Watford's MP has explained why he backed a controversial police bill that restricts the right to protest.

The Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill has sparked debate after the Met was criticised for its handling of the Sarah Everard vigil over the weekend.

Despite strongly-worded opposition, mainly from the Labour Party, legislation for the policing bill passed by 369 votes to 263 yesterday (March 16).

This means police chiefs will be able to impose a start and finish time to protests, set noise limits and apply the rules to a demonstration of a single person.

Some groups have feared that these measures could be taken to the extreme to silence the freedom of protest and speech, particularly in rightful demonstrations against the government.

It comes after police chiefs, including the Metropolitan Police commissioner, being frustrated from not being able to do more to lessen the overall disruption caused by Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion demonstrations.

But despite the restrictive measures that could be imposed, MP Dean Russell believes this will help tackle serious crimes.

Mr Russell said: "This Bill means serious criminals spend more time in prison and less time on our streets. It doubles the maximum sentence for assaults against emergency service workers and allows for Whole Life Orders for the murder of a child along with further tougher measures to put victims first.

“It also seeks to improve the judicial system by modernising existing court processes, and youth custody by promoting rehabilitation to steer young offenders away from a life of crime.”

Referencing the impact it will have to protests and demonstrations he said: “There have been instances in recent years with protestors disrupting people’s everyday lives - stopping them from getting to work, limiting access to news, or blocking bridges and preventing ambulances being able to reach hospitals. Such acts have risked freedom of the press, livelihoods, and even lives.”

The MP admitted that while police will be granted to greater power to prevent disruptive protests, it will not impact the right to peaceful protests.

He continued: “I want to be clear that it does not remove people’s right to peaceful protest, which alongside freedom of speech, is the corner stone of any democracy.”

Alongside the protest restrictions, the legislation proposes:

• Child murders can be jailed for their entire lives

• Sentencing rule changes so serious criminals spend more time in jail

• Community sentences for less serious crime

• Maximum sentences for low-level assaults against emergency services doubled

• Changes to sexual offences law

• More powers to monitor terrorism offenders released from jail