HG Wells once said that "a newspaper is a device incapable of distinguishing between a bicycle accident and the end of civilisation". I fear George Monbiot has proved him right. His article (Comment, 7 January) paints an apocalyptic picture of the antisocial behaviour bill as an evil measure to end our right to protest, our freedom of speech and our civil liberties. It is nonsense. If it was in any way true I would be the first to stand up and say so.

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