The activist known as “Stop Brexit Man” has received equipment confiscated by police officers trying to shut down his usual protest near parliament, when a new protest law came into force.
Steve Bray, a former coin dealer and failed Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, posted videos on Twitter on Tuesday showing police officers approaching him near Parliament Square. His sound system was confiscated.
The Police, Crime, Conviction and Courts Act, which went into effect on Tuesday, introduced a crime of intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance, in an effort to suppress disruptive guerrilla protests.
This is the kind of tactic protesters have used for climate change that has brought their campaigns to the streets. The Ministry of Justice said the police will be supported with new powers to deal with non-violent protests that have a significant disruptive effect on the public or access to parliament.
Bray posted videos of himself preparing for his protest Tuesday morning, acknowledging that he did so “despite police warnings.” He tweeted, “Police are harassing hell with this protest today.”
He has approached the metropolitan police for comment.
Jun Pang, a Liberty policy and campaign officer, said: “Protest is not a gift from the state, it is a fundamental right. Being able to choose what, how and when to protest is a vital part of a healthy democracy and that it works, and nowhere is this more important than in places of power like parliament, especially at a time when the government is passing laws that make it harder to challenge them.
“The protests are by nature noisy and disturbing. It is very worrying that the police have already begun to enforce the broad powers of the Police Act in such a harsh and punitive manner. As the government tries to push for more attacks on the police protests in the public order bill and the elimination bill, we all have to oppose these measures which will make it much harder for us to defend what we believe in. “
A Met police spokesman said: “A protester in Whitehall has received his amplification equipment from Met police officers around 1pm on Tuesday 28 June.
“The man was using the equipment in an area where the use of amplified equipment is prohibited. Agents have spoken on several occasions regarding specific legislation on the use of amplifying equipment and that it would be confiscated if it persisted.
“The individual continued to use the amplification equipment and was confiscated under section 145 of the police law.”
The Met said Bray was also charged with the crime, meaning he will be prosecuted.