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January 6, 2011

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill Part 3 - the end to Brian Haw's peace camp Temporary Autonomous Zone in Parliament Square ?

The previous Labour government reneged on their promise to repeal the extremely controversial Serious Organised crime and Police Act 2005 sections 132 to 138, which created the current Designated Area around Parliament Square. What was the first clause of the Constitutional reform and Governance Bill, was magically removed when that Bill mutated into one which dealt mostly with Pensions and Expenses for Members of Parliament, passed, without any democratic debate, during the "wash up" period when the General Election had been called.

The new Conservative / Liberal Democrat coalition government is having another attempt at it:

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill has now had its Second Reading in the House of Commons.

As is typical of Home Office Bills, the most controversial sections are buried deep within the text, on the assumption that our lazy professional politicians will not bother to scrunise it, and that they will simply go through "on the nod".

Note the the retrospective legislation clauses which attempt to cover Brian Haw's existing protest peace camp, which they failed to make illegal under the SOCPA 2005 law, because he had been protesting before that legislation took effect.

Note also the banning of "sleeping equipment" or "tents" etc.

It is unclear if this ban will apply to gypsy Caravans or other Camper Vans or other Motor Vehicles which are certainly not "tents" or other "structures" or "sleeping equipment"

Part 3

Parliament Square Garden and surrounding area

Repeal of SOCPA 2005 provisions



139 Demonstrations in vicinity of Parliament: repeal of SOCPA 2005 provisions

(1) Sections 132 to 138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (which regulate demonstrations and use of loudspeakers in the vicinity of Parliament) are repealed.

(2) The public assemblies in relation to which section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 applies, as a consequence of the repeal of section 132(6) of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, include public assemblies which started, or were being organised, before this section comes into force.

Controls on activities in Parliament Square Garden and adjoining pavements

140 Controlled area of Parliament Square

(1) For the purposes of this Part, the "controlled area of Parliament Square" means the area of land that is comprised in--

(a) the central garden of Parliament Square, and
(b) the footways that immediately adjoin the central garden of Parliament Square.

(2) In subsection (1)--

"the central garden of Parliament Square" means the site in Parliament Square on which the Minister of Works was authorised by the Parliament Square (Improvements) Act 1949 to lay out the garden referred to in that Act as "the new central garden";

"footway" has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980 (see section 329(1) of that Act).

Parliament Square Gardens comes under the authority of the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London. The "footways" or pavements around the edge oof the central garden / park come under the authority of Westminster Council.

A Court ruled that there was no "obstruction of the pavement" as it was as deemed to be wide enough and the number of pedestrians passing by are very few (especially after the zebra crossings or pelican crossings into the central section of Parliament Square were removed a few years ago.

Brian Haw's peace camp has established a Temporary Autonomous Zone peace protest encampment ,straddling the two legal authorities.

141 Prohibited activities in controlled area of Parliament Square

(1) A constable or authorised officer who has reasonable grounds for believing
that a person is doing, or is about to do, a prohibited activity may direct the
person

(a) to cease doing that activity, or
(b) (as the case may be) not to start doing that activity.

(2) For the purposes of this Part, a "prohibited activity" is any of the following

(a) operating any amplified noise equipment in the controlled area of
Parliament Square;
(b) erecting or keeping erected in the controlled area of Parliament Square

(i) any tent, or
(ii) any other structure that is designed, or adapted, (solely or
mainly) for the purpose of facilitating sleeping or staying in a place for any period;

(c) using any tent or other such structure in the controlled area of Parliament Square for the purpose of sleeping or staying in that area;
(d) placing or keeping in place in the controlled area of Parliament Square any sleeping equipment with a view to its use (whether or not by the person placing it or keeping it in place) for the purpose of sleeping overnight in that area;
(e) using any sleeping equipment in the controlled area of Parliament Square for the purpose of sleeping overnight in that area.

What is the exact definition of "overnight" ?

(3) But an activity is not to be treated as a "prohibited activity" within subsection (2) if it is done

(a) for police, fire and rescue authority or ambulance purposes,
(b) by or on behalf of a relevant authority, or
(c) by a person so far as authorised under section 145 to do it (authorisation for operation of amplified noise equipment).

(4) In subsection (2)(a) "amplified noise equipment" means any device that is designed or adapted for amplifying sound, including (but not limited to)

(a) loudspeakers, and
(b) loudhailers.

(5) In subsection (3)(b) "relevant authority" means any of the following

(a) a Minister of the Crown or a government department,
(b) the Greater London Authority, or
(c) Westminster City Council.

(6) It is immaterial for the purposes of a prohibited activity

(a) in the case of an activity within subsection (2)(b) or (c) of keeping a tent or similar structure erected or using a tent or similar structure, whether the tent or structure was first erected before or after the coming into force of this section;
(b) in the case of an activity within subsection (2)(d) or (e) of keeping in place any sleeping equipment or using any such equipment, whether the sleeping equipment was first placed before or after the coming into force of this section.

Retrospective legislation aimed specifically at Brian Haw.

(7) In this section "sleeping equipment" means any sleeping bag, mattress or other similar item designed, or adapted, (solely or mainly) for the purpose of facilitating sleeping in a place.

(8) A person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a direction under subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

"level 5 on the standard scale" is a £5,000 fine ! which must surely be very disproportionate.

142 Directions under section 141: further provision

(1) A direction requiring a person to cease doing a prohibited activity may include a direction that the person does not start doing that activity again after having ceased it.

(2) A direction requiring a person not to start doing a prohibited activity continues in force until

(a) the end of such period beginning with the day on which the direction is given as may be specified by the constable or authorised officer giving the direction, or

(b) if no such period is specified, the end of the period of 90 days beginning
with the day on which the direction is given.

(3) A period specified under subsection (2)(a) may not be longer than 90 days.

(4) A direction may be given to a person to cease operating, or not to start operating, any amplified noise equipment only if it appears to the constable or authorised officer giving the direction that the following condition is met.

(5) The condition is that the person is operating, or is about to operate, the equipment in such a manner as to produce sound that other persons in or in the vicinity of the controlled area of Parliament Square can hear or are likely to be able to hear.

(6) A direction

(a) may be given orally,
(b) may be given to any person individually or to two or more persons together, and
(c) may be withdrawn or varied by the person who gave it.

(7) In this section "amplified noise equipment" has the meaning given by section 141(4);
"direction" means a direction given under section 141(1).

143 Power to seize property

(1) A constable or authorised officer may seize and retain a prohibited item that is on any land in the controlled area of Parliament Square if it appears to that constable or officer that the item is being, or has been, used in connection with the commission of an offence under section 141.

(2) A constable may seize and retain a prohibited item that is on any land outside of the controlled area of Parliament Square if it appears to the constable that the item has been used in connection with the commission of an offence under section 141.

(3) A "prohibited item" is any item of a kind mentioned in section 141(2).

No ! We should not be giving "constables" the power to seize and retain property on their own self authorisation, without a Court Order. On past performance, this power will be abused.

(4) The constable or authorised officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in exercising a power of seizure under subsection (1) or (in the case of a constable) under subsection (2).

(5) An item seized under this section must be returned to the person from whom
it was seized

(a) no later than the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the item was seized, or
(b) if proceedings are commenced against the person for an offence under section 141 before the return of the item under paragraph (a), at the conclusion of those proceedings.

(6) If it is not possible to return an item under subsection (5) because the name or address of the person from whom it was seized is not known

(a) the item may be returned to any other person appearing to have rights in the property who has come forward to claim it, or
(b) if there is no such person, the item may be disposed of or destroyed at any time after the end of the period of 90 days beginning with the day on which the item was seized.

(7) Subsections (5)(b) and (6) do not apply if a court makes an order under section
144(1)(a) for the forfeiture of the item.

(8) The references in subsections (1) and (2) to an item that is "on" any land include references to an item that is in the possession of a person who is on any such land.

144 Power of court on conviction

(1) The court may do either or both of the following on the conviction of a person
("P") of an offence under section 141

(a) make an order providing for the forfeiture of any item of a kind mentioned in subsection (2) of that section that was used in the commission of the offence;
(b) make such other order as the court considers appropriate for the purpose of preventing P from engaging in any prohibited activity in the controlled area of Parliament Square.

(2) An order under subsection (1)(b) may (in particular) require P not to enter the controlled area of Parliament Square for such period as may be specified in the order.

(3) Power of the court to make an order under this section is in addition to the court's power to impose a fine under section 141(8).

145 Authorisation for operation of amplified noise equipment

(1) The responsible authority for any land in the controlled area of Parliament Square may authorise a person in accordance with this section to operate on that land any amplified noise equipment (as defined by section 141(4)).

(2) An application for authorisation must be made to the responsible authority by or on behalf of the person (or persons) seeking the authorisation.

(3) The responsible authority may

(a) determine the form in which, and the manner in which, an application is to be made;
(b) specify the information to be supplied in connection with an application;
(c) require a fee to be paid for determining an application.

(4) If an application is duly made to a responsible authority, the authority must

(a) determine the application, and
(b) give notice in writing to the applicant of the authority's decision within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the authority receives the application.

(5) The notice must specify

(a) the person (or persons) authorised (whether by name or description),
(b) the kind of amplified noise equipment to which the authorisation
applies,
(c) the period to which the authorisation applies, and
(d) any conditions to which the authorisation is subject.

(6) The responsible authority may at any time

(a) withdraw an authorisation given to a person under this section, or
(b) vary any condition to which an authorisation is subject.

(7) Variation under subsection (6)(b) includes

(a) imposing a new condition,
(b) removing an existing condition, or
(c) altering any period to which a condition applies.

(8) The exercise of a power under subsection (6) to withdraw an authorisation or to vary a condition is effected by the responsible authority giving notice in writing to the applicant.

