Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about recent protests.
In this country we have a long-standing tradition that people can gather together and demonstrate, and the right to protest peacefully is a fundamental part of our democracy.
I appreciate why people are choosing to protest at this time with the anger and feelings of injustice that have been awakened following the death of George Floyd in the US. Here in the UK, we have made great strides, but, as the Prime Minister has acknowledged, there is much more to do in eradicating prejudice and creating opportunity. I know that the Government is committed to that effort.
The fact that we are in the midst of a Coronavirus pandemic means that it is, at the moment, illegal to gather in large groups because of the public health risk. If people are gathering, I cannot emphasise enough how important it is for them to observe the rules on social distancing. At the current time because of the threat we face from Coronavirus and the difficulty of social distancing in crowds, I would advise people against attending protests.
I would like to make clear that under no circumstances do I believe that protests should become violent. The rights to a peaceful protest do not extend to harassment, intimidating behaviour or serious disruption to public order. We have all seen scenes of thuggery and violence by a minority in the crowds. Let me be clear, those responsible must be held to account in the courts.
Of course, the responsibility for the maintenance of public order lies with the police, who have a range of powers to manage protests. How they deploy their powers and the tactics they use are rightly an operational matter for the police, but I am pleased that we live in a country where policing is by consent. Our world-class police officers continue to put their own lives on the line to protect the public during the protests, despite sometimes coming under attack. As a country, we ask our police officers to do the most difficult of jobs, and they are respected around the world for the excellent work they do.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Yours sincerely, Alister