---
title: Open letter to the Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Justice of the United Kingdom
date: 2021-03-16T09:55:46Z
modified: 2023-10-09T15:17:03Z
permalink: "https://350.org/open-letter-uk-policing-bill/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 146701
categories:
  - Europe
featured_image: /wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Climate-strike-protesters-scaled.jpg
featured_image_alt: crowd of climate strike protesters holding banners
author: Matilda Borgstrom
---

_Throughout history, protest has been an essential part of the fight for justice._

_We’re joining nearly 250 organisations to condemn the new Policing, Crime and Sentencing Bill being rushed through Parliament by the UK government._

_The bill not only threatens our right to protest, but contains new laws that would increase racist stop and search powers and criminalise Gypsy and Traveller ways of life._

_This bill is about increased police and state power and not protection of people. 350 rejects the proposals in this bill that infringe on our human rights and our ability to organise for climate justice._

---

**Full text of open letter:**

Dear Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Justice,

We write to share our profound concern and alarm over the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill published last week. Not only does this Bill contain numerous threats to the right to peaceful protest and access to the countryside, criminalise Gypsy and Traveller communities’ way of life, as well as a whole host of expansive policing powers, but it is being rushed through parliament during a pandemic and before civil society and the public have been able to fully understand its profound implications.

Contained within this 307-page bill are plans to:

- Introduce draconian new police powers to decide where, when and how citizens are allowed to protest and have their voices heard by those in power;
- Increase penalties for those breaching police conditions on protests and the ease with which they can be found to have done so;
- Create a new trespass offence that criminalises the way of life of nomadic Gypsy and Traveller communities, while the government manifestly fails to provide adequate sites and permitted stopping places, and has implications for the public’s right to protest, access to the countryside and people experiencing homelessness.

This is a huge bill, both in length and in potential consequences – for young people calling for social change facing greater criminalisation by the state, for Gypsy and Traveller communities facing threats to their way of life, and for anyone who values freedom of expression and the right to make yourself heard against the powerful.

This in itself is enough to cause alarm, but the government is also trying to rush this Bill through parliament, with less than a week between publication and second reading. This is deeply inadequate and provides no time for MPs and their staff, let alone the communities it stands to affect so profoundly, to understand what the consequences of this wide-ranging Bill may be.

For a country that so often prides itself on civil liberties, this Bill represents an attack on some of the most fundamental rights of citizens, in particular those from marginalised communities, and is being driven through at a time and in a way where those who will be subject to its provisions are least able to respond.

We urge the government to fundamentally rethink its approach.

