On 7th February 2023, the House of Lords debated amendments to the Public Order Bill (2022) in the second day of the report stage. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:
Division 1:
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, and the Bishop of St Albans took part in a vote on an amendment tabled by Lord Coaker, which would remove Clause 11 of the Bill: Powers to stop and search without suspicion.
The amendment was agreed. Content: 285 / Not Content 208.
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, and the Bishop of St Albans voted Content.
Division 2:
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, and the Bishop of St Albans took part in a vote on government amendment 48, tabled by Lord Sharpe of Epsom:
Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con): In summary, government Amendments 48 and 49 alter the definition of serious disruption in Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986. They do this by, first, carrying over the definition of “serious disruption” suggested by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hope. Secondly, they define the meaning of “community”. Thirdly, they will enable the police to consider the absolute impact of the disruption caused to the public.
Fourthly, they allow the police to consider the cumulative disruption caused by protests. Fifthly and finally, they allow the officer responsible for managing the protest to place conditions on more than one connected procession or assembly.
The amendment was disagreed. Content: 240 / Not Content: 254
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, and the Bishop of St Albans voted Not Content.
Division 3:
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, and the Bishop of St Albans took part in a vote on government amendment 50, tabled by Lord Sharpe of Epsom:
Lord Sharpe of Epsom: This new Clause amends section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 (penalty for wilful obstruction of the highway) to provide that where a person wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway and that obstruction causes or is capable of causing serious disruption, the fact that they did so as part of or in furtherance of a protest on an issue of current debate does not constitute a lawful excuse.
The amendment was disagreed. Content: 239 / Not Content: 248.
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, and the Bishop of St Albans voted Not Content.
Division 4:
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Bishop of St Albans, and the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich took part in a vote on an amendment tabled by Baroness Chakrabarti:
Baroness Chakrabarti (Lab) moved amendment 54, after clause 18, to insert the new clause Protection for journalists and others monitoring protests.
“Protection for journalists and others monitoring protests – A constable may not exercise any police power for the principal purpose of preventing a person from observing or otherwise reporting on a protest or the exercise of police powers in relation to—(a) a protest-related offence,(b) a protest-related breach of an injunction, or(c) activities related to a protest.”
This new Clause would protect journalists, legal observers, academics, and bystanders who observe or report on protests or the police’s use of powers related to protests.
The amendment was agreed. Content: 283 / Not Content: 192
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Bishop of St Albans, and the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich voted Content.
Division 5:
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Bishop of St Albans, and the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich took part in a vote on an amendment tabled by Lord Anderson of Ipswich (CB), which would limit the trigger events for a Serious Disruption Prevention Order (SDPO) to the commission of a protest-related offence and the breach of a protest-related injunction.
The amendment was agreed. Content: 259 / Not Content: 200
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Bishop of St Albans, and the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich voted Content.
Division 6:
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Bishop of St Albans, and the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich took part in a vote on an amendment tabled by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Lab), to leave out Clause 20 of the bill. Clause 20 would allow for the issuing of SDPOs to people who have not been convicted of a criminal offence.
The amendment was agreed. Content: 247 / Not Content: 248.
The Bishop of Leeds, the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Bishop of St Albans, and the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich voted Content.
The Church of England in Parliament 
You must be logged in to post a comment.