A former police chief has warned that new protest laws move Britain dangerously in the direction of “paramilitary policing” and that UK ministers are “flexing their muscles via their police forces” like repressive regimes around the world. Police chiefs will be seen as the arbiters of what is and is not allowed when it comes to protest. Fahy, the former chief constable of Greater Manchester police and former vice-chair of the police chiefs’ body, said the proposed protest laws were a mistake and posed a danger for policing. The policing of protest can cause long-term damage.”Fahy added: “Policing is not always about the majority, sometimes it is about protecting rights of the minority. “It is wrong to claim these measures will stop people from carrying out their civic right to protest.

Source: The Guardian March 28, 2021 09:00 UTC