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Protests BANNED:
Gatherings of more than six
people now ILLEGAL -
London must act
A NEW law has been introduced banning mass gatherings in London as the country continues to battle against COVID-19.
16 June, 2020
After the capital saw outbreaks of riots over the weekend, MPs have unanimously approved the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 2020. This new law bans mass gatherings in London in a fight to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
The new law has been created "in response to the serious and imminent threat to public health which is posed by the incidence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus", according to the government's website.
It added: "During the emergency period ... no person may participate in a gathering which takes place in a public or private place—
(a)outdoors, and consists of more than six persons, or
(b)indoors, and consists of two or more persons."
The move will put pressure on London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Metropolitan Police to enforce the law after a series of protests hit the capital.
It comes after the Government announced it was considering "all options", including new laws to stop "thugs" who attack war memorials and to protect the police, the Home Secretary said.
Priti Patel told the Commons she was "saddened and sickened" by the "far-right thugs" who went to London at the weekend on a "so-called mission" to protect statues.
Far from protecting the country's heritage, Ms Patel said counter-demonstrators in Westminster on Saturday were "patently racist" and "thugs" and did "all that they could to destroy and undermine those values.
"There is no place for their sickening conduct and hate in our society."
She said the hooliganism seen was "utterly indefensible", adding: "I refuse to allow our outstanding officers to become society's punchbag and I refuse to allow monuments to heroes who served their country to be vandalised and desecrated.
"So this Government is considering all options to stop those who seek to attack these emblems of our national sacrifice and pride, including the proposed Desecration of War Memorials Bill."
MPs were told more than 210,000 people have attended demonstrations across the country following the death in the US of George Floyd, and at least 160 protests took place last weekend, with the vast majority passing peacefully.
But 2,000 people attended counter-protests in Westminster, sparking "ugly scenes" and "eruptions of violence" throughout the day.
Overall at least 100 officers have now been injured, as well as three horses and a police dog, while 280 arrests have been made, she said.
Ms Patel added: "My message today is a simple one - actions have consequences.
"I want to see these vicious individuals held to account for the violence and the criminality that they perpetrate and I want to see them arrested and brought to justice."
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said Labour would scrutinise Government proposals
He added: "There should be no attempt to draw comparisons between those intent on violence this weekend and the legitimate cause of the Black Lives Matter campaigners, who have brought attention to the impact that racism and inequality continues to have both here in the UK and across the world.
"Now is the time for action."
He said Boris Johnson's announcement of another review falls "woefully short" of what is required, adding action could be taken to implement recommendations from the Lammy Review into the treatment of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) individuals in the criminal justice system, and the Windrush lessons-learned review.
Ms Patel said the aim of the newly announced commission would "effectively champion the voice of BAME groups in particular" and would "build on" recommendations already made to the Government.
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