‘Kill The Bill’ Protests Continue in Guildford

Published on: 1 Jun, 2021
Updated on: 3 Jun, 2021

By Hugh Coakley

Another Kill the Bill protest took place in Guildford on Sunday (May 30) with around 50 people, fewer than before, marching along the High Street and North Street.

Around 50 protesters gathered at Holy Trinity Church in the High Street for a ‘Kill The Bill’ march.

More muted than the three previous Kill The Bill marches this year, the protesters called for a change to the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which they say will prevent the right to traditional protests.

Vinnie Conquest, one of the organisers, said it would have been good to have a better attendance but he was “not disappointed”.

He said that another protest was being planned for June. “We are the only Kill the Bill march in Surrey. Lots of different groups support the action around the country and I am hopeful we will succeed.”

The protesters were from a wide age range, from school students to the retired.

There was a mixed reaction from shoppers in the High Street.

A shopper watching as the march passed said: “‘Kill the Bill’ is an unfortunate title. It gives the wrong impression that they are against the police and not the legislation. They need to change the name.”

“Good on them” said another passer-by.

A young man from Cyprus told The Dragon that protests had been banned there. “It’s not good here either, is it?” he said.

An elderly woman said: “I support the police. They do a great job but I also support the protesters right to protest.” She said that she feared protests were generally becoming violent and “that was wrong”.

Four police officers, who were in attendance throughout, chatted with protesters before the march and accompanied them along the route.