On Sunday 18th of April, a protest was held in tooting to demonstrate opposition to the Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. 

The protest was organised by Wandsworth Extinction Rebellion, Wandsworth Stand Up To Racism, and Momentum. It involved a march up Tooting High Road to Tooting Common, where speeches were made. 

The groups gathered oppose the bill, which had its second reading on the 16th of April, for a variety of reasons - because it increases police powers, because it curtails the right to protest, because it targets the Gypsy/Roma/Traveller community, and many beyond. 

Amongst the speakers were Hannah Stanislaus, Maurice Mcleod, Elizabeth Adofo, Katrina Ffrench, and Leonie Cooper - all of whom spoke passionately and knowledgeably. The were joined by over 50 people on the march, which was risk-assessed and Covid compliant. 

One of the points raised was that increased policing does nothing to tackle the root social issues that produce a need for policing, while another was that the government has legislated more quickly and efficiently to ‘protect’ its citizens from ‘disruptive protests’ than from the climate emergency. 

The rejection of this bill was tangible in the air of the protest - between now and its next reading in June or July we can expect to see a continuation of such expressions of discontent.