Ministers creating ‘hostile environment’ for protesters, say MPs

Human rights committee including peers says public order bill lacks nuance and targets peaceful protests

MPs and peers have accused ministers of creating a hostile environment" for peaceful protests with its proposals for new policing powers.

The draft public order bill includes a new offence of locking on", which relates to demonstrators attaching themselves to something so they cannot be removed. It carries a maximum sentence of up to 51 weeks in prison.