London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Mar 29, 2026

PM defends policing bill amid criticism it fails to protect women

PM defends policing bill amid criticism it fails to protect women

The prime minister has defended a new policing bill after accusations it does not go far enough to address violence against women.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will be debated by MPs later amid controversy about the policing of the Sarah Everard vigil in London.

Mr Johnson said the legislation was a "very sensible package of measures" .

Labour says it "does nothing to help women feel safer on the streets".

Speaking on a visit to Coventry, Boris Johnson said the bill "goes much further" in toughening sentences for rapists and would stop the early release of sexual and violent offenders.

"It takes new tough action against domestic violence and I hope very much everybody in the House of Commons votes for the bill tomorrow", he said.

It comes amid concerns over the policing of a vigil to remember Ms Everard at Clapham Common on Saturday ended with women being handcuffed on the floor and removed from the gathering.

A government spokesman said "Peaceful protest is fundamental to our society," adding that parts of the bill were in response to "increasingly disruptive tactics" seen in recent years.

The government said the legislation would allow police to "impose conditions such as start and finish times and maximum noise levels on static protests" of whatever size.

Policing minister, Kit Malthouse described the changes as "mild streamlining" of the law introduced in 1986.

But critics say the bill does not go far enough and would curb the right to peaceful protest.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said there was nothing "meaningful" in the bill to protect women and he called for a "pause" so parties across the House could work together to improve it.

He said Ms Everard's death "has to be a turning point", adding "we can't keep talking about it. We have to address it".

Sir Keir called for improvements in the justice system which supported women better if they reported issues in confidence.

The Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the bill was "shocking" and "offensive anti-democratic proposals".

Mr Malthouse told BBC Breakfast the new bill would introduce a "serious violence duty" on local authorities, so they could work with police to "diagnose the causes of violence in the area and then produce a strategy to deal with it".

He added: "That will confront violence that affects everybody, including women and girls."


Even before the killing of Sarah Everard, the government's planned changes to policing and the criminal justice system had proved controversial.

But the events of this weekend have heightened the debate about the policing of public gatherings and whether the criminal justice system does enough to protect women and punish men for violent crimes.

It's a coincidence that the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is being introduced this week but there's no doubt its passage through parliament will be influenced by recent events.

Labour is attempting to seize on the issue, opposing the bill having previously planned to abstain.

But so far there is no indication the government is ready to allow changes to, for example, make misogyny a hate crime or include measures to tackle street harassment, focussing instead on a strategy due to be published later this year.

A confluence of events has put the subjects of male violence, women's safety and police conduct at the forefront of public debate and there's no doubt government will be judged on its response.

The minister hit back at accusations from Labour that the bill did more to protect statues than women, saying the new measure to increase the maximum jail sentence for damaging memorials to 10 years brought the punishment inline with existing criminal damage sentences.

"The sentences for things like rape and sexual assault are significantly above that, so I think you are just getting a partial picture and I am very sorry that the Labour Party have got, perhaps charitably shall we say, confused about this bill."

Downing Street added the government is conducting an "end to end review" of the prosecution of rape cases to "ensure every part of the criminal justice system is set up to bring perpetrators to justice and protect victims".

Its says ministers are developing a violence against women and girls strategy which will be published later this year.

Labour said it had put forward proposals to include measures around tackling street harassment and making misogyny a hate crime, and would be continuing discussions with members across the House.


The home secretary says Labour will be voting against “crucial measures” to support victims of violent crime.


