already breaking lots of other laws anyway. | He said: "This is a crazy law. It will not deter thugs and hooligans who are normally already breaking lots of other laws anyway. |
"But it will give massive power to the authorities to seek court orders to silence people guilty of nothing more than breaching political correctness or social etiquette." | "But it will give massive power to the authorities to seek court orders to silence people guilty of nothing more than breaching political correctness or social etiquette." |
Mr Tatchell said: "What constitutes annoyance is a very subjective judgment. There is a danger that this legislation could be abused to target legitimate freedom of expression that some people might find annoying." | Mr Tatchell said: "What constitutes annoyance is a very subjective judgment. There is a danger that this legislation could be abused to target legitimate freedom of expression that some people might find annoying." |
The Home Office says measures contained in the bill aims to provide better protection for victims and communities. | The Home Office says measures contained in the bill aims to provide better protection for victims and communities. |
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