146 Meaning of "authorised officer" and "responsible authority"

(1) This section applies for the purposes of this Part.

(2) "Authorised officer", in relation to any land in the controlled area of Parliament
Square, means

(a) an employee of the responsible authority for that land who is authorised in writing by the authority for the purposes of this Part, and
(b) any other person who, under arrangements made with the responsible authority (whether by that or any other person), is so authorised for the purposes of this Part.

(3) "Responsible authority", in relation to any land in the controlled area of Parliament Square, means

(a) the Greater London Authority, for any land comprised in the central garden of Parliament Square (as defined by section 140(2)), and
(b) Westminster City Council, for any other land.

147 Effect of Part on byelaws

(1) In section 385 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (byelaws), after

subsection (6) insert

"(6A) Byelaws under this section may not be made as respects Parliament Square Garden for the purpose of prohibiting a particular activity so far as that activity is a prohibited activity for the purposes of Part 3 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (see section 141(2) of that Act).".

(2) Any byelaw made under section 385 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 before the date on which section 141 above comes into force ceases to have effect on that date so far as the byelaw makes provision prohibiting, as respects the controlled area of Parliament Square, a particular activity that is a prohibited activity for the purposes of this Part.

(3) Nothing in this Part restricts the making of any byelaw under section 235(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (power of councils to make byelaws) for the purpose of prohibiting, as respects the controlled area of Parliament Square, a particular activity except so far as the activity is a prohibited activity for the purposes of this Part.

The next part 4 of this Bill was probably sneaked in as part of the Parliament Square stuff abiove, but it will apply throughout the rest of England and Wales:

Part 4

Miscellaneous

Seizure powers under byelaws

148 Enforcement of byelaws: powers of seizure etc

(1) After section 237 of the Local Government Act 1972 (offences against byelaws)
insert

"237ZA Section 235 byelaws: powers of seizure etc
A byelaw made under section 235 may include provision for or in connection with

(a) the seizure and retention of any property in connection with any contravention of the byelaw, and
(b) the forfeiture of any such property on a person's conviction of an offence of contravention of the byelaw.".

(2) In section 385 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (byelaws), in subsection (4)(b) for "a trading byelaw" substitute "any byelaw under this section" Controlled area of Parliament Square

(1) For the purposes of this Part, the "controlled area of Parliament Square" means
the area of land that is comprised in

(a) the central garden of Parliament Square, and
(b) the footways that immediately adjoin the central garden of Parliament Square.

(2)
In subsection (1)--

"the central garden of Parliament Square" means the site in Parliament Square on which the Minister of Works was authorised by the Parliament Square (Improvements) Act 1949 to lay out the garden referred to in that Act as "the new central garden"; "footway" has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980 (see section 329(1) of that Act).

At least the huge , excessive Designated Area will be repealed, so perhaps fewer people will be stopped for carrying the Independent newspaper down Whitehall, or will be arrested and convicted for reading out the the names of British soldiers killed abroad recently, by the Cenotaph War memorial.

July 10, 2010

High Court Judgment against the self styled "Democracy Village" and others in Parliament Square Gardens

Protests and demonstrations in Parliament Square, especially long term ones, are complicated by the legal ownership of the land.

Unlike the roads and pavements, which come under Westminster Council, the central grass in Parliament Square Gardens is owned by the Greater London Authority , under the control of the Mayor of London, the Conservative Boris Johnson.

The recent eviction of the self styled "Democracy Village" squatters encampment, resulted from a High Court case, brought by the GLA.

The Mayor of London v Hall & Ors (Rev 1) [2010] EWHC 1613 (QB) (29 June 2010)


N.B. this is not the first time that the GLA has acted against encampments set up in Parliament Square Gardens, the previous Labour Mayor Of London Ken Livingstone, had contractors erect a fence around Parliament Square Gardens, from August to October 2007, in scenes reminiscent of the early days of the Berlin Wall.

See: Mayor of London Ken Livingstone further restricts public access to Parliament Square with an ugly and potentially dangerous fence

The Judgment shows the complexities of the law, but neatly summarises some of the history of protests in Parliament Square.

This case involved several, separate, groups of people, who cannot be held responsible for each others actions.

At what point do the rights of one group of protestors start to impinge or on, or deny, the identical rights of other groups or individuals, who wish to use the same prime protest location in Parliament Square ?

May 23, 2009

United Campaign Against Police Violence - poorly publicised protest in the SOCPA Designated Area

Apparently there was a march from Trafalgar Square , "via Downing Street" (how, exactly ? - the gates are shut !) ) to New Scotland Yard today, i.e. right through the heart of the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square, to protest about the violent policing of protests and demonstrations.

The left wing organisers, who appear to be drawn mostly from the manipulative Socialist Workers Party and Bob Crow's left wing RMT union, calling themselves United Campaign Against Police Violence seem to have a web blog, but there really has been almost no publicity about this event.

Even Indymedia UK do not seem to have any coverage of it, although there was a brief mention on Sky tv News.

The Palace of Westminster is also mostly empty today, a Saturday during the Whitsun Parliamentary recess, so the politicians and journalists of the "Westminster Village" will have ignored this demonstration, in favour of the "MPs expenses scandals"..

The issues they are nominally protesting e.g. "justice for those killed in police custody and for the right to protest" should really appeal to peaceful, democratic people across political party lines, but this protest seems to be a left wing / anarchist "closed shop",

This is a shame, because many other people are also furious and dissatisfied about the G20 demonstrations policing tactics, the death of Ian Tomlinson, the pre-event police surveillance and media hype about "planned violence".etc.whilst Prime Minister Gordon Brown tried, and failed, to convince people that he was somehow leading the international efforts to solve the world banking crisis, which he was personally partly responsible for.


May 19, 2009

Tamil protest in Parliament Square turns violent

The Times reports on the public relations disaster for the demonstrations and vigils in support of Tamils in Sri Lanka, which have been occupy Parliament Square on and off during the past few weeks:

From Times Online
May 19, 2009

Police hurt as UK Tamil protests turn violent

Emily Gosden

Twenty-five police officers were injured in the early hours of this morning and ten British Tamil protesters arrested as police attempted to break up a demonstration blocking the streets around Westminster.

The violent clashes took place hours after the Sri Lankan government announced victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels and the death of all the main Tiger leadership.

The clashes outside Parliament left three officers requiring hospital treatment, while five protesters were also taken to hospital and more treated at the scene, all for minor injuries.

The protesters were arrested for public order offences after refusing to move from the roads outside Parliament. Up to 5,000 protesters had broken out of the centre of Parliament Square at around 4pm yesterday and brought Westminster to a standstill. They staged a sit-down protest to call for international intervention in Sri Lanka, where thousands of civilians remain in internment camps at the end of the bloody civil war that has claimed 70,000 lives.

This morning around 30 protestors remained in Parliament Square, where they have had a continuous presence since April 6. A peaceful vigil and hunger strikes has now escalated into illegal roadblocks on four occasions.

[...]

It does not matter if the protestors were provoked by the Police actions or not, this outbreak of violence is a public relations disaster for the protestors' cause.

The weak Labour Government and the Foreign Office bureaucracy will now be able to discount and ignore any moral pressure they felt on them caused by the hitherto peaceful demonstrations, which have now all gone to waste.

April 26, 2009

Tamil protestors and the London Marathon in Parliament Square

The now "traditional" long running "Peace Camp" protestors permanently encamped in Parliament Square led by Brian Haw, has been swelled in recent weeks by Tamil demonstrators,protesting about the humanitarian crisis involving the thousands of trapped civilians in the Tamil Tigers versus Sri Lankan government combat zone.

What they really expect the British Government to actually do about this situation is unclear, in spite of the hunger strikes which some of them are now on.

The Police seem to have penned these protestors in on Parliament Square Gardens, with lots of barriers etc. and the annual London Marathon race does not seem to have been affected.

BBC_Jam_Cam_Parliament_Square_26april09.jpg

The largest Tamil demonstrations were when Parliament came back from Yet Another of their recesses at Easter, when the road between the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey was blocked by thousands of protestors sitting down peacefully.

This demonstration was not an authorised one under SOCPA Designated Area but there seem to have been few arrests under that legislation.

The fact that Parliament continued business as normal, with no problems for MPs or Peers being able to attend, (they do, after all, have underground tunnel access to the building from Westminster Tube station and from Portcullis House) also shows that the "sessional orders" and indeed the SOCPA section 132-138 Designated Area is far too widely drawn, over far too large an area, to be justified on the grounds of protecting access to Parliament.

February 10, 2009

New Scotland Yard - mass photography protest - 11 am Monday 16th February 2009

The forthcoming protest called by professional, amateur and political activist Photographers will highlight several of the Labour government's repressive policies, which afflict normal, law abiding people's rights and freedoms, without producing any tangible "security" benefit against terrorists or criminals.

Mass photography protest - 11 am Monday 16th February 2009, Metropolitan Police HQ, New Scotland Yard

Which of the various police powers will be used to harass and intimidate peaceful, lawful protestors and professional media photographers, outside of the Metropolitan Police Service HQ ?

The SOCPA section 132 to 138 Designated Area around Parliament Square ? (New Scotland Yard in Broadway is just within the Designated Area - see The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Area) Order 2005)

The Terrorism Act 2000 section 44 stop and search without reasonable cause ?

The new Terrorism Act 2000 section 58A "eliciting or attempting to elicit" or publishing or communicating "information" about a current or former police officer ?

N.B. New Scotland Yard is not a Prohibited Place, under the Official Secrets Act 1911.

