Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: Lords Amendments

Amendments made by the House of Lords to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Monday 28 February 2022. The Bill includes appalling attempts by the Government to restrict our democratic right to protest. Votes were held until shortly before 1 o’clock in the morning.

The Government motions were to disagree the Lords Amendment in question. As such, an ‘Aye’ vote is to remove the amendment, and a ‘No’ vote is to retain the amendment.

LA 72 would add sex or gender to hate crime legislation, sometimes referred to by campaigners as ‘making misogyny a hate crime’. I voted against the motion, which was passed,  Ayes: 314 and Noes: 190.

LA116 would require the Secretary of State to obtain, record and publish all reasonably available data which is relevant to the effect of Serious Violence Reduction Orders over a period of no less than 12 months before making the report on the pilot; and that certain specified matters must be addressed in the report of the pilot of SVROs. I voted against the motion, which was passed, Ayes: 315 and Noes: 189.

LA141 would create a new offences of accepting sexual relations as a condition of accommodation, which is commonly known as “sex for rent”. I voted against the motion, which was passed, Ayes:304 and Noes: 198.

LA107 would amend the Bill to make explicit that a local authority may establish and maintain a secure 16 to 19 Academy, a new type of custodial provision introduced in the Bill. I voted against the motion, which was passed, Ayes: 314 and Noes: 190.

LA73 would remove the Government’s new provision to allow Police to limit protest marches on the basis of the impact of noise on people or organisations in the vicinity. I voted against the motion, which was passed, Ayes: 288 and Noes: 238.

LA80 would remove the Government’s new provision to allow Police to limit protest gatherings on the basis of disruption to the life of the community or organisations in the area. I voted against the motion, which was passed, Ayes:289 and Noes: 237.

LA81 would provide that it would not be a prohibited activity to obstruct vehicular access to the parliamentary estate if permission for such obstruction has been given by a relevant
person (including the Greater London Authority or Westminster City Council). I voted against the motion, which was passed, Ayes:298 and Noes:236.

LA87would remove the Government’s new provision to allow Police to limit a single person protesting on the basis that the protest may have a significant relevant
impact on persons or organisations in the vicinity. I voted against the motion, which passed, Ayes: 292 and Noes: 238.