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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Peers set to block law on being annoying in public | Peers set to block law on being annoying in public |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A group of peers wants to block a law under which courts could stop people being annoying in public. | |
| Ministers want to replace anti-social behaviour orders in England and Wales with injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance. | Ministers want to replace anti-social behaviour orders in England and Wales with injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance. |
| Courts could impose these on anyone engaging - or threatening to engage - in "conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person". | Courts could impose these on anyone engaging - or threatening to engage - in "conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person". |
| But the Reform Clause 1 group calls the plan a "threat to free speech". | But the Reform Clause 1 group calls the plan a "threat to free speech". |
| Members of the cross-party group say the new power is so wide it could be used against buskers, carol singers, street preachers and political protesters. | |
| 'Crazy law' | 'Crazy law' |
| Reform Clause 1 campaign director Simon Calvert said: "This is a crazy law. It will not deter thugs and hooligans who are normally already breaking lots of other laws anyway. | Reform Clause 1 campaign director Simon Calvert 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." |
| The Home Office has said the new injunctions would never be imposed in an unreasonable way. | The Home Office has said the new injunctions would never be imposed in an unreasonable way. |
| The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill is due for its report stage in the House of Lords later. | The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill is due for its report stage in the House of Lords later. |
| After this debate, the legislation still has to go through its third reading in the House of Lords. | After this debate, the legislation still has to go through its third reading in the House of Lords. |
| The House of Commons will then consider any amendments made by the Lords before the bill can be sent for Royal Assent - when the Queen signs bills into law. |