‘Kill the bill’: Hundreds in UK protest against new crime law

Proposed bill would give police extra powers to curtail demonstrations, such as imposing time and noise limits.

Hundreds of demonstrators joined marches and rallies across Britain as part of a “national weekend of action” against a proposed new law that would give police extra powers to curb protests. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would toughen measures officers can take to disperse demonstrations, such as imposing time and noise limits, which campaigners and activists fear would be used to curb dissent. Since the bill was brought before parliament last month, there have been sporadic protests, notably in Bristol, southwest England, where demonstrations turned violent with officers and a police station was bombarded with bricks and glass bottles and police vehicles set on fire.