VICTORY!
The Reform Clause 1 campaign succeeded in its aim to amend Clause 1. The change is now incorporated in Section 1 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 and came into force in October 2014.
AMENDMENT TO REFORM CLAUSE 1 PASSES FINAL PARLIAMENTARY HURDLE
February 6, 2014The amendment to reform Clause 1, already agreed in the Lords, was given formal approval in the Commons on Tuesday 4 February. Home Office Minister, Norman Baker, told the House of Commons that the Government accepted Lord Dear’s amendment to replace annoyance orders with orders requiring proof of harassment, alarm or distress. While continuing to accuse Peers and campaigners of "scaremongering and exaggeration", he stated: "The Lords have spoken, however, and we have listened carefully. It is a democratic Parliament and…
Continue ReadingPRESS RELEASE FROM REFORM CLAUSE 1 – ‘FEEL FREE TO ANNOY ME’ CAMPAIGN
January 24, 2014For immediate release Reform Clause 1 applauds Government climbdown on plans to outlaw annoying and nuisance behaviour Campaigners have welcomed the Government’s decision to scrap plans to outlaw annoying and nuisance behaviour in public. Civil liberty groups, peers and MPs were worried that plans to replace ASBOs with IPNAs, (Injunctions to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance) would have a chilling effect on free speech and potentially outlaw many ordinary and hitherto legal activities. The Government wanted to extend…
Continue ReadingGOVERNMENT CONCEDES DEFEAT ON CLAUSE 1
January 24, 2014The Government has published an amendment accepting the thrust of Lord Dear’s amendment to reform Clause 1. The amendment will stop police applying for ‘annoyance orders’ against any person in any place, as initially proposed by the Government. The ‘annoyance and nuisance’ threshold will be extended from the area of public housing to private housing. In every other case however, behaviour must reach a threshold of ‘harrassment, alarm or distress’ before it can be subject to an injunction. Click here…
Continue ReadingVIDEO: LORD FORSYTH EXPOSES FLAWS IN ‘ANNOYANCE ORDERS’
January 21, 2014On 8 January 2014 the House of Lords rejected the Government’s plans to make it illegal to be annoying in a public place. It was the biggest anti-government vote of this Parliament. When you hear the arguments from supporters of the plans, it's no wonder the Lords kicked them out. Lord Forsyth repeatedly asked one, simple question: give one example of anti-social behaviour that deserved to be caught by ‘annoyance orders’ that couldn't be caught by laws against "harassment". No-one,…
Continue ReadingCHARITIES AND CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS URGE HOME SECRETARY TO ACCEPT LORDS AMENDMENT, IN JOINT LETTER
January 16, 2014A diverse alliance of 11 charities and civil liberties groups has written a joint letter to Home Secretary Theresa May, urging her to accept the Lords amendment to reform clause 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill. The amendment, which was passed by a significant majority in the House of Lords on 8 January, still needs to be voted on by MPs in the House of Commons. The joint letter from groups, including JUSTICE, The Christian Institute and…
Continue ReadingVIDEO: HOME OFFICE MINISTER TRIES TO DEFEND ANNOYANCE ORDERS ON BBC’S DAILY POLITICS
January 10, 2014Home Office Minister Norman Baker attempts to defend the Government’s proposed injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance (IPNAs) during an interview on the BBC’s Daily Politics show yesterday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5qQSFaCJqg
Continue ReadingMEDIA COVERAGE OF LORDS VOTE VICTORY
January 10, 2014Peers block law on being annoying in public BBC News Coalition defeated over 'annoyance' clampdown politics.co.uk The 'annoyance law': what it would mean MSN News Finally, the law that bans absolutely everything The Times (£) Lords reject government's antisocial, crime and policing bill The Guardian Government defeated as peers vote to reform Clause 1 National Secular Society A win! Peers vote to protect free speech The Christian Institute The Quiet and Sorry Death of Liberalism, Part CCXXXIV The Spectator A…
Continue ReadingSIR EDWARD LEIGH MP URGES GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT LORDS AMENDMENT
January 10, 2014Sir Edward Leigh MP has urged the Minister to accept Lord Dear’s amendment to reform Clause 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill, after the Government suffered a crushing defeat in the House of Lords on Wednesday. He said the House of Lords had “sent a very clear message to the Government that their plans to outlaw annoying and nuisance behaviour are unclear, represent muddled thinking and could have a chilling effect on free speech. “As Lord MacDonald,…
Continue ReadingVICTORY IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS
January 9, 2014Last night the House of Lords voted overwhelmingly in favour of Lord Dear’s amendment to reform Clause 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill. Peers, including a number of Tory and Lib Dem rebels, voted 306 to 178 - a majority of 128 - following a lively two hour debate. See which Peers voted to reform Clause 1 here. The Government’s proposed injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance (IPNAs) faced fierce criticism from peers on all sides of…
Continue ReadingVIDEO: LATEST NEWS FROM REFORM CLAUSE 1 CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR
December 20, 2013Simon Calvert, Reform Clause 1 Campaign Director, discusses the most recent news on Clause 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour Bill, his meeting with Home Office minister Norman Baker and what’s coming up in January 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiR29sIPxj4
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