Yours sincerely,

**Gracie Bradley**, Interim Director, Liberty

**Hugh Knowles & Miriam Turner**, Co-Executive Directors, Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland

**Sarah Mann**, Director, Friends, Families and Travellers

**Guy Shrubsole & Nick Hayes**, Co-Founders, Right to Roam Campaign

**Len McCluskey**, General Secretary, Unite the Union

**Fiona Colley**, Director of Social Change, Homeless Link

**Kate Ashbrook**, General Secretary, Open Spaces Society

**Tom Platt**, Director of Advocacy & Engagement, The Ramblers

**Louise Hazan & Harpreet K Paul**, Co-Founders, Tipping Point

**Andrew Simms**, Co-Director, New Weather Institute

**Anna Vickerstaff**, UK Lead, 350.org

**Kevin Blowe**, Campaigns Coordinator, Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol)

**Dave Turnbull**, Head of Access, Conservation & Environmental Sustainability, British Mountaineering Council

**Roger Geffen**, Policy Director, Cycling UK

**Kristiana Wrixon**, Head of Policy, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations

**Stephanie Draper**, Chief Executive, Bond

**Minnie Rahman**, Campaigns and Communications Director, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants

**Ellie Mae O’Hagan**, Director, CLASS

**Frances O’Grady**, General Secretary, Trades Union Congress (TUC)

**Rebecca Baron**, Head of Activism, Ben & Jerry’s Europe

**Siân Summers-Rees**, Chief Officer, City of Sanctuary

**Colin Hines**, Convenor, Green New Deal group

**Leo Murray**, Co-Director, Possible

**Tom Brake**, Director, Unlock Democracy

**Professor Natalie Fenton**, Chair, Media Reform Coalition

**Yvonne MacNamara**, CEO, The Traveller Movement

**Rosie Lewis**, Deputy Director & VAWG Services Manager, The Angelou Centre

**Maari Nastari**, Interim CEO, The Outside Project

**Maurice Mcleod**, Chief Executive, Race on the Agenda

**John Sauven**, Executive Director, Greenpeace UK

**Nick Dearden**, Director, Global Justice Now

**Neal Lawson**, Executive Director, Compass

**Rowan Mataram**, mPOWER Project Manager, Platform

**Silkie Carlio**, Director, Big Brother Watch

**Zita Holbourne**, National Chair, BARAC UK

**Alison Tickell**, Director, Julie’s Bicycle

**Kerry Moscogiuri**, Director of Campaigns and Communications, Amnesty International UK

**Kate Hudson**, General Secretary, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)

**Asad Rehman**, Executive Director, War on Want

**Dr Halima Begum**, Chief Executive, Runnymede Trust

**Brian Gormally**, Director, Committee on the Administration of Justice

**Kate Clow**, Chair of the Board, Culture Routes Society

**Paul Parker**, Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain

**Jess Turtle**, Co-Founder, Museum of Homelessness

**Daniel Hale**, Campaign Director, Purpose Europe

**Siana Bangura**, Founder & Producer, Courageous Films

**Lynn Jamieson**, Chair, Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

**Amanda Sebestyen**, Founder, Asylum Education & Legal Fund

**Neil Thorns**, Director of Advocacy, Cafod

**Aderonke Apata**, Founder and Chairperson, African Rainbow Family

**Suzanne Jeffrey**, Chair, Campaign against Climate Change

**Symon Hill**, Campaigns Manager, Peace Pledge Union

**Guppi Bola & Nonhlanhla Makuyana**, Co-Founders, Decolonising Economics

**Andrew Scattergood & Gaya Sriskanthan**, Co-Chairs, Momentum

**Deniz Uğur**, Deputy Director, End Violence Against Women Coalition

**David Mackenzie**, Nukewatch UK

**Revd Dr Darrell D Hannah**, Chair, Operation Noah

**Frances Howe**, Co-Director, Biofuelwatch

**Leni Morris**, CEO, Galop

**Hannah Martin & Fatima Ibrahim**, Co Directors, Green New Deal UK

**Beccy Speight**, CEO, RSPB

**Vicky Blake**, UK President, University and College Union (UCU)

**Sarah Hirom**, Trustee, One World