POLICE have arrested an activist peacefully protesting against the government’s harsh new immigration law.

Tigs Louis-Puttick, founder of the migrant rights organisation Reclaim The Sea, and others protested outside the Home Office as Parliament passed the government’s Illegal Migration Bill on Tuesday evening.

The law — which top UN human rights officials have called to be reversed — will ban anyone who arrives into the country irregularly, including unaccompanied children, from seeking asylum in Britain, and seeks to deport them to a third country.

“Last night, I was arrested for standing in the road outside the Home Office with a sign saying ‘Refugees Welcome’ and ‘No to the Immigration Bill, No Floating Prisons’,” Ms Louis-Puttick said today.

She said the arresting officer did not seem sure under which order he was arresting her.

“At first he repeatedly mentioned section 12 — a condition officers can impose on a protest causing significant public disorder — but later said that ‘this was nothing to do with section 12’.”

“He was also Googling what section 12 was while trying to get me out of the road.”

Ms Louis-Puttick, who is also operational co-ordinator for the Mediterranean refugee rescue organisation Sea-Watch, said that traffic was free-flowing at the time of her arrest.

“I was detained for obstructing the highway despite not creating a traffic disturbance, and letting all public vehicles pass,” she said.

“I was held for eight hours and have now been released on bail.

“This incident demonstrates not only how far refugee rights have been eroded in the UK but also how the right to protest is under attack.”

The Metropolitan Police told the Morning Star a woman was arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway and other protesters had left.