April 3, 2008

Poor quality Home Office Statistics on the number of arrests in the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square

The "why is he still in a job after personally presiding over so many cockups and scandals" Home Office Minister Tony McNulty answered a Parliamentary Written Question, giving a few details about the numbers of people (91 arrests, 18 convictions, up to December 2006) who have been arrested in the Designated Area around Parliament Square and beyond:

1 Apr 2008 : Column 755W
Demonstrations: Parliament Square

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females, broken down by age group, were (i) arrested, (ii) prosecuted and (iii) convicted of unlawful public demonstrations in Parliament Square in each of the last three years for which information is available. [192539]

Mr. McNulty: Data showing the number of males and females, by age group, proceeded against and found guilty of organising or carrying out a demonstration in a designated area in 2005 and 2006 are found in the following table. The Ministry of Justice are unable to separate offences committed in Parliament Square from those committed in other locations within the designated area.

The Home Office does not collect the information requested on arrests centrally. However I understand from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police that since Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 came into force until the end of December 2006, there have been 91 arrests of individuals for a range of offences connected to demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament. Data on the number of arrests in 2007 is not available.

Someone is lying or is bureaucratically inept if they cannot tally up the figures for 2007 more than 3 months into 2008.

1 Apr 2008 : Column 755W

Mr. McNulty: Data showing the number of males and females, by age group, proceeded against and found guilty of organising or carrying out a demonstration in a designated area in 2005 and 2006 are found in the following table. The Ministry of Justice are unable to separate offences committed in Parliament Square from those committed in other locations within the designated area.

See Table below:

Continue reading "Poor quality Home Office Statistics on the number of arrests in the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square" »

February 12, 2008

Home Office FOIA disclosure listing the arrests and demonstration statistics in the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square

Julian Todd has published the results of his Freedom of Information Act request, which lists most of the Applications for Prior Written Permission and the arrests under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2000, Sections 132 to 138.

As he points out in this blog entry,

Criminalising Protest around Parliament

this information should have been included in the now closed Public Consultation document on reforming these wretched restrictions on our freedom. The fact that they were not either points to ineptitude or deliberate deceit and political manipulation.

See the 31 scanned pages of statistics

January 15, 2008

Managing Protest consultation response

Here is our short response to the Home Office's Managing Protest around Parliament public consultation which closes this Thursday 17th January 2008:

  • 1) Repeal SOCPA 2005 sections 132 to 138
  • 2) No "harmonisation" with the Public Order Act 1986
  • 3) Sessional Orders must be reformed for the 21st Century
Some possible face saving options and minor amendments:
  • Option 1: Vastly reduce the size of the Section 138 Designated Area
  • Option 2: Remove the inclusion of indoor "Public Places
  • Option 3: Clarify the ambiguous extent of the Section 138 Designated Area boundary
  • Option 4: Amend Section 132 to include a clear definition of the word "demonstration"
  • Option 5: Modify the SOCPA 2005 Section 128 Protected Site Designations
  • Option 6: Remove the Security Service MI5 Thames House "steps" anomaly

Continue reading "Managing Protest consultation response" »

January 13, 2008

Police violence against Brian Haw and other pacifists in Whitehall

This Indymedia report is a frightening account of violent assaults by the Metropolitan Police, resulting in injuries to two prominent pacifist demonstrators in Whitehall outside of Downing Street - Brian Haw, who was led away with blood streaming from his face, and Steve Jago.


Brian_Haw_injured_and_arrested_12_Jan_2008_near_Downing_Street.JPG
Image via Terence Bunch

without warnings the territorial support group moved in and began violently pushing and man-handling people to the pavement. one young woman was grabbed round the throat and dragged. others were pushed from behind. brian was miving backwards towards the pavement with a camera to his face when officer U1019 lunged at him deliberately and without provocation. the blow was aimed directly at brian's face and pushed his camera into his cheek causing a deep wound.

There is an approx. 8 minute video clip edited from one of the many video and other cameras recording the mostly peaceful protest which has been uploaded to archive.org.

No doubt there is other video and photo evidence witnessing the violent actions of PC U1019.

A note for for our regular Metropolitan Police, Home Office and Downing Street spin doctors and the "intelligence" gatherers who monitor this website:

There is almost certain to be official complaints to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Metropolitan Police Authority about this unnecessary violence.

How can you criticise, say, the brutal Governments of Burma or Pakistan or Zimbabwe etc., without the counter charge of hypocrisy, as they will be able to point to this incident of political Police violence against peaceful demonstrators outside of Downing Street ?

December 18, 2007

Metropolitan Police - Religious Discrimination against the anti-Christmas Carol Service in Parliament Square

carol_service_2007.jpg
You are cordially invited to a public anti-Christmas carol service in Parliament Square at 6:30pm on Thursday the 20th of December 2007.

Tim Ireland from Bloggerheads is yet again organising a Christmas sing song, to show just how arbitrary and ridiculous the SOCPA ss123 - 138 Designated Area around Parliament Square really is.

In previous years, (2005 and 2006), the Metropolitan Police Service has been noticeable by their studious absence from the glare of any media publicity which might have been covering the Carol Services which Tim organised, without applying for permission.

This year, Tim has managed to "successfully apply" for Written Prior Permission to Demonstrate in the Designated Area, for an anti-Christmas.Carol Service. - exactly the same format as previous years, just singing anti-Christmas songs instead.

In other words, the Metropolitan Police Service is now in the dishonourable and unethical position of having made an Arbitrary Religious Discrimination Policing Decision, which impinges on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech.


October 14, 2007

Last week's StWC march, Sessional Orders and the Fence

Apologies for not blogging about last week's Stop the War Coalition march / demonstration (see this BBC report) This was noteworthy for the threatened abuse of the Sessional Order by the Metropolitan Police, which is supposed to ensure the safe passage and attendance of MPs and Peers when Parliament is back from its extended holidays.

The law under which these Sessional Orders are issued (almost the very first piece of business which gets rubber stamped without any debate or amendment at the start of each new Session of Parliament) dates back to 1839 and the Chartist riots in the early 19th Century.

Given the underground tunnels from Westminster Tube Station, from Portcullis House and from the underground Car Parks, ensuring that MPs and Peers can get in to the Palace of Westminster is much easier than in 1839, and previous large marches or demonstrations which have filled Parliament Square and the surrounding streets have had no effect on the ability of Parliament to continue functioning as normal.

It would be an evil day if demonstrators or rioters could manipulate the outcome of a vote in Parliament, by physically preventing their political opponents from attending a Vote or debate.

In the end, the Police and the Government seem to have relented, and not abused this legacy law to disrupt the latest StWC march, possibly because of the low turnout for a rather extremist call for immediate withdrawal of US and British troops from Iraq, regardless of the civil war which would result from such an action.

There did seem to be one person at least who was arrested in Parliament Square itself, but not, apparently under SOCPA.

Our previously expressed fears about the stupidity of Ken Livingstone's temporary fence around Parliament Square Gardens was illustrated by the fact that SWtC demonstrators partially dismantled it.

If there had been any sort of violent counter-demonstration, then it seems inevitable that the sections of this fence would have been used as weapons or missiles against the Police or other demonstrators.

If there had been a larger crowd of people in Parliament Square, the fence could have been a Health and Safety hazard, simply due to crowd pressure, and its inevitable obstruction of first aid personnel.

June 2, 2007

Brian Haw is celebrating 6 years of continuous peace protest, day and night, in Parliament Square

Brian Haw is today, 2nd June 2007, currently celebrating his 6th year of continuous peace protest, day and night, in Parliament Square.

April 8, 2007

2000 mass lone demonstrations on Saturday 21st April within the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square

The Mark Thomas website has details of a planned set of 2000 demonstrations in one day, on Saturday 21st April 2007, within the Designated Area around Parliament Square and beyond.

You can join the challenge to New Labour's liberty threatening laws. So far 59 individuals have applied for 20 demos each (with 4 single demo requests) but anyone can come along on the 21st of April. Get involved and let's have 2,000 demos!

This is how it works: Each demonstrator holds a 10 minute demo at 19 different places (the start and finish demonstrations are in Parliament Square) and then gives themselves 10 minutes to get to their next demonstration. We have an info pack available for you to use which includes details on how to organise the demos, a list of places you might want to protest at in the designated area, a map of the SOCPA zone and access to our easy to fill in application printer (type in the bare details of your demos and in seconds you will get 20 forms set up and ready to print.)

If you want to demonstrate on the 21st of April you have until 10.30am Sunday the 15th of April to get your forms into the police at Charing Cross police station.:

Demo Information Pack

N.B. you should check that any Letter which you hand in or send via recorded delivery post (neither ordinary postal mail, nor fax, nor email are legally acceptable) to Charing Cross Police Station (or any of the other "police stations in the Metropolitan district" of London) is formally addressed to the "Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis", as per the wording of Section 133 of SOCPA, just in case you have to rely on this document in Court.

(1) A person seeking authorisation for a demonstration in the designated area must give written notice to that effect to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (referred to in this section and section 134 as "the Commissioner").

[...]

(4) The notice must state-

(a) the date and time when the demonstration is to start,
(b) the place where it is to be carried on,
(c) how long it is to last,
(d) whether it is to be carried on by a person by himself or not,
(e) the name and address of the person giving the notice.

(5) A notice under this section must be given by-

(a) delivering it to a police station in the metropolitan police district, or
(b) sending it by post by recorded delivery to such a police station.

UPDATE:
Indymedia have a report and some photos. It seems that the target of over 2000 demonstrations was achieved, which should not, of course, be allowed to be used by the Labour politicians as evidence that somehow the freedom to demonstrate has not been affected by this stupid and repressive law.

March 31, 2007

"Mark Thomas: My Life in Serious Organised Crime" - BBC Radio 4

Comedian Mark Thomas has broadcast (on Thursday 29th March 2007) some of his surreal and record breaking experiences, in trying to protest against the literally ridiculous Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Designated Area around Parliament Square and beyond.

The Labour Government should never have exposed the Metropolitan Police and the legal system to such absurdity with this freedom destroying legislation and bureaucratic incompetence.

