A PROTEST against the government's crackdown on protests will be held in Reading this afternoon.

Demonstrations against a controversial bill which allows police to criminalise non-violent protesting that could be considered a "public nuisance" have been seen across the country in the last week - and one will be coming to Forbury Gardens later today.

Though justice secretary Robert Buckland argued that those upset with part of the new legislation have either not read it or misunderstood it.

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He said: "There is a lot of misleading information being spread about reforms to the law of public nuisance and protests contained as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill that I introduced recently.

"As I explained to the Commons two weeks ago, when it comes to the law of public nuisance, we are simply enacting recommendations made by the independent Law Commission that the existing common law of nuisance be codified and clarified.

"Much is being made of the use of the phrase “serious annoyance” in the bill as if it was some new departure. This is wholly incorrect. This word has appeared in descriptions of the law for several centuries.

"When this bill is passed, which will take months, the law will be clear and easier to use."

A post shared on social media urges people to gather in Forburuy Gardens at 1pm today on April 3 while wearing face masks and social distancing.

Peaceful protests are now allowed under relaxed coronavirus guidelines but police have urged the organisers of the protest to work with them to ensure it goes smoothly and cautioned against large groups gathering.

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Previous protests against the Police, Crime Sentencing and Court Bill have hit the headlines after 10 were arrests made during the third Bristol demonstration last week due to what police called "violent conduct" and 18 were arrested in Manchester after protestors blocked city centre tram lines.

Other peaceful protests in Nottingham, Sheffield, Cardiff and Bradford ended without incident.