Week

**Andrew Feinstein**, Executive Director, Shadow World Investigations

**Steve Mason**, Frack Free United

**Maddy Hodgson**, Fuel Poverty Action

**Gina Langton**, CEO, 80,000 Voices

**Jolyon Maugham**, Founder & Director, Good Law Project

**Helen Tandy**, Director, Eco Communities

**Michael Chandler**, CEO, Union Chapel Project

**Tyler Hatwell**, Founder & Director, Traveller Pride

**Craig Dow**, Director, ARC Independent

**Tessa Khan**, Director, Uplift

**Kyne Davis**, CEO, Open Food Network UK

**Liz Fekete**, Director, Institute of Race Relations

**Polly Neate**, CEO, Shelter

**Daniel Tsu**, Director, Lyrix Organix

**Deborah Coles**, Director, INQUEST

**Paula Shaw**, Secretary, WILPF UK

**Mathew Lawrence**, Director, Common Wealth

**Dr Wanda Wyporska**, Executive Director, The Equality Trust

**Janet Fenton**, Organiser, Secure Scotland

**Sabby Dhalu & Weyman Bennett**, Co-Conveners, Stand up to Racism

**Mary Church**, Head of Campaigns, Friends of the Earth Scotland

**Lucie Russell**, CEO, StreetDoctors

**Nick Lowles**, CEO, HOPE not hate

**Dr Mya-Rose Craig**, Founder & President, Black2Nature

**Joe Corre**, Talk Fracking

**Naomi Smith**, CEO, Best for Britain

**Hannah Couchman**, Senior Legal Officer, Rights of Women

**Jacqueline Bourne**, Founder Member, One World Voice

**Jinsella**, Co-Founder, Demilitarise Education

**Jane Tallents**, Core Group member, Trident Ploughshares

**Lynne Segal**, The Care Collective

**Steven McCracken**, Co-Founder, The Free Press?

**Louisa Davison**, Steering Committee, Citizens’ Climate Lobby UK

**Alphonsine Kabagabo**, Director, Women for Refugee Women

**Jyoti Fernandes**, Chair, Landworkers’ Alliance

**Anthony Johnson**, Registered Nurse & Lead Organiser, Nurses United UK

**Erin Aniker & Jess Nash**, Co-Founders, We Are Here UK

**Emma Campbell & Naomi Connor**, Co-Convenors, Alliance for Choice NI

**Frances Fox**, Founder & UK Director, Climate Live

**Chaitra Dinesh**, National Director, Students for Global Health

**Dr Roxana Cavalcanti**, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Brighton

**Penny Wangari-Jones**, Director, Racial Justice Network

**Jen Persson**, Director, defenddigitalme

**David Cutler**, Director, The Baring Foundation

**Isobel Ingham-Barrow**, Head of Policy, MEND

**Barbora Bukovska**, Senior Director for Law and Policy, ARTICLE 19

**Jess McQual**, Director, Just Fair

**Christina McAnea**, General Secretary, UNISON

**Mark Serwotka**, General Secretary, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)

**Julie Harmswoth**, Director, Unlock

**Ben Jamal**, Director, Palestine Solidarity Campaign

**Sarah Robinson**, Director, Hope for the Future

**Niamh Eastwood**, Executive Director, Release

**Bea Millar**, Chair, Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Change

**Eva Watkinson**, Head of Campaigns, Jubilee Debt Campaign

**Robbie Gillett**, Director, Adfree Cities

**Zoe Whyatt**, Interim CEO, 38 Degrees

**Cat Hobbs**, Director, We Own It

**Dr Shanon Shah**, Director, Faith for the Climate

**Matt Hawkins**, Co-Director, Compassion in Politics

**Jackie Murphy**, CEO, TGP Cymru

**Trudy Aspinwall**, Project Manager, Travelling Ahead

**Rocio Cifuentes**, CEO, Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales

**Isaac Blake**, Director, Romani Cultural and Arts Company

**Allison Hulmes**, Director for Wales, British Association of Social Workers

**Louisa Devonish**, Advice & Liaison Manager, Gypsies and Travellers Wales

**Clare Skidmore**, Advice Manager, Race Equality First

**Suzanne Duval BEM**, BME Mental Health Manager, Diverse Cymru

**Allison Hulmes**, Jackie Smith, Doreen Dove, Co-founding members, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Social Work Association (GRTSW Association)