Read about his half hour programme "Mark Thomas:My Life in Serious Organised Crime", and some of the listener's comments.

Listen to the programme via the internet via the BBC Listen Again archive (needs Real Player).

December 19, 2006

Parliament Square Carol Service Protest - Wednesday 20th December 7pm

Bloggerheads invite you to the Parliament Square Carol Service Protest tomorrow Wednesday 20th December 2006 from 7pm:

carols.jpg



Preliminary Programme:

(Introduction and welcome)
Come All Ye Faithful
Away in a Manger
Little Drummer Boy
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Deck the Halls
Good King Wenceslas
The First Noel
Joy to the World
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Jingle Bells
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
(Message of thanks followed by a one-minute silence)
Amazing Grace
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night
(The Lord's Prayer; led by Brian Haw)

Legal Implications:

We got away with it last year, but you should be aware that if you attend this carol service, it still classifies as a spontaneous demonstration (of faith, hope, joy and/or religious tolerance) and there is a possibility that you will be cautioned or arrested under Section 132 of the Serious and Organised Crimes and Police Act (2005) (more). The police actually hid last year, but this year they may change their mind, or be under fresh directions from our new 'fit for purpose' Home Secretary (who may decide that we need to be made an example of for daring to challenge his authority).
.

Again, as last year, it will be interesting to compare and contrast how the protestors singing carols in Parliament Square are treated by the Police, with any attendees at the services and concerts held at the adjacent Westminster Abbey.

Westminster Abbey is also within theSerious organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA) Designated Area around Parliament Square and beyuond, and is also a "public place" as defined in Section 132 of SOCPA:


(b) "public place" means any highway or any place to which at the material time the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission,

i.e. according to this stupid law, prior written permission is also required to attend religious or musical events at Westminster Abbey !

October 23, 2006

How much did the October 9th "Sack Parliament" demonstration in Parliament Square cost ?

How much did the October 9th "Sack Parliament" demonstration in Parliament Square cost ?

The Home Office, as usual, claims to have no clue, in their Written Answer to a Parliamentary Question by David Amess MP for Southend West (Conservative).

Hansard 20 Oct 2006 : Column 1459W:

Parliament Square Demonstration

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of people who attended the demonstration in Parliament square on 9 October 2006; how many police officers were present; how many (a) women and (b) men were arrested; whether permission was granted beforehand for the demonstration to take place in Parliament square; what the cost was of policing the demonstration; and if he will make a statement. [95124]

Mr. McNulty: The information requested is not yet available. I will write to the hon. Gentleman when it has been collated by the Metropolitan police.

Given the costs of the Police operations to arrest Brian Haw in May (about £28,000), and the counter-productive Forest Gate raid and shooting incident (1 to 2 million pounds, depending on whether you count normal Police wages, which would have been paid anyway),

Any guesses at over £100.000 ?

We await the Answers about the number of arrests (37 ?) and exactly under which sections of the law they were made.

October 13, 2006

"Sack Parliament" arrests and injuries, but no TV coverage

It appears that the Sack Parliament protest today has had a low turnout, with a heavy Police presence.

Unfortunately it is reported that at least one person had been injured, by hitting his head on the pavement, seriously enough to warrant being taken away by ambulance.

The anarchists and others who were seeking to impede the progress of MPs and Lords to Parliament seem to have utterly failed to block the entrances to Parliament as they intended, and instead, seem to have been penned up in the centre of Parliament Square.

Will any of them be arrested under the SOCPA Designated Area law, or simply under general Public Order offences ?

There is little chance of significant media coverage, given the nuclear bomb test in North Korea and the verdict in the Damilola Taylor murder and John Reid's statement in Parliament about overcrowded prisons etc.

Continue reading ""Sack Parliament" arrests and injuries, but no TV coverage" »

October 11, 2006

Up to 38 arrests at the failed "Sack Parliament" demonstration on Monday ?

ThisIsLocalLondon reports 38 arrests on Monday, during the second phase

Of the 38 arrests, most were for breaching a ban on protests within one mile of Parliament Square. One person is being held on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon, and another for possesing an illegal substance, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

Obviously the words "a ban on protests within one mile of Parliament Square" is not a very accurate description of the Designated Area of rather less than the maximum of 1 kilometer from the nearest point in Parliament Square.

More people could be be served with a summons by post, as a result of the Police photography and demands for names and addresses before they let the small crowd of demonstrators penned in by the Police cordon in the centre of Parliament Square, eventually go home.

There seem to be plenty of photos of of the scuffles and arrests on the IndyMedia website:

There must have been almost the same number of freelance, mainstream media and Police photographers in the area as there were actual demonstrators.

The photos also show how little actual violence there was, apart from the normal struggles of people as they were being arrested, and the traditional British game of push and shove, when a crowd is penned in by a Police cordon.

Once the majority of demonstrators had been forced by the Police into the centre of Parliament Square, the stated aim of the Sack Parliament organisers, to physically prevent access to the Houses of Parliament by MPs and Lords was defeated.

They missed an opportunity to try to peacefully lobby or shame MPs entering the building, and to gather wider media coverage, by virtue of trying to block their physical access, something which cannot be tolerated in a democracy.

Nevertheless, it appears that this is the largest number of people who have been arrested within the SOCPA Designated Area for protesting without prior written permission from the Police, on one day.

It is fundamentally wrong to arrest people who were not being violent and who were not actually obstructing the passage of Members of Parliament and Lords to and from the Houses of Parliament.

October 7, 2006

Please do not try to "Sack Parliament"

This Monday 9th October 2006 sees Parliament resturn after their overlong summer recess.

Unfortunately, there appears to be a planned protest which is being aimed at Parliament itself, rather than about raising public awareness of the repressive policies of the unpopular Labour Government.

The Sack Parliament organisers seem to be intent of trying to block access to the Houses of Parliament with the specific anti-democratic intention of preventing Members of the House of Commons and the Lords from gaining physical access to the building.

Friday's Evening Standard newspaper seems to be looking forward to a riot, something which we do not support.

What right have these people got to try to disenfranchise members of the public in this way by force ?

Just because, collectively, the Opposition and backbench Labour MPs have proven to be ineffective in opposing the Labour Government, does not give any demonstrators the right to censor those MPs and Lords who will be trying to oppose important legislation, such as the Police and Justice Bill in the Lords and the Government Statement on the Cost of the National Identity Register and ID Cards scheme which are scheduled for Monday ?

Is this all a plot to allow the self seeking, ex-communist, Home Secretary John Reid, to grab a few more media soundbites, and pretend to be "tough" on law and order, and thereby try to bolster his campaign to become the unelected Prime Minister rather than Gordon Brown ?

Trying to blocking the access of Members of Parliament does nothing to oppose the the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 section 132 Designated Area law.

Such actions come under the Sessional Order of Parliament, which is passed right at the start of each session of Parliament, and which specifically instructs the Metropolitan Police "to enable free passage by Peers and Members on days on which Parliament is sitting", which they can easily do, with the huge range of public order powers of dispersal and arrest available to them.

The "Sack Parliament" demonstrators are unlikely to be able to do anything effective to prevent the use of the private tunnel from Portcullis House directly into the Palace of Westminster, or anything about the MPs and Lords who arrive in the building before the 1pm kick off on Monday.

September 2, 2006

Freedom Flower Day - October 21st 2006

www.notoextradition.blog.co.uk
moots the idea of:

Freedom Flower Day
Shall we meet to express The freedoms we must repress

Twenty one it should be
October the month of the free

From Lambeth bridge let us cast
A flower for the future and past

To move the House to speak in our name
And not dance to a foreign game

John's dad

Freedom Flower
21st October 2006
Throw a flower from Lambeth bridge into the Thames.
A symbol of our freedoms being thrown away.

Support the No to Extradition Campaign
Why let the USA trample over our freedom?
Give Bush the push!
www.notoextradition.co.uk

The 21st of October 2006 is a Sunday.

Lambeth Bridge is covered by the SOCPA Designated Area.

August 21, 2006

Legal Mass Lone Protest August 31st

The blogger Rachel of North London, a survivor of the July 7th 2005 bomb attacks, famous for her meetings with former Home Secretary Charles Clarke, draws our attention to the forthcoming Legal Mass Lone Protest, being organised by comedian activist Mark Thomas:

Details:

Continue reading "Legal Mass Lone Protest August 31st" »

July 11, 2006

Boris Johnson MP supports the Human Chain around the Designated Area pledge

At the other end of the political spectrum from rikki (see the previous post) is the Conservative Member of Parliament and journalist Boris Johnson.

Boris, via his "Right of Protest" blog article, is supporting the PledgeBank Human Chain Pledge:

"I will form part of a human chain around the Westminster no protest zone but only if 6,000 other people will join in."

-- Richard

Deadline to sign up by: 15th January 2007
1,053 people have signed up, 4947 more needed

June 28, 2006

Institute of Directors to the Home Office - Thursday 29th June 5pm - against the unfair USA-UK Extradition Treaty

Just to remind people that it is not just anti-Iraq war peace demonstrators who are affected by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Designated Area law:

According to the Conservative political blog Iain Dale's Diary:

Karl Watkin isn't just talking about it, he's organising a dignified demonstration of businesses' concern (that's a march to you and me) this THURSDAY 29th JUNE AT 5pm from the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall to the Home Office in Marsham Street, a short distance away.

A letter, addressed to the Home Secretary, will be delivered that expresses the extreme unease among the business community at the UK's extradition arrangements with the US. This concern has been highlighted in particular by the case of Ian Norris, the former chief executive of Morgan Crucible plc and the possible imminent extradition of “The NatWest 3” all of which is thrown into even sharper relief by the current OFT/Department of Justice probe into alleged price fixing at BA.

