A protester has this afternoon (27/03) climbed atop Parkside police station as part of a ‘Kill the Bill’ protest in Cambridge, with further protesters seen climbing above the police station entrance with banners and signs, CambridgeshireLive has reported.

It is estimated that around 80-100 people have been protesting against the Police and Crime Bill in Cambridge this afternoon (27/03).

A member of the public told Cambridgeshire Live that, upon arriving at the police station, “a person was giving a speech saying that once the right to protest is removed, it’s gone forever since you can’t protest to get it back.”

Another protester, Joey Hill, commenting on the significance of the nationwide protests, said: “We are protesting the fact they are trying to take away our right to protest. It’s basically saying we are not allowed to have our civil liberties of freedom of speech. One of the key things to remember is things like gay rights, the suffragettes have all come about from protesting. That’s how we create change.

The bill was MPs passed during a second reading by 359 votes to 263 on 16 March, and has caused controversy for its imposition of further restrictions on static protests. These restrictions would allow police chiefs to impose a start and finish time, set noise limits, and fine protestors up to £2,500 if they do not conduct their protest in accordance with police directions.

The bill would also permit the seizure of property and vehicles, a three-month maximum jail sentence for involvement in a protest, and a ten-year maximum prison sentence for damages to memorials, amongst other measures.

This afternoon’s (27/03) development follows gatherings outside Parkside police station on 15 March, as well as the appearance of graffiti on buildings in Jesus Green and the Market Square in response to the bill encouraging people to “resist anti-trespass”.

Meanwhile, Cambridge protesters were also seen with signs calling the bill a “monstrous attack on our civil liberties.”

It also comes as ten arrests were made in Bristol last night (26/03) as violence broke out once more between protesters and police, three of which were made in connection with last Sunday’s demonstration, with more than a thousand demonstrators attending the third ‘Kill the Bill’ demonstration in a week in the city.

The arrests, given for offences including violent disorder, assaulting an emergency worker and possession of Class A drugs, have been condemned by Boris Johnson on Twitter as “disgraceful attacks against police officers”, with the Prime Minister adding: “Our officers should not have to face having bricks, bottles and fireworks being thrown at them by a mob intent on violence and causing damage to property.”

Johnson added that “The police and the city have my full support.”

Similar protests have taken place across the country today, with up to 1,000 people expected to be protesting in Nottingham this afternoon. A second protest is also planned to take place in Brighton this afternoon, after videos of the first protest earlier this month showed gatherings of thousands of people chanting “we will not be silenced.”