**Paul Cook**, Head of Advocacy, Tearfund

**Sophie Neuburg**, Executive Director, Medact

**Josh Russell & Tom de Grunwald**, Co-Founders, Forward Democracy

**Carina Millstone**, Executive Director, Feedback

**Diarmaid McDonald**, Lead Organiser, Just Treatment

**Kate Paradine**, Chief Executive, Women in Prison

**George Dow**, Co-Chair, Green Christian

**Paul Delaney**, Acting Director, Positive Money

**Sue Tibballs**, Chief Executive, Sheila McKechnie Foundation

**Louise King**, Director, Children’s Rights Alliance for England

**Louisa McGeehan**, CEO, Just for Kids Law

**Alex Jacobs**, Director, Joffe Charitable Trust

**Ben Donaldson**, Head of Campaigns, United Nations Association UK

**Sanchita Hosali**, Director, British Institute of Human Rights

**Crispin Truman**, CEO, CPRE, the countryside charity

**Steve Crawshaw**, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Freedom from Torture

**Chris Jones**, Director, Statewatch

**Hiba Ahmad**, Investigator & Organiser, Foxglove

**Gillian Lobo**, Head of UK Litigation, ClientEarth

**Make Votes Matter**

**Extinction Rebellion (XR) UK**

**Christian Climate Action**

**Campaign Against Arms Trade**

**Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC)**

**Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants (LGSM)**

**Reclaim The Power**

**Feminist Fightback**

**UK Nanas**

**The Rights Collective**

**Another Europe is Possible**

**Psychologists for Social Change Cymru**

**UK Student Climate Network (UKSCN)**

**Choked Up**

**Fridays For Future Europe**

**Rainbow Coalition Against Racism**

**John Morgan, President, Manchester TUC**

**East Lancashire CND**

**Cumbria and Lancashire Area CND**

**Svetlana Kotova**, Director of Campaigns and Justice, Inclusion London

**Rachel Berger**, Chair, Climate Friends Bradford on Avon

**Debby Kennett**, Chief Executive Office, London Gypsies and Travellers

**Ellie Rogers**, CEO, Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange

**Josie O’Driscoll**, CEO, GATE Herts

**Alison Blackwood**, Manager, Southwark Travellers’ Action Group (STAG)

**Anne Miller**, Chair, Carbon Neutral Cambridge

**UKSCN London**

**Dr David Golding CBE**, Development Coordinator, North East Call To Action

**Richard Solly**, Co-ordinator, London Mining Network

**Tony Phillips**, Branch Secretary, UNISON London Fire Brigade

**Bristol Energy Network**

**Amy Smith**, London Renters Union

**Our Future Now**

**Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum**

**Adela Pickles, Frack Free Ryedale**

**Frack Free Sussex**

**Frack Free Dee**

**Elane Heffernan**, Disabled Members Rep, UCU NEC

**Patricia McManus**, Chair, Brighton UCU

**Climate Action Chester & District**

**Climate Action Lewisham**

**Blackwater Valley Friends of the Earth**

**Professor Thomas Acton**, Secretary, Brentwood Gypsy Support Group

**Ben Greig**, Chair, On the Verge Cambridge

**Global Justice Now Cambridge Youth**

**Global Justice Stirling**

**Sisters Uncut Leeds**

**Nicki Myers**, Secretary, Cambridge People’s Assembly Against Austerity

**Deepa Govindarajan Driver**, Chair, Camden Momentum

**Sarah Joss**, Branch Officer, Heriot-Watt Branch UCU

**Northern Police Monitoring Project**

**Caroline Darke, Eliska Bujokova & Carmen Sawers**, Co-Directors, Feminist Exchange Network

**Sheffield DPAC**

**Newcastle DPAC**

**London DPAC**

**North Staffordshire East Cheshire DPAC**

**Suffolk DPAC**

**Cambridgeshire and Essex DPAC**

**Gillian Kelly**, Ambleside Action For Future

**Tony Staunton**, Chair, Plymouth Climate Council

**Jon Woods**, Branch Chair, Portsmouth City UNISON Branch

**Sandy Nicoll**, UNISON Branch Secretary, SOAS University of London

**Eco Action Families**

**Weald Action Group**

**Wanstead Flats Take the Knee**

**Cambridge Keep our NHS Public**

**Sustainable Nantwich**

**Plastic Free Nantwich**

**Gloucestershire Climate Action Network**

**Dr Siobhan Spencer MBE**, Trustee, National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Group & Coordinator, Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group

**Helen Davies & Cherry Sewell**, Co-Chairs, Barnet Stand Up To Racism

**Janette Evans**, Chair, Barnet Unite Community

**Jemima Hartshorn**, Founder, Mums for Lungs

**Piers Edsall**, Environmental Smart

**Tamara Micner**, Trustee, Kehillah North London

**XR Peace**

**XR Youth Cambridge**

**XR Sheffield**

**XR Cambridge**

**XRUK Justice Steering Group**

**XR Dumfries and Galloway**

**XR Cheshire**

**The Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, Lord Bishop of Salisbury**

**Jeffrey Newman**, Emeritus Rabbi, Finchley Reform Synagogue

**Rabbi Danny Newman**, Rabbi & Founder, HaMakom

**Rabbi René Pfertzel**, Kingston Liberal Synagogue

**Rabbi Jackie Tabick**, West Central Liberal Synagogue

**Rabbi Anna Posner**, Rabbi, Beit Klal Yisrael, Norwich Liberal

**Jewish Community and Student Chaplain**, Reform Judaism

**Vaughan Jones**, Minister, Union Chapel Church

**Rabbi Dr Barbara Borts**, Associate Lecturer, Newcastle University

**Mike Barson**, Keyboard Player, Madness

**Dr Roxana Cavalcanti**, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Brighton

**Michelle Brown**, Professor Emerita, University of London

**Professor Peter Newell**, University of Sussex