As the House of Lords discussed the controversial legislation, a fracas erupted at Parliament.
The officers were seen pushing protestors away from their lines, in anger scenes. Twitter also posted a video showing protesters surrounding a fallen policewoman.
MailOnline has inquired the Met as to how many arrests have taken place.
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill gives police and the Home Secretary new power to address protests that have caused serious unease, alarm, distress, and even ban protests that may be too noisy.
The maximum sentence for defacing statues will be increased to 10 years. Amendments also allow officers to search any protestor ‘without suspicion.
Any officer that’reasonably believes,’ might ‘lock-on’ to obstruct major transportation works can be stopped by Extinction Rebellion activists.
Campaigners feel such clauses would render the Suffragettes protests illegal, as they frequently mounted disruptive stunts like chaining themselves to railings.
As protestors approached their ranks in anger at the Kill the Bill demonstration last night, officers were seen pushing them back. Twitter also posted a video showing protesters crowding around a fallen policewoman.
A protester was trying to film his badge number outside the House of Commons during the Kill the Bill protest last night.
Signs with slogans such as “Priti irritating yourself really” were carried by demonstrators, which was a reference at Home Secretary Priti Paltel.
New powers will be granted to police and the Home Secretary under The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to address protests that have caused “serious distress, unease, or alarm”. Pic: Last night’s demonstration sign
Yesterday night, protesters held banners that featured slogans like “Priti annoying your self actually” or “It’s becoming a police-state.”
A group of prisoners was seen wearing an orange prison costume with a black over-the-head hood.
Protests chanted ‘who do you protect?’ Protestors chanted “Who do you protect?” and “Who do you serve?” at officers during clashes.
It came as ministers faced down opposition in the Lords to an amendment to the bill which will impose a mandatory life sentence for criminals who kill emergency workers.
Peers supported the amendment, known by Harper’s Law, during the evening session 211 to82. This was a majority of the 129.
The death came after a campaign of two years by Lissie Harper. She was the wife of Andrew Harper who was responding to late-night burglary calls.
Mrs Harper (30) was ‘outraged” at the sentence handed to three teenage boys responsible for her husband’s death.
“Harper’s Law” is the name of the proposal for a harsher punishment. It was proposed by ministers to amend the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which has been at the report stage in the upper house.
The Lords were critical of the decision and the House tried unsuccessfully to adjourn to permit behind-the scenes discussions.
The Justice minister, Lord Wolfson from Tredegar, told the chamber that no peer had contacted him about the amendment before the debate.
There are several clauses within the bill that, including the ability to ban demonstrations because they’re ‘too loud’, have been criticized as violating civil liberties.
Yesterday night, one group posed outside Parliament wearing orange prison clothes with a black over-the-head hood
Protestors playing music in the “Kill the Bill”, protest which took place at the same moment as the Lords were discussing the legislation
He proposed the law change and said that a court could impose an alternative sentence to life under ‘exceptional circumstances.
He explained that while emergency workers don’t often die on duty, it is not uncommon for them to be seriously injured. However, workers must take extra precautions when protecting the public and carrying out their duties.
Viscount Hailsham is a Tory ex minister who was previously represented by Douglas Hogg in the Commons.
He stated that he had the deepest sympathy for PC Harper and his wife, but we need to be cautious when legislating in response to a particular case or a series of distressing cases.
After pointing out the wide variety of culpability involved in manslaughter and cautioning against the limitation of the discretion of the judge at trial, he said: “I’m deeply uncomfortable with this clause. I hope it won’t pass.”
Peers supported the government-backed amend, known as Harper’s Law (pictured), 211-82 and a majority 129.
After gathering at about 5pm, hundreds of protestors assembled outside Parliament. Similar protests were held in several other British cities.
Baroness Butler Sloss, a former judge at the High Court, shared these’serious concern’ and said to the Government that she thought they had gone too far by imposing on the judiciary things which are not required.
An ex-MEP from the Brexit Party and peer non-affiliated Baroness Fox said that it felt like law made through press releases and law made via virtue signal.
Lord Pannick is a prominent lawyer who was also an independent crossbencher. He stated that “To demand a life sentence would be pure deception since we all know life sentences do not count as life sentences.”
Liberal Democrat QC Lord Marks Of Henley-on-Thames stated that he was unhappy about the suggestion of making such a sentence mandatory unless a judge finds exceptional circumstances.
This sentence is for life. It can also be used to send a person back to prison in the event they are convicted of another offense after being released from custody.
London protestor holds sign saying “Keep Your Priti Hands Off My Rights” at yesterday’s Parliamentary Protest
Last night, people who were opposed to the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill staged a vigil at Bristol’s College Green