Dear auld Blighty sleepwalking into a Police State?

On Wednesday the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill reaches its report stage in the House of Lords. It is remarkable how little fuss has been made about it, and how little we know of what is about to hit us.

The bill would permit injunctions against anyone of 10 or older who "has engaged or threatens to engage in conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person". [..] In other words, they can impose a kind of community service order on people who have committed no crime, which could, the law proposes, remain in force for the rest of their lives.

- George Monbiot