Leeds Kill the Bill: Live updates as protest takes place in Millennium Square on Good Friday

The "peaceful, family-friendly" protest is expected to take place in Millennium Square at 1pm.

It's one of several rallies organised across the country, with gatherings to take place in London from 2pm, Manchester from 1pm and Southampton from 5.30pm.

Campaigners are protesting against the proposed Police Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which could give police extra powers to crack down on peaceful protests.

Officers could be able to impose start and finish times, set noise limits and apply the new rules to demonstrations of one person.

Organisers of the 'Leeds Day of Action' say the protest will be "peaceful and family-friendly".

Protesters are asked to wear face coverings at all times and to keep a safe distance between other people.

It comes after hundreds joined a Block the Bill protest outside outside Leeds Civic Hall in Millennium Square on Monday, March 22.

Speeches and poems were read out at the protest, and many members of the crowd joined in to chant "Kill the Bill".

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill cleared its secondary parliamentary hurdle on March 16, after receiving a second reading by 359 votes to 263, majority 96, despite opposition to several measures contained within it.

Changes included in the Bill are plans to give police in England and Wales more powers to impose conditions on non-violent protests judged to be too noisy and thereby causing “intimidation or harassment” or “serious unease, alarm or distress” to the public.

Time and noise limits could be imposed as a result of the measures in the Bill and those convicted could face a fine or jail.

The wide-ranging Bill includes plans to bring in tougher sentences for child killers and those who cause death on the roads, longer jail terms for serious violent and sexual offenders, and expand child sex abuse laws to ban religious leaders and sports coaches from having sex with 16 and 17-year-olds in their care.

The Bill could also see the maximum penalty for criminal damage of a memorial increased from three months to 10 years.

Labour tabled an amendment intended to block the Bill from being considered further, although this was defeated by 359 votes to 225, majority 134.

The motion from Labour was based on support for some sections – such as tougher sentences for serious crimes including child murder – alongside warnings it “rushes” changes to protest law and “fails” to take action to protect women.

The Bill will undergo further scrutiny at a later stage.

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