Spanish cops march against reform

People attend a protest in Madrid against the proposed changes to anti-terrorism and gag laws.

Thousands of Spanish police officers marched through Madrid yesterday to protest a proposed reform of a security law which they say will hamper their ability to do their work. Politicians from Spain’s three main conservative parties joined police officers in the protest against proposed changes to the 2015 Citizens Security Law, which critics say violates the right to protest and limits free expression. Dubbed the “Gag Law” by those who oppose it, the legislation allows authorities to fine media organisations for distributing unauthorised images of police, strictly limits demonstrations, and imposes heavy fines for offenders. Spain’s leftist government has proposed reforms including no longer classifying the taking of photographs or making of recordings of police at demonstrations as a serious offence. Under the changes, police will also have to use less harmful materials at protests after a number of people were seriously injured by rubber bullets fired by officers. The time that suspects who are arrested at protests can be held in custody will be cut from six hours to two, and fines will be proportional to how much offenders earn. “They should either leave the current law as it is or make it better for the police and for the citizens,” Civil Guard officer Vanessa Gonzalez told Reuters. Organisers said 150,000 people took part in the Madrid demonstration but the government put the figure at 20,000. – Reuters