For no very good reason at a all, the Home Office in Marsham Street is within the Designated Area, as is the London Eye ferris wheel on the other bank of the river Thames, but St. James's Park, literally a stones's throw from Number 10 Downing Street , is not included within the Designated Area, and neither is the IOD in Pall Mall.

It will be interesting to see if dotcom millionaires and people from the Institute of Directors are treated like other demonstrators, some of whom have been refused permission to apply for a demonstration within the Designated Area less than "6 clear days" ahead.


UPDATE:
It appears that one of the organisers of this demonstration has been warned by the Police that anything except business suits i.e. tshirts, placards, slogans etc. will not be tolerated !

The police are taking this v. v. seriously and I have been warned in no uncertain terms that any signs of protest (including slogans, banners etc) and we will be stopped and face arrest.

Continue reading "Institute of Directors to the Home Office - Thursday 29th June 5pm - against the unfair USA-UK Extradition Treaty" »

June 3, 2006

Silent Protest web photo gallery of protestors within the SOCPA Designated Area

sp_banner_wbg.png

SilentProtest.org.uk.is a new protest web gallery website

This site was launched in June 2006 to protest the government's removal of the right to protest within a vaguely defined area that includes the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square - traditionally a common place along any protest route.

Trafalgar Square is within the "1 kilometre in a straight line from the nearest point in Parliament Square" possible zone, but is currently excluded in the Designated Area The exact extent of the boundary of the Designated Area is open to dispute see:

Is the SOCPA Designated Area actually bigger than we have assumed ?

While the right to protest may not be entirely removed (you may request permission to do so, subject to any conditions), the fact that people can no longer freely assemble needs remarking upon. No longer do the government (any government) need to run the risk of being seen to ignore protests - now they can simply ignore the request to protest.

So how to protest the removal of the right to protest? How to protest against the removal of freedoms when those freedoms removed are the ones guaranteeing the freedom to protest?

In what may possibly be seen as a daft move, we're encouraging people to stage a virtual, goverment-un-sanctioned protest. All you need to do is get a picture of yourself, or your friends, within the protest free zone. Assume the pose (hand over mouth), aim and click.

Send them here with your comments and we'll post them to join the rest of the people in this country who feel that enough is enough. And get to feel a little bit naughty by taking part in a protest that at least bends a stupid rule, if not quite breaks it...

Send, and request information via: info@silentprotest.org.uk

Photos should go to: photos@silentprotest.org.uk

N.B. read the Image Guidlines and the Submission Terms and condition, before submitting a photo image.

If you want to remain anonymous, then make sure that you have removed or anonymised any Meta Data which your digital camera might have embedded in the images.

May 25, 2006

It took 78 Police Officers and £7,500 to remove Brian Haw's banners from Parliament Square, according to the Metropolitan Police Authority - UPDATE now it seems it cost £27,754 !

According to David Mery, who attended this morning's meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority, in order to ask his Question, as a member ot the public, about being falsely arrested and having his home searched, DNA and fingerprints and computer equipment taken etc. in the wake of last July's terrorist attacks, an interesting nuggets of information was revealed about the scale and cost of the Metropolitan Police operation to remove Brian Haw's banners and posters from Parliament Square on Tuesday 23rd May 2006.

"it took 78 officers – more than has been reported so far by the press – six hours at a cost of £7,500 to seize Brian Haw's placards;"

Presumably this emerged in response to a question by Jenny Jones, the Green Party Greater London Assembly member of the Metropolitan Police Authority.

It is inconceivable that there could not have been some real criminals that most of those 78 Police Officers, could and should have been dealing with instead.

UPDATE: according to the Daily Mail. the monetary figure is "only" £7,200


It emerged today that 78 officers had been involved and the operation had cost £7,200 - £3,000 on overtime and another £4,200 on transport, catering and the erection of road signs.

[...]

Commander Chris Allison, who was in charge of the operation, said not all of the 78 officers had been deployed - 24 were kept in reserve, while some of the others were evidence-gathering teams who were filming proceedings.

Only eight officers had approached Mr Haw in the first instance, he said.

Mr Haw is due to appear at Bow Street Magistrates' Court on May 30 to answer charges of breaching his conditions to demonstrate in the square.

UPDADTE 2:

The Sunday Telegraph has a story which claims that Sir Ian Blair misled the Metropolitan Police Authority meeting about this cost, which is apparently, a staggering £27,754 !

Sir Ian told the Metropolitan Police Authority on Thursday that the cost of removing a peace camp from Parliament Square, which involved 78 officers, was £7,200.

The following day, the issue was discussed by the Met's management board. Within hours, details of the meeting were passed to a journalist, who contacted Scotland Yard for a comment. That afternoon, Sir Ian admitted that he had misled the authority, as the true cost of dismantling the anti-war protester Brian Haw's placards, including officers' pay, was £27,754

What on earth did they waste all this public money for ?

Londoners should demand an explanation from the Metropolitan Police Service, via a complaint to their local member of the Metropolitan Police Authority about this misleading reporting, and the utter waste of public money.

May 24, 2006

Will Tony Blair avoid the demonstrators in Parliament Square on his way to and from PM Questions today ?

Will Tony Blair avoid all these protestors via the tunnels under Whitehall and the back entrances to Portcullis House and the tunnel from there into the Houses of Parliament for Prime Minister's Questions at noon on Wednesday ??

PRESS RELEASE WEDNESDAY 24 MAY 2006

BRIAN HAW SUPPORTERS GATHER TO GREET TONY BLAIR

Wednesday 24 May, 11am, Parliament Square, London

In protest against the police action of Tuesday 23 May, supporters of Brian Haw will be gathering in Parliament Square this morning. The gathering will coincide with the arrival of Tony Blair to Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.

Last Wednesday, a bell that Mr Haw had been ringing was removed from his possession for a short period of time which coincided with the Prime Minister being driven into Parliament. Despite Mr Haw being told that this was to "prevent the bell being used as a potential missile", it was clear that police were acting to prevent the Prime Minister hearing Mr Haw use the bell. [A]

At 3am yesterday morning the police mounted a massive night-time operation to dismantle Mr Haw's display. They left him with only what would fit into a 3 metre space. Most of his personal possessions were also removed. Three of Mr Haw's supporters were arrested in the process. [B]

The police stated that they were acting to reduce Mr Haw's display in order that it comply with conditions set out under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 under which Mr Haw has been given permission to continue demonstrating.

However, Mr Haw has been summonsed to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court on Tuesday 30 May for failing to comply with the conditions and had hoped that the police would respect his display and refrain from taking matters further until the matter had been heard in court. Mr Haw considers that the conditions are totally unreasonable and his legal team have been considering seeking a judicial review of the conditions.

Mr Haw's placards and banners amounted to both a body of material showing the injustice suffered by people, mainly in Iraq, as a result of this Government's foreign policy and also a huge show of support for Mr Haw's stand for peace and justice by people from all corners of the world.

In support of Mr Haw, Jenny Jones, of the London Assembly Green Party Group, said, “In my view, Brian is doing us all an amazing service. He is the visible presence of widespread opposition to the aggression on Iraq and a constant reminder to both the Blairs (PM and Met Commissioner) that this government is out of touch with the people it wants to govern. If Brian is moved, it means a loss of civil liberties that will diminish the whole of society. I have asked the Metropolitan Police Commissioner how much last night's police operation cost and whether this is was the best use of police resources given all the real problems we face with crime and terrorism.”

CONTACT & INFORMATION
Parliament Square Peace Campaign: 07791 486484 or www.parliament-square.org.uk

A. See the entries for 17 May on
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/05/340346.html

B. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1781182,00.html

Parliament Square Peace Campaign
for supporters of Brian Haw and the right to protest
www.parliament-square.org.uk

May 23, 2006

How many policemen does it take to remove most of Brian Haw's banners and posters from Parliament Square ?

How many policemen does it take to trmovr most of Brian haw's banners and posters from Parliament Square ?

According to this reporter, whose fuller story may will appear in the Evening Standard:

Brian's posters and banners and placards were moved at 2.30am. The police swooped in the middle of the night to avoid confrontation and conflict with protestors.

I believe he is only allowed a single poster and placard from now until the appeal. Police are still there this morning and have cordoned off the road.

There are about 25 officers.

Seems excessive amount to move on one man, but that's the Met for you

BBC report

But so far, it is only placards that have been moved, not Mr Haw himself.

It is understood that any decision on eviction may be decided at Bow Street Magistrates' Court next Tuesday when he will face allegations that he has breached protest conditions.

May 13, 2006

Will Brian Haw be arrested for not complying with the Conditions imposed under the SOCPA Designated Area law ?

PRESS RELEASE Saturday 13 May 2006

BRIAN HAW SUPPORTERS TO GATHER IN SOLIDARITY WITHIN PROTEST EXCLUSION ZONE

SUNDAY 14 MAY, 12 noon, PARLIAMENT SQUARE

Supporters of Brian Haw, the Parliament Square peace protestor, will gather this Sunday in Parliament Square to show solidarity with him and to celebrate
his achievement of speaking out against the government's foreign policy on Iraq for nearly 5 years. [A]

Earlier this week the Home Office won its appeal against a High Court judgement last year that Section 132 of Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA), which bans unauthorised protest in a large area around Parliament, could not be applied retrospectively and therefore did not apply to Brian. [B] This has now been overturned at the Court of Appeal ruling on 8 May 06 and the law does now apply to Brian. [C]

However, Mr Haw still remains with his display in Parliament Square. After the judgement on Monday, Mr Haw was given permission by the police to continue his protest and they issued him with a list of conditions with which he must comply. The very comprehensive conditions include a limit of 3 metres on the size of Mr Haw's display and that no article can conceal or contain other items, and must be arranged in such a way that it is possible to tell at a glance that there are no suspicious items. As Mr Haw has not as yet complied with these conditions he has been reported to the Crown Prosecution Service and they will decide what action to take.

