Southampton group protest over Policing Bill at Royston Smith offices

The group lobbied at Bitterne Conservative Club, where city MP Royston Smith has his offices.

They were calling for him to put a stop to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

The protests at Bitterne Conservative Club

This legislation looks to make it lawful for police to put controls on demonstrations that are noisy enough to cause "intimidation or harassment" or "serious unease, alarm or distress".

Protestors could also be sent to prison if they are seen as a repeat offender.

Mr Smith was not present at the time of the protest, which was organised by John Spottiswoode, coordinator of Southampton and District Green Party.

He said: "It is a very dangerous Bill, because it is effectively going the wrong way towards Russia, where they ban marches, they can ban demonstrations, just because they don't like them.

"These are basic democratic rights, and they're threatening to break that and to make it so difficult to protest that only the people they approve of would protest, in a way that they approve of.

"Also, if you were found guilty of going to a banned protests or march, and then you did it again, it would be a criminal offence and you could be put in prison.

"There already are laws for people blocking motorways and other dangerous things of that vein, and people are already in prison for doing that, so we have perfectly well covered laws for this.

"This is about the right to say things peacefully and make your point known peacefully."

One of the signs held by the group said "this sign could get me sent to prison".

John Gorham who lives in the Southampton Itchen constituency, told the Echo said: ""I'm here because I believe protest is a human right. The Tories may have a vast majority in Parliament, but that doesn't mean they represent what the vast majority of people are thinking.

"If they think they can just force these bills through without any kind of backlash, they are wrong."

The Bill also looks to change laws regarding sexual violence; pet theft; attacks on shop workers; failure to stop at accidents; and abortion reforms.

Royston Smith, MP for Southampton Itchen, said; "The Bill will allow judges to hand out tougher sentences to child killers, dangerous drivers and vandals.

"The controversy is the additional powers police will have over protestors. Some are suggesting protests will be banned, this is not true.

"Protests such as Extinction Rebellion, who put other people’s lives in danger and prevented ambulances from reaching hospitals could be criminalised and I think most people would think that was sensible. Peaceful protests will not be affected."