The Police, Courts and Sentencing Bill was debated in the House of Commons last week. I support this Bill. We need a fair justice system – one that stands for the law-abiding majority, not the criminal minority. At the General Election, I pledged safer communities and our Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill delivers on that commitment.

But I know that some are concerned about public order laws. The Sunday before last, I walked to Clapham Common to pay my respects to Sarah Everard who was murdered whilst walking home. This should have been a moment of remembrance and a sombre demonstration of support for Sarah and for women’s safety. But instead, it was hijacked by extreme left protestors, with placards from the Socialist Workers Party and others. I’m not saying the police were right in how they dealt with it, but we need the full facts before jumping to conclusions.

The Police, Courts and Sentencing Bill takes direct action to improve public safety: halting the automatic early release of offenders who pose a danger to the public and ending the halfway release of offenders sentenced for serious violent and sexual offences.

Since I became an MP, I have seen some appalling behaviour from extremist protesters in Westminster, such as Extinction Rebellion. Much of what I have seen is not civil protest – it is criminal behaviour. As we saw again in Bristol last weekend, too often the important concerns of well-intentioned people are hijacked by anarchists seeking violence and disruption. I’ve had enough of it and I think it needs to be put right. Protests and demonstrations will continue to be permitted within the law, and anyone that says otherwise is being disingenuous.

Every day, our police officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe and they deserve our support as well as our challenge.

CHRIS LODER

West Dorset MP