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Starmer Signals UK Crackdown on Addictive Social Media Features
Rising Costs Push One in Five UK Hospitality Businesses to the Brink of Closure
Man Arrested on Suspicion of Attempted Murder After Car Strikes Pedestrians in UK, Injuring Seven
Escalating Conflict Involving Iran Tightens Fiscal Pressures and Highlights UK Economic Vulnerabilities
UK Moves to Confront Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Operating in Its Waters
UK Housing Divide Deepens as Older Owners Hold Wealth While Under-30s Face Mounting Barriers
London Demonstration Calls on UK to Recognize Iranian Opposition’s Provisional Government
UK Green Party Vote on ‘Zionism is Racism’ Motion Collapses Amid Internal Disputes and Technical Failures
SNL UK Ignites Debate with Sharp Royal Satire Targeting Prince Andrew and Prince William
EU Proposes ‘Emergency Brake’ to Resolve Deadlock in UK Youth Mobility Talks
Thousands Rally in London to Oppose Rise of Far-Right Movements
Hong Kong Official Rejects Allegations of Surveillance Orders Targeting UK-Based Dissidents
PayPal Expands Cryptocurrency Services to Allow UK Users to Buy and Sell Bitcoin
UK Minister Challenges Reform Party’s ‘Pro-Family’ Agenda as Debate Intensifies
Concerns Grow Over Meningitis Risk Among UK Students Amid Warning Signs of New Outbreaks
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Schedule, UK Start Times and Full Broadcast Details
Electric Vehicles Seen as Strategic Solution to UK Fuel Reserve Concerns
Rise of Lone-Actor Threats and Online Radicalisation Drives New Wave of Antisemitic Attacks in the UK
Canada Advances Plan to Ban Cryptocurrency Donations in Election Campaigns
UK Faces Looming Medicine Shortages as Iran Conflict Threatens Supply Chains
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak in the U.K. Highlights Urgent Need for Vaccination
Fresh Claims Emerge Over Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit as Insider Speaks Out
NATO Assessment Indicates UK Defence Spending Has Fallen Below Alliance Average
FTSE 100 Slips as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Investor Sentiment
UK Economy Begins to Feel Early Impact of Iran Conflict as Policy Challenges Intensify
Russian National Jailed in UK After Assault Case Linked to Barron Trump’s Alert
Energy Price Surge Accelerates Shift Away from Fossil Fuels in UK Homes
UK Museums House More Than 260,000 Human Remains, New Report Reveals
Surging UK Gilt Yields Reflect Inflation Pressures and Fiscal Uncertainty
UK Issues Updated Guidance on Children’s Screen Time with Focus on Balance and Wellbeing
UK Migration Figures Show Shifting Trends Across Asylum, Visas and Channel Crossings
UK Watchdog Launches Probe into Five Firms Over Alleged Fake Reviews and Ratings
Jaguar Land Rover Halts Production at UK Plant Amid Supplier Disruption
UK Police Reverse Position, Confirm Arrests Will Resume for Palestine Action Protests
UK Small Businesses Face Europe’s Steepest Cost Pressures, New Survey Reveals
US Envoy Urges UK to Proceed with King’s Visit Amid Diplomatic Sensitivities
FTSE 100 Drops Over One Percent as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Markets
UK CO2 Plant Set to Reopen as Authorities Move to Safeguard Supplies Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Urges Stronger Defence Investment as He Questions Allied Naval Capabilities
New COVID Variant Detected in UK Raises Concerns Over Vaccine Effectiveness
FTSE Russell Moves to Standardise Free-Float Rules for UK and International Listings
HBO Max Launches in UK and Ireland, Marking Major Step in Global Streaming Expansion
UK Signals Readiness to Seize Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels in Escalation of Sanctions Enforcement
Escalating Middle East Conflict Seen as Major Threat to UK Economic Stability
Early Challenges Mark Prince Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit
UK Government Rejects Cover-Up Claims After Theft of Former PM Aide’s Phone
Cyprus Opens Strategic Talks with UK Over Sovereign Base Areas
UK Faces Risk of Sharp Inflation Surge Despite Stable Pre-Crisis Figures
UK Police Arrest Two Over Suspected Antisemitic Arson as Iran Link Investigated
UK Inflation Holds at Three Percent Ahead of Oil Price Shock from Iran Conflict
×