I DOUBT that few people would disagree with Chris Loder when he says the “We need a fair justice system – one that stands for the law-abiding majority, not the criminal minority.” However, using this premise to support the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, as he did in his recent weekly column, is somewhat misleading. This new bill will widen the range of powers the police have to impose restrictions on protests, and thereby turn many protesters who are currently law-abiding into criminals.

He seems to have a particular problem with Extinction Rebellion, describing much of what he has seen of their protests as criminal behaviour rather than civil protest. If that is the case then it is existing law that makes the behaviour criminal, and it is existing law that should be used to deal with it. These new powers would make behaviour which is currently lawful into an offence. My fear is that the real purpose of this proposed legislation is simply to restrict the impact of such protests.

But what is the point of having protests that have no impact, that cause no disruption to the running of an organisation? How much longer would it have taken to get universal suffrage if the suffragettes had not caused serious disruption to many male dominated organisations? We should be proud of our protesting heritage. We should celebrate it and not try to restrict it. And we should be listening to Extinction Rebellion rather than only allowing them to protest where they can’t be heard.

Cllr Kelvin Clayton

St Michael’s Lane

Bridport