Scarborough and Whitby's MP backs new policing bill
Robert Goodwill's been speaking to us about the newly proposed law
The Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby tell us he's in favour of a new proposed law which's designed to bolster police powers.
It includes plans to give police more authority in tackling non-violent protests, which shuts access to Parliament, or causes significant disruption to the public.
Robert Goodwill thinks it's a step in the right direction:
"The current legislation which's often used is over a century old, and it relates to moving demonstrations.
"What we saw during the summer with extinction rebellion were static demonstrations.
"People were setting up camps in the middle of street, blocking public services and stopping people from getting to work.
"Those affected in these instances were just trying to get about their day-to-day life, so it is important that we do have powers to prevent that from happening.
"We're a democratic country and we have a right to demonstrate and make our views clear, but we cannot allow this to have an impact on people who're just trying to get to work.
"We saw scenes like this in the summer of 2020, which were not only breaking the Covid regulations, but they were also making life very difficult for people."
However, nearly 250 groups have signed a letter raising concerns about the new legislation.
It's after violent clashes between the Police and women who attended the Sarah Everard vigil in South London on Saturday night.