The House of Lords has stalled the passing of the British Government's 'Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill' which threatens the right to free speech and assembly, boosts the stop-and-search powers of the police, advocates prison sentences and fines for 'illegal residence,' and effectively criminalizes 'sleeping rough' (meaning homeless people sleeping outdoors).
The House of Lords has halted the almost smooth and swift passage of 'The Police and Order' bill aimed at strengthening police powers to stop, arrest and detain protesters as well as turning trespassing into a criminal offence. If passed, such a law would threaten to deprive the homeless of their right to live in tents, cars or to sleep rough. Under this new law being homeless would actually become a crime!
Therefore, this is not only an assault on the right to protest but an aggressive assault on the homeless as well as an attempt to wipe out the alternative life style of gypsies, travelers, and trespassers!
The House of Lords vetoed the bill on the grounds that it had been passed through the House of Commons without proper consultation, discussion and debate, plus arguing some amendments were added at the last moment and many of the terms are too ambiguous. For instance, what do the terms 'residency' and 'obstructing an infrastructure' actually mean?'
Another law states that demonstrations can be banned by the police for being 'too noisy'. But what does 'being noisy' really mean? So the bill has been sent back to the House of Commons so that it can be properly discussed rather than reckless rammed through. Some members of the House of Lords have accused the government of evading any accountability and scrutiny. This bill has been described as draconian for the following reasons:
1. The bill drastically boosts police powers to stop and search. It grants the police the right to stop people without grounds of suspicion. It allows for the police to arrest and imprison demonstrators for a maximum of ten years if they damage property or face a heavy fine for either obstructing an infrastructure or the offence of 'lock in' (to lock yourself on to a railing or any object). 'Obstructing a police officer' can lead to being imprisoned for up to 51 weeks or paying a huge fine. Such a draconian law with such sweeping powers will turn Britain into a police state comparable to Putin's Russia. The civil rights movement 'Liberty' claims that at present, people in Britain have a right to choose when, how and where to protest.
2. The bill represents an attempt to wipe out the life style of Gypsies, travelers and tramps. Anyone found residing on the land or somewhere without the permission of the landlord can be subject to imprisonment or a heavy fine. Simply putting up your tent or parking your vehicle in the wrong place will now become a criminal offence. At present it remains a civil offence. But this is not the only punishment. Homes such as caravans or vans can be confiscated rendering the owners homeless. Instead of reducing homelessness, this bill increases it! So this bill makes a mockery of Government claims to striving to end homelessness.
3. Sleeping rough (or homeless persons sleeping outdoors) will be criminalized! Residing on the streets or sleeping on a bench will become a criminal offence. A homeless person who sleeps in a vehicle, tent or on the streets can be imprisoned for 51 weeks or subject to a fine. Of course, many Conservatives are offended at the sight of seeing so many homeless people haunt the streets in Britain living in cardboard boxes. The conspicuous presence of homeless people on the streets is seen as an eye sore or blight on 'Democracy.' It taints the hollow empty claims that most people in Britain enjoy a life of stability, affluence and freedom. Charity organizations who help the homeless such as Crisis, Saint Mungo, and Shelter say the bill should be scrapped.
The Homeless Office retorts that this is not a law which suppresses protest or the way of Life of Travelers. Security is their utmost concern. They claim the law is only aimed at stopping a small minority intent on encouraging disorder and committing crimes. They are only against irresponsible protest and not law abiding protest. However, those claims overlook the fact that Britain has deeply rooted traditions of civil disobedience dating back to the Middle ages, early attempts to found trade unions, the Chartists and the Suffragettes. Without civil disobedience it is difficult to see how women in Britain would have won the vote.
That this bill remains unpopular in Britain is indicated by polls finding two thirds of Britons expressing 'concern.’ As many as 600,000 people have signed a petition against the bill. It is important to point out that this is not the only repressive bill being pushed through parliament.
An anti-refugee bill known as 'The Nationality and Border Bill' is also on the cards. This bill will make life even more insufferable for refugees coming to Britain. If such bills are passed by Parliament then travelers, the homeless and refugees will find themselves in a more hostile and unfriendly environment.
Like a villager in Kafka's novel 'The Castle', the British state can frankly claim 'Hospitality is not our custom.'