Maya Evans (26) - who recently became the first person to be convicted under SOCPA - will be attending the event. She said, "We expect a large number of people to gather on Sunday which will reflect just how much support Brian has. He has continued to stand day and night for what he believes in and for what many, many people believe in. Brian may be alone on this pavement most of the time, but he is not alone in spirit."

INFORMATION AND CONTACTS
Contact 07791 486484 for more information.
www.parliament-square.org.uk

NOTES:
A. Brian Haw started his continuous vigil opposite Parliament on 2nd June 2001 to protest against the economic sanctions that were having such a disastrous effect of people's lives in Iraq. He has continued to protest against invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. His display shows the injustice and horrors that have been suffered as a result of our government's foreign policy. Brian's message has gone out globally and people visit him from all over the world. Many have left messages of peace that now form part of his display.

B. For more on the High Court ruling, 29 July 2005:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4725907.stm

C. For more on the Court of Appeal judgement, 8 May 2006:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,,1770145,00.html

D. Under the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) anyone wishing to demonstrate within 1km of Parliament

Technically the Designated Area currently in force is somewhat smaller than this maximum extent:

  • "No point in the area so specified may be more than one kilometre in a straight line from the point nearest to it in Parliament Square."

but it is still totally illogical e.g. it covers the London Eye ferris Wheel on the other side of the River Thames from Parliament Square, but it does not cover St. James' Park, literally within a stone's throw of 10 Downing Street.

See Is the SOCPA Designated Area actually bigger than we have assumed ?

must apply to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner at least 6 days in advance or, if not "reasonably practicable", 24 hours in advance. Permission must be granted but the Commissioner can impose draconian conditions on the protest including: when and where it can take place; how long it can last; how many people can attend; how much noise can be made; and the number and size of banners and placards used. In addition, any senior police officer can change the conditions with no notice.

E. See 'MPs condemn arrest of woman who spoke out' (Daily Mail, 9 December 05) and 'Acts of defiance against war turned ordinary people into criminals' (Independent, 8 December 05).


Parliament Square Peace Campaign
for supporters of Brian Haw and the right to protest
www.parliament-square.org.uk

April 29, 2006

Beating the Bounds of the Designated Area - May 1st 2006

Mayday_beating_the_bounds_300.jpg

Beating the Bounds WiKi:

On 1 August 2005 Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA) came into force, making any protest in the 'designated area' - up to 1km around Parliament - illegal unless police permission has first been received.

On 1 May 2006 we will be BEATING THE BOUNDS of this massive protest exclusion zone against our loss of freedoms of association and expression.

We will assemble at 12 noon in Trafalgar Square on 1 May 2006

ON THIS TRADITIONAL DAY OF COMING TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE AND UPHOLD OUR RIGHTS, LETS DEFEND OUR FREEDOM TO PROTEST WITHOUT POLICE PERMISSION

COME AND TAKE PART IN THIS FUN, NOISY, CREATIVE AND PEACEFUL CHALLENGE TO AN AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT

MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW SHORTLY

See here for a reports/photos from a previous Beating the Bounds demo:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/12/329275.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/london/2005/12/329150.html
Lets make this next one really big and really noisy!

A map of the exclusion zone can be seen here:
http://www.met.police.uk/publicorder/images/Section_132_7_boundary.jpg

A detailed description of the boundary of the 'designated area' can be seen here:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051537.htm

For more details on SOCPA and the protests against it see:
http://www.peopleincommon.org
http://www.parliamentprotest.org.uk
http://www.pledgebank.com/protest

Also see Is the SOCPA Designated Area actually bigger than we have assumed ?

April 21, 2006

Saint George's Day event Runnymede to Parliament Square - Ceremonial Burning of the Magna Carta

This weekend sees a peaceful series of events plannedby the PeopleInCommon Sunday picnic demonstrators, to protet against the SOCPA Designated Area loss of our traditional freedoms and liberties, with a series of events this Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd April from Runnymede to Parliament Square on Saint George's Day.

April 22nd and 23rd Reclaim St George Weekend

Come and help us beat The Exclusion Zone around Parliament*

There are four main parts to the action:

[1] From 12 noon Saturday 22nd April Overnight Camp at Runnymede [where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215];

[2] From 1pm Sunday 23rd April Welcome Picnic/Party from 1pm at the Tibetan Peace Gardens at the Imperial War Museum;

[3] From 3pm Sunday 23rd April a non-demonstration march from there to Parliament Square [please dress up and bring blank placards and banners]; and

[4] From 4/5pm Sunday 23rd April Tea Party and Burning of [and game of cricket for the Ashes of] the Magna Carta and s132 of SOCPA*.

There is also being organised a morning picnic at St Georges Hill Weybridge, on the golf course at the site where the Diggers began their revolutionary commune.

More info on all this can be found below..

--- What's It All About

The idea behind this event is to challenge s132 of SOCPA*, do a fun action, learn a bit about English history and Reclaim St Georges Day - for better or for worse, the national day of England - from the far right, all [to quote Shakespeare**] 'in one fell swoop'.

And also to mark the weekend with an alternative 'Freedom Marathon' [the Flora Marathon is taking place on the 23rd too].

We want to use theatre and fun to highlight Tony Blair's cavalier approach to our ancient constitutional freedoms [as embodied in and developed through the Magna Carta of 1215] but also to invoke the best traditions of the civil rights movement, by placing our action firmly in historic context.

And we want it to be a celebration of our eccentricity and diversity, a way of reclaiming England's national day from the far right, a way of bringing together people from different backgrounds in common cause.

Standing up for rights and against authoritarianism. And having fun!

More info on each section is given below.

Continue reading "Saint George's Day event Runnymede to Parliament Square - Ceremonial Burning of the Magna Carta" »

March 12, 2006

Stop the War Coalition demonstration on Saturday March 18th - a first test of the Conditions aspects of SOCPA Designated Area law ?

Interestingly , the Stop the War Coalition press release (see below) claims that

The Metropolitan Police seem set to withdraw permission for demonstrators to assemble in the Square

The Police could withdraw permission for a procession or march which blocks traffic on the highway, under the various laws which govern those e.g. sections 11 to 14 of the Public Order Act 1986.

However , under Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, they cannot actually withdraw permission, since that has to be automatically granted if a written application is made "at least 6 clear days" or at least 24 hours" beforehand

What they can do under Section 135. is to arbitrarily add to or change the Conditions which may or may not have been imposed when the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis autoomatically granted permission for a "demonstration" within the Designated Area.

It will be interesting to see if there are any arrests for breaking the terms of such conditions, which will be a first use of those particular sections of this dreadful law.

Stop the War Coalition Press Release:

Continue reading "Stop the War Coalition demonstration on Saturday March 18th - a first test of the Conditions aspects of SOCPA Designated Area law ?" »

January 31, 2006

BBC: "Thousands of demonstrators expected outside Parliament" against the Racial and Religous Hatred Bill

According to the BBC

Tuesday, 31 January 2006,

Religious hate bill goes to vote

Thousands of demonstrators are expected outside Parliament as MPs vote on plans to ban incitement to religious hatred.

Ministers want religious groups to have the same protection from hate crimes as racial groups.

The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill has undergone substantial changes in the Lords but the government hopes to push through a compromise amendment.

Critics claim the bill is drawn too widely and could stop free speech and unfairly target artists.

[...]

At a press conference on Monday, comedian Rowan Atkinson, who has been a prominent critic of the bill, said: "No one deserves a right to freedom from criticism."

Government attempts to include an offence of being "reckless" about stirring up hatred could affect performers, he added.

[...]

Labour backbencher Bob Marshall-Andrews said the legislation was "going to have a chilling effect on not just religion but on the whole spectrum of freedom of speech".

[...]

Liberal Democrat human rights spokesman Evan Harris said Tuesday's vote on the bill would be parliament's last chance to protect free speech.

'Freedom to ridicule'

"These freedoms to speak and to argue, to criticise and indeed to ridicule, once lost, are very rarely got back.

Shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve said his party would do "everything it can to work with others in parliament to remove the worst parts of the governments' proposals".

Under the proposed law the offence of inciting racial hatred would carry a maximum prison sentence of seven years.

Has prior written permission been applied for ? The event does not seem to be listed on the Metropolitan Police public order pages of road closures etc.

What conditions have been imposed ?

Is this one single demonstration ?

How are the Police meant to be able to tell if there are in fact several separate demonstrations or not ?

Remember that even inside the Palace of Westeminster, where people go to lobby their Members of Parliament, the public areas inside, are a "public place". according to the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 200 section 132

(b) "public place" means any highway or any place to which at the material time the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission,

Will people be arrested for simply lobbying their MPs in the traditional manner, wearing "political" clothing, or carrying campaign literature or banners ?

January 19, 2006

Parliamentary Answer: there have been 28 people arrested in the SOCPA Designated Area since 1st August 2005

Home Office Minsiter Paul Goggins provided a Written Parliamentary Answer:


16 Jan 2006 : Column 1091W—continued

[...]

Parliament (Protests)

16. Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested for protesting within a mile of Parliament since 1 August 2005. [41784]

Paul Goggins: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has informed me that there have been 28 arrests for taking part in an unauthorised demonstration in the designated area since 1 August 2005.

Does this total include this mystery man who was one of the very first to be arrested on 1st August 2005 ?

January 10, 2006

Does the presence of the press and media prevent you from being arrested within the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square and beyond ?

