New laws proposed to tackle protest violence

The Government is considering a crackdown on hooligans who cause trouble at public protests following trouble at the weekend’s anti-cuts demonstration and as two Yorkshire MPs face questions over their backing for a group at the centre of the controversy.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Mar 2011, 07:00 BST

Home Secretary Theresa May raised the prospect of new powers to ban known trouble-makers from attending rallies and marches and forcing people to remove face-scarves and balaclavas.

The move came as controversy continued to rage over events in central London on Saturday, when up to 500,000 people staged a peaceful protest against Government spending cuts, which was hijacked by gangs of violent youths.

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Ms May praised police, who came under attack during hours of violence in the West End, telling MPs: “I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms the mindless behaviour of the thugs responsible for the violence.”

The minister said 149 out of 200 arrested had been charged and warned that the number will increase as officers study video evidence, as they did after last year’s student protests.

But a string of Labour MPs faced questions after it emerged they had signed a Commons motion last year backing UK Uncut, the organisation which arranged the occupation of Fortnum and Mason in London on Saturday, leading to many supporters being arrested.

Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris called on MPs – including Halifax’s Linda Riordan and Bradford West’s Marsha Singh – to remove their names from the motion, which “congratulates” UK Uncut for its role in raising the issue of tax evasion and avoidance.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Labour condemned the “few hundred mindless idiots” responsible for violence.

Related topics:MPsGovernmentTheresa MayYorkshireChris Heaton-HarrisYvette CooperLabourLondon