Escalating Free Speech Constraints in the UK: The Onset of an Even More Restrictive Crime and Policing Bill
The UK's Crime and Policing Bill, currently at the committee stage in the House of Commons, is stirring concern over its potential impact on free speech. Andrew Tettenborn, a professor of commercial law, warns that the bill could be exploited to silence critics, repress dissent, and restrict free speech.
The bill grants courts the power to issue "respect orders," which can prohibit or require individuals to do "anything" described in the order, if they are perceived as potentially causing harassment, alarm, or distress. This draconian measure allows police, local authorities, and other bodies to request these orders, with an interim order capable of being issued without notice. Breaching the order may result in an unlimited fine or imprisonment for up to two years.
The bill's scope has raised alarm, as it could be applied to online speech, leaving individuals vulnerable to legal consequences for expressing opinions that authorities deem distressing or alarming to others. This threatens to create a climate of fear, leading people to self-censor to avoid potential legal trouble.
Critics fear that the bill could disproportionately impact marginalized groups, with broad definitions of "harm" or "hate" potentially being used against minority voices. The expanded powers given to law enforcement agencies may also risk criminalizing legitimate dissent and discussion by casting a wide net for those labeled as spreading misinformation, conspiracy theories, or engaging in certain online subcultures.
Concerns regarding the bill fit into a broader pattern of growing censorship and surveillance, as other legislation and government initiatives expand police powers and target a wide spectrum of behaviors. The preservation of free speech and the fostering of open debate may be jeopardized if the bill is enacted, as objective standards may be replaced with subjective interpretations of harm or offense.
Sources:[1] "The UK's Free Speech Crisis Is About to Get So Much Worse," Andrew Tettenborn, Spiked-online.com, 2025-04-13[2] "The UK Crime and Policing Bill: What you need to know," The Exposed, 2025-04-16[3] "The Dangerous Connection Between Freedom of Speech and the State," Opinion, The Independent, 2025-04-14[4] "The Death of Open Debate," Commentary, The Atlantic, 2025-04-15[5] "The UK's New Crackdown on 'Extremist Ideologies,'" The Guardian, 2025-04-12[2] "General Comment No. 34 on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression," United Nations Human Rights Committee, 2011[3] "Freedom of Expression and Information," Equality and Human Rights Commission Guidelines, 2024
- The controversy surrounding the UK's Crime and Policing Bill, currently at the committee stage, extends beyond its intention to combat crime, as critics argue that it could infringe upon the right to free speech and truth, potentially suppressing dissent and silencing minority voices in the realms of general news, politics, and crime-and-justice.
- The bill's proposed "respect orders," which allow authorities to prohibit or require certain actions deemed potentially harassing, alarming, or distressing, pose a threat to free speech, as they may be used in a subjective manner to criminalize legitimate dissent or perceived misinformation in online speech.
- As the bill's passage through policy-and-legislation continues, there are concerns that its implementation could contribute to a broader trend of encroaching upon freedom of speech, fostering censorship and surveillance, and replacing objective standards with subjective interpretations, undermining the cornerstone of open debate and the pursuit of truth in a democratic society.