There is a report about the 7/7 remebrance ceremony at the Cenotaph on Saturday, with photos published by Indymedia: socpa legislation successfully challenged today by 7/7 remembrance ceremony

This poses the very pertinent question about the presence of the of the press and media on the likelyhood of being arrested or not, for exactly the same activities, within the Designated Area

a pattern is emerging that police only arrest people when they think that they can get away with it without much media attention.

when american anti-war activist cindy sheehan came over to meet brian haw in parliament square in december, police issued a socpa warning telling them to disperse, but as the deadline passed, a crowd of up to a hundred people staged a full-scale demonstration, marching up to the gates of downing street with banners and chants, and because of the sensitive nature of any arrests in the week maya evans had appeared all over the media, they backed down and allowed the protest to continue.

just before christmas, a 'carol-singing' congregation in parliament square listened and cheered while brian haw harangued the government, and a megaphone was briefly used illegally. the crowd numbered more than a hundred, and yet the police failed to investigate, and studiously ignored the throng rather than be reported by the attendant media as arresting carol-singers.

the previous day however, barbara tucker had been arrested and charged under the act for standing alone outside parliament with a placard stating "i am not the organised criminal". there were no press around on that occasion.

today, media attended the ceremony, and so despite the fact it was virtually a rerun of maya's offence (though with a larger crowd of 9 rather than 2!), the police watched but did not act. when questioned, one of them said they were just keeping an eye on things and said "we're not all bastards".

on the 18th an activist is due in court - he was attending a picnic at parliament square in august, and was nicked for wearing an 'a4' size placard around his neck stating 'protest my right'. and yet today, one of the participants was wearing the exact same banner in full view of the police but was not even warned let alone arrested. press included spanish tv, london tonight, channel 4, news of the world, and the evening standard. could this explain the police reticence? another banner asked for a public inquiry into the london bombings.

do you see a pattern?

so a word of advice if you want to demonstrate in the exclusion zone. make sure the press is there, and it seems you'll be immune. go alone, and face the consequences.

If thre risk of being arrested or not, for identical activities e.g. standing near the Cenotaph in Whitehall and posing no security threat whatsoever, depends , not on the safeguards to our freedoms and liberties as laid down in law, but on the decisions of public relations spin doctors, then what is the difference between NuLabour Britain and a banana republic or a tinpot dictatorship ?

Write to your Member of Parliaemnt urging them to repeal this offensive and repressive SOCPA section 132 to 138 legislation, which is bringing the law into disrepute and wasting police and court resources, without making the public any safer at all.

January 5, 2006

6 month Anniversary Memorial Service in Remembrance of the July 7th 2005 London bomb attacks. Also what would have been the 28th birthday of Jean Charles de Menezes

This Saturday 7th January 2006:

7/7 Anniversary Memorial Service.

This Saturday at 3pm there will be held an informal ceremony at the Cenotaph, near Downing Street on Whitehall for the half-year anniversary of the London bombings.

In remembrance of past, present and future acts of war, terror and aggression against people everywhere, we will share silent and spoken prayers for the coming year. And in solidarity with Maya Evans*, there will also be a public bell ringing and a reading of the names of all those who died on the London transport system on 7th July 2005.

* The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 [also known as SOCPA] makes it a criminal offence to demonstrate without police control within 1km of Westminster. On 9th December 2005 Maya became the first person to be convicted under this awful legislation. She and the writer Milan Rai were arrested for ringing bells and reading aloud the names of Iraq war victims immediately outside Downing Street.

Please come and join us for our 7/7 Anniversary Memorial Service. This Saturday 7th January 2006, 3pm at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, Westminster.

For more info about the service please call Mark on 0785 439 0408

Service organised by individual members of www.peopleincommon.org in liason with others.

UPDATE: Saturday 7th January 2006 would have been the 28th birthday of Jean Charles de Menezes the innocent Brazilian who was shot dead at Stockwell Tube station on 22nd Jujly 2005.

New Scotland Yardis is also just within the Designated Area, so it will be intersting to see if any of Jean Charles de Menezes family and supporters are arrested under SOCPA.

December 28, 2005

Catholic peace group not arrested in the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square

via Craig Murray (former UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan):

The BBC reports:

Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 17:35 GMT
Iraq protest in 'demo ban zone'

More demonstrators have gathered in an "exclusion zone" to test the limits of a law banning protests without the police authorisation.

Catholic peace group Pax Christi read out names of children killed in the Iraq conflict at Downing Street.

Members said prayers at the event, which did not have police permission, but officers chose not to intervene.

[snip]

Pax Christi's British chairman Stuart Hemsley told the BBC News website he read out the names of 29 British soldiers with children, who had been killed in Iraq.

The group also picked out the names of 50 Iraqi children aged five and under.

"We had no problems from the police whatsoever, they just stood there looking stony-faced. It was as if we weren't there.

"I am not disappointed I have not been arrested but I wonder if this will now set a precedent."

He said the group of 15 wanted to pray and worship at the seat of power in the hope they would continue to raise awareness of the situation in Iraq.

This seems to be a moral victory, or a victory for common sense.

No doubt some spin doctor or other, either at the Metropolitan Police, or in the Labour Government has decided to try to avoid a repeat of the Daily Mail and The Independent front page headlines, which followed from Maya Evans' conviction for exactly the same sort of activity as the Pax Christi group.

How can the Metropolitan Police continue to "turn a blind eye" to some "demonstrations" within the Designated Area, but not to others ?

What happened to the principle of "equality before the law" ?

Have the Met been given "advice" or instructions from the Home Office etc. ? Or is this policy of standing by and shiftily not even meeting the gaze of Carol Singers or Christian peace activists one which they have come up with on their own ?

December 27, 2005

First person in court for holding a "demonstration" on their own in the SOCPA Designated Area.

The first person to be arrested for holding a "demonstration" on their own without prior written permission from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, within the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Designated Area, is due to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court around 10am Wednesday 29th December 2005.

We think that Barbara Tucker was arrested on Monday 19th December 2005, near Parliament carrying a banner saying "I am not the Serious Organised Criminal".

She seems to be the first person to have been arrested and charged under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 section 132(1) (c)

132 Demonstrating without authorisation in designated area (1) Any person who-

[snip]

(c) carries on a demonstration by himself in a public place in the designated area,

According to Section 136 of SOCPA, this could attract the penalty of a criminal record (DNA, fingerprints etc. retained forever) and a potential fine of up to £ 1,000

(2) A person guilty of an offence under section 132(1)(b) or (c) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

How can one unarmed person, on their own, pose any threat or hinderance to the operations of the Houses of Parliament whatsoever ?

This brings the number of people we know about, arrested so fa under SOCPA, to 22, although there may actually be more than this.

December 21, 2005

BBC Traffic JamCam picture of the Parliament Square Carol Service - no arrests yet

18_25.jpg BBC Radio London JamCam Whitehall/Parliament Square, 18:25 Wed 21st Dec 2005

The BBC Radio London website provides a few "JamCam" pictures periodically grabbed from some of London's CCTV cameras used for traffic management.

Usually, these non-real time images, every 5 or 10 minutes, are censored whenever there is any kind of Police "incident", either by no longer updating the image or by displaying a "not available for operational reasons" graphic.,

This rather defeats the whole point of providing informatuion to commuters so that they can plan their journeys to and from work, and avoid traffic jams.

Today's Carol Service in Parliament Square, due to start at 18:00, has not yet been censored and does show a few people gathering in the bottom right of the image, from the Whitehall/Parliament Square camera

.

Media interest in the Carol Service in Parliament Square

The national media are starting to take an interest in today's planned Carol Service in Parliament Square.

The BBC reports that

"Singers defy Parliament demo ban

Carol singers are to become the latest group to defy a ban on unauthorised protests around Parliament.

The group will test the limits of the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act by singing in Parliament Square from 1800 GMT on Wednesday."

"A Scotland Yard spokeswoman was not able to comment on whether a carol service constituted a demonstration and said a decision about whether to take action would be taken on the day".

If there are any arrests under SOCPA, then there should also be arrests at the Service of Lessons & Carols due to be held at 4pm on Saturday 24th December 2005 in Westminster Abbey since it is also within the Designated Area and is a public place:

(b) "public place" means any highway or any place to which at the material time the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission,

December 16, 2005

Public Carol Service, Parliament Square, Wed 21st Dec, 6pm

Tim Ireland from Bloggerheads invites everyone to:

PUBLIC CAROL SERVICE

6pm Wednesday 21st December 2005

With apologies to Amnesty International....You are cordially invited to a public carol service in Parliament Square at 6pm on Wednesday the 21st of December 2005.

This inclusive service will contain both Christian and secular verse, and is expected to last no more than an hour.

Candles and song sheets will be made available, with donations going to Medical Aid for Iraqi Children.

Programme:
(Introduction and welcome)
Come All Ye Faithful
Away in a Manger
Little Drummer Boy
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Deck the Halls
Good King Wenceslas
The First Noel
Joy to the World
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Jingle Bells
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
(Message of thanks followed by a one-minute silence)
Amazing Grace
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night
(The Lord's Prayer; led by Brian Haw)

Legal Implications:
Please note that if you attend this carol service, it will classify as a spontaneous demonstration (of faith, hope, joy and/or religious tolerance) and there is a possibility that you will be cautioned or arrested under Section 132 of the Serious and Organised Crimes and Police Act 2005 (more).

This very important point is being made:

In this instance, the police have not been notified. They've been invited, certainly, but they have not been notified. We believe that the public has the right to gather in a public place and sing Christmas carols. The police may see things differently; we shall see. (Technically, under the act, while this may be a spontaneous demonstration of faith, hope, joy and/or religious tolerance, it still classifies as a demonstration.)

December 11, 2005

Human Chain around the Designated Area - sign the pledge

Following the "Beating the Bounds" of the SOCPA Designated Area, you can now sign up for a "Human Chain":

http://www.pledgebank.com/protest

"I will form part of a human chain around the Westminster no protest zone but only if 6,000 other people will join in."

