Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones backs the government’s Public Order Bill which will give police officers more powers to deal with protesters.
She wants police to have increased stop and search powers and use banning orders to stop crimes from being committed and mass public disruption across the UK.
The comments come after the Bill was debated in the House of Lords earlier this week.
Donna Jones said:
“The public has had enough. The mass distribution of law-abiding citizens going about their business has to stop. That’s why this new legislation is vital to give the police the legal flexibility they need to ensure public disruptions don’t continue.
“Whilst I back the Bill, I also want to make clear I strongly support problems right to protest, in freedom of speech, when lawful.
“Freedom of speech is an absolute requirement of all civilised societies. But it must be done in a lawful, civilised way.”
err excuse me donna…freedom of speech is just that – you cannot have freedom of speech if the boundaries are set by the police and government.
majority rules in society – if the majority say it is ok to do or say something- then it is. This ensures that tin pot little dictators that elevate theirselves and start telling others what they can or cannot say and can or cannot do, are promptly kicked out.
Truth …Spot On .. this PCC has delivered very little, and adds no real value ….so like pop up MP Seely say anything to muster re-election .. the “ I want “ spin stories ouse out !!
You are commentating from a warped perpective, its only the unwashed minority that turn out day in and day for demos and totally controlled by the sociallist workers party and other malign influences who believe demorcracy is outmoded. undoubtedly 99 per cent of the population have never been on a demo but they are the ones who pay the bills. so lets ask them as opposed to a rowdy minority.
wrong barnie – i think you are commenting from a warped perspective of your own.
think poll tax demonstrations – were they just the ones you refer to as unwashed.
Ironic isn’t it that you malign the very thing which allows you the right to vent your moronic and parochial views in public.
It makes no difference who turns out to demonstrate. In a democracy we all have that right. Take it away and we’re left with fascism.
Rubbish……
What about all the lesbians at Greenham Common ?
Freedom of speech is so important, but you can’t have rules on it, otherwise it isn’t freedom.
Bullying individuals can still be addressed but having opinions which, not so long back were held by the majority, but now quashed by makings such speech illegal is disgustingly wrong.
For it stops nothing, causes more resentment and only adds fuel to the fire.
Words IF true shouldn’t be an issue, and IF they are not true, then they should still not be an issue as we will never rid the planet of liars.
So say what you will and learn to accept others opinions.
Who does she think “the public” is? Are the protesters not also the public, and are we not all would-be protesters if only we could be bothered?
And whatever happened to tolerance?
It’s not protesters we need off the streets it’s the low life smack head feral brats damaging our property night after night. Why must plod always get it the easy way round. if they want more precinct get more done that WE need sorting.
The priority is the police need to get more power to get the low life off the the streets to protect the public by imposing curfews and tagging, not stopping people trying to protect themselves by trying to put across what they disagree with. Never the proper way round is it if it is easier
Isn’t her job to impose the laws as they stand,and not to give her own opinions on the laws she would like to see.
Another person taking public office to promote her own future political ambitions.
This all started in the 80’s with thatcher using the police like her personal strike busting gang. The police should be fighting crime not fighting rights.
Donna imo ought to stick to less serious Police matters, like choosing the new curtains or cushions for the waiting rooms and ensuring the Police dogs have comfortable bedding for the night.
Leave serious issues to those who don’t need a P.C (no pun intended) ‘tick sheet’ to gain a high position but who can see, and feel and understand what is really going on ‘out there’ instead of being indoctrinated by College P.C learning and dictate.
Mix with the scum and see what WE have to put up with.
The best gamekeeper is an ex-poacher.
Funny lot on Isle of Wight,all happy to be vegan etc. If you had been stuck in you’re car on M25 for hours, loosing money, kid’s not picked up from school and hundreds of ton’s of food spoiled and thrown away. Right to protest and freedom of speech ,- but other 99% of population also have rights. Protests never win and just waste their time and that of others there are many ways to challenge and protest nowadays.
I don’t agree with Donna Jones either ,,sheer bullying her proposal seems to be
What happens when things are not done in a civilised way by then it’s to late
Protest is a fundamental human right and needs to be protected.
Suffrage and democracy, Poverty, Labour disputes, Civil Rights, Race and immigration, Taxation, Environment, Animal rights, Nuclear disarmament.. Without protest, kids would still be in factories and up chimneys. Shame on anyone who is ignorant enough to think otherwise.
Now we see her true colours. She wants to stop peaceful protest and dissenting voices and she wants to use the government’s private army to do it. Who ever thought we had freedom of speech in this country?
Hey chunky wanna bun
She like the Cons want a police state we only get one vote every four years to have our say outside of by-elections freedoms are being eroded ok if you are one of the elite though where the laws do not apply.
Donna is just worried that the Isle of Wight council tax payers are going to protest about another hike in the police costs on the island with very little show for it. Man the barricades. Come on Donna, protests that get out of hand are already dealt with by law, we have seen the pictures. Lawful protest is a civilised way of getting heard. And yes i can screw up peoples days.