10 YEARS FOR STATUE ATTACK 5 FOR RAPE
Government accused of putting ‘slave trader memorials’ before women’s safety
A FLAGSHIP Tory crime Bill gets tough on the abuse of statues, while failing even to mention violence against women.
Under the plans the maximum sentence for defacing monuments will increase from three months to 10 years. Rape sentences start at five.
Labour labelled the plans “nonsense”. More arrests were made in London protests last night.
LABOUR has slated the Tories’ 296-page package of crime and justice plans for not including the word “women”.
The Government’s policing bill could mean much longer sentences for attacking statues than for some assaults on women.
It comes amid growing anger about violence against women and outrage at the way police manhandled people who attended a vigil at the weekend after the killing of Sarah Everard.
Condemning the Tories’ flagship Bill, Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told MPs: “It contains the word ‘memorial’ eight times and fails to include the word ‘women’ once.
“The Government’s message is they want to lock up people who damage the statues of slave traders for 10 years when rape sentences start at half that.”
Shadow Domestic Violence minister Jess Phillips called the plan “divisive nonsense”. She added: “Now is a moment to change the criminal justice system so it works for women, not to try and divide the country.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel also sparked fury in some quarters as she told people not to attend vigils or protests for Sarah.
Ms Patel urged people not to participate in “large gatherings”.
She said: “The right to protest is the cornerstone of our democracy, but the Government’s duty remains to prevent more lives being lost during this pandemic.”
The Home Secretary also told MPs: “To say the bill does nothing for women is completely wrong.” She added attackers who are jailed would no longer serve just half the sentence in custody. Jail terms for those convicted of sexual offences such as rape start at just five years.
Hundreds of people attended an event in memory of Sarah outside the Commons as the debate went on inside. Last night police made arrests as protesters marched around Central London.
Officers said people were breaching Covid restrictions and had been warned to go home. Demonstrators blocked Westminster Bridge and sat down in the road outside Scotland Yard’s HQ.
Ministers are also facing a backlash as they push through a crackdown on rights to protest.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would limit the rights to free speech. It contains
Our laws must not shield those in power from public protest
NICK THOMAS-SYMONDS CONDEMNS TORY PLANS
measures to toughen up the police response after Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matters protests were accused of disrupting public life.
But former Greater Manchester police chief constable Sir Peter Fahy warned there is a “real danger” that rushed laws may make the job of officers more difficult.
He said: “If we’ve learned one thing this weekend, it’s the right to protest, the right to gather... is fundamental to our democracy.”
While the Shadow Home Secretary
said: “What our laws on protest do not do, and should never do, is seek to shield those in power from public criticism and public protest.”
The Bill would raise the maximum penalty for criminal damage to a memorial or statue from three months to 10 years.
Critics say the Tories are stirring up a culture war after statues including one of Winston Churchill were attacked or damaged. Separately,
peers last night backed plans for a “stalkers’ register” which would require serial domestic abusers and stalkers to be registered, monitored and supervised.
Misogyny could also be made a hate crime, allowing tougher sentencing in these cases.
Dame Vera Baird, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, said women regard the streets as “lawless” when it comes to male behaviour.
She added: “It is critical the Government takes urgent action to redress the confidence in the police and criminal justice system – and frankly, half the population.”
After a summit at No10, the Criminal Justice Taskforce has agreed to almost double the 2021/22 Safer Streets Fund to £45million. It can be spent on CCTV, lighting and making parks and alleys less dangerous.
Boris Johnson said: “The horrific case of Sarah Everard has unleashed a wave of feeling about women not feeling safe at night. We must... ensure our streets are safe.”