The Criminalisation of Protest
Beware the Crime & Policing Bill
Hi friends,
This is part of a bigger essay on how “outside isn’t free” that I've been writing in my head and brain dumping into notes for several months now - but because there's a gigantic bill being debated this week in parliament, I'm posting the most pertinent part to ask that you at least add your signature to a letter asking for some changes. Link below.
Beware the Crime & Policing Bill
Beware ANYTHING that gives more power to the police. This will undoubtedly be at the expense of our rights. This Cycling Industry News article seems to tout that the bill would reduce bike theft, by allowing police to basically break & enter without needing a search warrant. They say it will help them find stolen goods, like bikes - but think about it for a second. This is absolutely something that would get abused, give them legal opportunities to break into, say, a reporter's house, and face zero consequences.
The question we should be asking is does giving the police these types of powers actually REDUCE crime???
The answer is no - these powers allow them to enter property, but there's no direct correlation with this power equalling the reduction of crime. What reduces crime is always social support, investment in schools, and increasing opportunities for work AND play. But for some goddamn reason, our politicians seem to think they couldn’t possibly spend more money on public services. But there’s always money for policing and the military for some reason…
Also - yes, as a victim of bike theft on a number of occasions I know how much it sucks, but do I want to give up my security and my rights just to get a bike back? Is my bike worth the price of reducing rights for everyone?
The Cycling Industry News article also mentions "spiralling retail crime" with statements given by the British Retail Consortium. This sounds awfully like the moral panic that happened last year in The States about "organised retail crime", which has been debunked.
I recommend listening to the If Books Could Kill podcast debunking about this - part of it is behind a paywall, but they give a generous 30 min teaser.
There is a new book out by civil rights lawyer
called “Copaganda” that is now on my want to read list (why do books have to come out in hardcover first???) I am fascinated by the psychology and manipulation behind messaging and propaganda, but it is also terrifying to see the consequences. I believe that one of the ways to fight against propaganda is to be able to identify it in the first place. He has published a chapter in Teen Vogue (!) and you can read it here.“I watched as the police and the news media distorted how we think about our collective safety. Copaganda makes us afraid of the most powerless people, helps us ignore far greater harms committed by people with money and power, and always pushes on us the idea that our fears can be solved by more money for police, prosecution, and prisons. Based on the evidence, this idea of more investment in the punishment bureaucracy making us safer is like climate science denial.”
Protect OUR Right to Protest
Snuck into this massive bill is a provision to keep protests away from religious establishments. This is 100% put in there to curtail the ongoing Pro-Palestine marches.
If you read this email before Tue 17/Wed 18 June, please take a moment to sign this letter to your MP, recommending that they:
Support Amendment 161 to delete Clause 114
Support Amendment NC50 and other amendments that protect the right to protest
Unfortunately the government have bamboozled us with a great number of clauses in this bill, another tactic to overwhelm opposition. But oppose where you understand and where you can. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has made it easy for us in this instance.
The next posts I’m working on are still about tubeless tyres, but I wanted to get this in there before the vote.
I leave you with an eye opening analysis on how video games are not only used to recruit for the military, but also how they are used to shape public opinion in the government/military's favour.
Ride on,
Jenni x