In pictures: Newcastle’s second ‘Kill the Bill’ protest

Newcastle students took part in the demonstration against controversial new legislation


On Saturday, Newcastle joined dozens of other cities throughout the UK in hosting peaceful demonstrations against the Government’s new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Students joined activists and organisers to demonstrate at Monument & Newcastle Civic Centre throughout the afternoon, which was closely watched and recorded by Northumbria Police.

An open platform for demonstrators to speak was provided outside the Civic Centre, where protestors shared their personal experiences with the police and challenged what they believe to be injustices within the police system.

Demonstrators also voiced condemnation of the Metropolitan Police following the arrests and dispersal of the Sarah Everard vigil at Clapham Common on the 13th March. Protestors also discussed what they view as the police’s inability to create a safe space for women and the government’s alleged refusal to recognise institutional racism.

The proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has been described as “authoritarian” by critics as it introduces new rules to limit peaceful protest.

The new rules have been criticised as they introduce prison sentences of up to ten years for vague offences such as “being too loud” and causing “serious annoyance” or “unpleasant smells”.

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