— Richard

Deadline to sign up by: 1st May 2006
21 people have signed up, 5979 more needed

November 27, 2005

Two more "bell-ringing ceremony" protestors arrested outside Parliament Friday 25th November 2005

Two more "bell-ringing ceremony" peace protestors ( Giulia and Anna-Linnéa) were arrested outside Parliament on Friday 25th November 2005.

Indymedia has some photos of the arrests:

"Two women were arrested on Friday 25th November while holding a bell-ringing ceremony outside Parliament to remember the estimated 100,000 people who had died since the beginning of the war in Iraq.

The women were arrested for being 'participants in an unauthorised demonstration'. The police were very reluctant to arrest and briefly authorised the protest but then banned it again when the women refused to give their details on the grounds that if the demonstration was now 'authorised' they should not be obliged to give their names.

The police also helpfully suggested that the two women join Brian Haw on the opposite pavement as he is the only person exempt from the laws ironically introduced to prevent his permanent anti-war display. However, as Brian's side of the pavement is now practically devoid of passers-by, this option was also turned down.

One policeman was heard saying 'I wish I could join you. I wish I could do what you're doing. This is filthy. This is very hard for all of us'.

The women were taken to Charing Cross police station but later released without charges. As well as being reluctant to arrest, the Police also seemed concerned at the possibility of two more people challenging the new laws.

19 people are currently facing charges under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (2005) which outlaws protests without police permission within 1km of Parliament. Let's hope that more will challenge this absurd and immoral law".

"On 25th October Milan Rai and Maya Evans of Justice Not Vengeance were arrested for holding a similar ceremony outside Downing Street. The two womens' action that took place outside Parliament on 25th November was undertaken in solidarity with Milan, Maya and all the other protesters arrested under the new legislation preventing demonstrations within 1 km of Parliament. "

The Designated Area is currently less than the maximum 1km in a straight line from the nearest point in Parliament Sqaure, but it is still repressively huge.

A comment on the Indymedia article link above says:

"according to police who compile the figures, at the time of milan rai's arrest a couple of weeks ago (for a similar remembrance protest outside downing street), the number of those facing charges under the soca law was already 27"

This is rather more than we have hear about, and perhaps we will have another go at a Freedom of Information Act request to find out for sure (not easy due to the bureaucracy and the far from seamless computer systems which the Metropolitan Police employ).

November 21, 2005

Beating the Bounds of the SOCPA Designated Area - Sunday 4th December 2005, 1pm

In the spirit of the ancient tradition of Beating the Bounds of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Designated Area around Parliament Square and beyond:

The Parliament Square Picnickers Present

Beating the Bounds

Sunday 4th December 1pm

As part of our ongoing defiance of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (2005) which outlaws protests without police permission and places harsh restrictions on any organised event within 1 km of parliament, we will march and mark the edge of the Democracy Free Zone (DFZ), following the medieval tradition of marking the boundaries of private land by beating landmarks with sticks. These include Shell House, the BA London Eye, Lambeth Palace and Scotland Yard.

Meet in Trafalgar Square beside Nelson’s Column at 1pm. For those who wish to do half the route meet at Lambeth Palace at approximately 2pm, where refreshments will be served in a very civilized fashion. We strongly urge anyone who feels that these laws infringe upon their human rights and freedom of speech to come along and show support.

It's your Parliament, and it's your Square, so be there!

For more information go to
www.peopleincommon.org

Technically the boundary of the Designated Area is the outermost extent of the pavement along the streets mentioned in the Designated Area Order, so there is no actual need to physically "beat", for example, the Security Service MI5 building or the Metropolitan Police HQ at New Scotland Yard, or Downing Street which may well have intimidating armed guards patrolling outside them, the "Bounds" are on the opposite side of the roadway from these buildings:

Continue reading "Beating the Bounds of the SOCPA Designated Area - Sunday 4th December 2005, 1pm" »

November 14, 2005

Greenpeace block Downing Street with piles of coal

It appears that Greenpeace have again taken some "direct action" protests within the Designated Area, this time by dumping heaps of coal at the entrances to Downing Street, according to The Guardian report, to protest about global energy policies, greenhouse gas emmissions etc.

Greenpeace report of their protest:

"Greenpeace volunteers blockaded three entrances to Downing Street as Tony Blair rows back on his commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. In a series of statements in recent weeks the Prime Minister has cast doubt on his long-term support for the global agreement, while British emissions of carbon-dioxide have risen since he came to power.

At 7.30am a truck emblazoned with the slogan 'Blair - Climate Failure' arrived at the Horse Guard's Road entrance to Mr Blair's residence. Greenpeace representatives informed police officers what they were about to do before the vehicle tipped several tonnes of coal in front of the gates. Simultaneously 50 Greenpeace volunteers emptied sacks of the polluting fuel across the King Charles Street entrance and the access point on Horse Guards parade. A tipper truck with 14 tonnes of coal, emblazoned with the slogan 'Things Can Only Get Wetter' which was destined for the Whitehall entrance was stopped by police"

No reports of any arrests under SOCPA.

Is the SOCPA law being applied more leniently towards Greenpeace protestors than to other demonstrators ?

It is inconceivable that if Greenpeace had applied for prior permission to do this, they would not have had conditions imposed on them which prevented this sort of "block the entance to a Government building" protest. This is their their second such protest within the Designated Area within a month, having previously blocked the entrance to DEFRA with illegally logged plywood.

How did a 14 tonne tipper truck blithely drive up to the gates of Downing Street, avoiding all the supposed anti-truck bomb measures ?

November 8, 2005

State visit of Communist Chinese leader Hu Jintao

The last time a leader from Communist China, Jiang Zemin, was feted by the British Government on a State visit, back in 1999, there were arrests of peaceful "Free Tibet" demonstrators, confiscation of flags and banners etc.

What will happen this time with the vist of Hu Jintao who arrives in London for a 3 day State visit, now that the extra Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Designated Area penalties are in force, covering many of the venues where the increasingly authoritarian and repressive leader will meet his Chinese counterpart., and at which peaceful demonstrators will be present. ?

Free Tibet Campaign

Falun Gong

November 5, 2005

Teddy Bear's Picnic - noon Sunday 6th November - Parliament Square

pic_logo.gif

PeopleinCommon.org

SUNDAY 6TH NOVEMBER:TEDDY BEARS PICNIC     

Hello everyone, make sure you are at the square this Sunday from around 12noon. Bring yourself and your teddys. Tea and cakes will be provided as usual but MAKE SURE YOU ARE THERE. The teddy's are all fired up [no apathy in the land of cuddly toys!] and also all fed up with the current criminalisation of protest in Westminster. NO to s132!! They are determined to make their views heard! So make sure you bring your teddy along and give him or her voice this Sunday...  and don't forget to bring something nice to share 

For more information on this event please email one of us: matthew1butcher@hotmail.com or call Mark on 0785 439 0408

October 28, 2005

Critical Mass bicycle ride - hundreds ride within the Designated Area

Indymedia have a report about the London Critical Mass monthly cycle ride, on this last Friday of the month (an event which has been happening for at least 11 years)., and which has been threatened by the Metropolitan Police, citing the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act for "static demonstrations"and the Public Order Act for "processions", neither of which should apply to a bunch of people on bicycles.

The Indymedia report claims 1500 to 2000 cyclists, and a couple of sound systems (i.e. loudspeakers prohibited by the SOCPA) across Waterlloo Bridge, Parliament Square and Whitehall.

Has anyone been arrested ?

October 19, 2005

Greenpeace illegal timber demonstration outside DEFRA within the Designated Area

Greenpeace today held a demonstration about illegally imported non-renewable rainforest timber outside the offices of Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Shortly after 7.30am this morning, Greenpeace activists blockaded government offices in London in protest. The activists dumped over a tonne of plywood secured with large chains over the entrance to DEFRA, the UK Government's department responsible for the environment. Two activists chained themselves to the plywood to prevent it being removed, and climbers scaled the outside of the building and secured a banner reading 'Ban Illegal Timber'.

Both the Smith Square and Horesferry Road buildings belonging to Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
are within the Designated Area.

Did Greenpeace obtain prior written permission from the Metropolitan Police ? If they did, was the "one tonne of illegally imported timber" which blocked the entrance allowed under the Conditions which were imposed by the Police ?

Continue reading "Greenpeace illegal timber demonstration outside DEFRA within the Designated Area" »

October 12, 2005

Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation approves the Statutory Instrument setting out the Designated Area around Parliament, by 8 votes to 7.

The Standing Committee for Delegated Legislation met on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the Designated Area Statutory Instrument.

Unfortunately this Committee could, as with all such SI's only vote to Reject or Accept the Statutory Instrument as a whole, and not to amend it.

Accordingly, despite some convincing points by the Liberal Democrat David Heath, and the Conservative Edward Garnier, and even from Harry Cohen and Robert Wareing on the Labour side, when it came to a vote, the SI was approved by 8 votes to 7.

We will link to the Hansard account of the debate when it becomes available online. (now available online)

Continue reading "Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation approves the Statutory Instrument setting out the Designated Area around Parliament, by 8 votes to 7." »

October 11, 2005

The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship - rally against the Religous Hatred Bill -- 1pm - 4pm Tuesday 11th October, Parliament Square

The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship , which represents about 2000 lawyers, is holding a rally today Tuesday 11th October 2005 from 1pm to 4pm outside Parliament, not actually in Parliament Square but opposite the Peers Entrance, but still within the Designated Area.

Religious Hatred Law Rallies: Political Rally Political Rally outside the Houses of Parliament

"There will be a POLITICAL RALLY outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster on the day the Religious Hatred Bill goes to the House of Lords: Tuesday the 11th October. The rally will take place in the afternoon commencing at 1pm and finishing at 4pm.
The assembly point will be the Old Palace Yard opposite the peers’ entrance to Parliament. A map and other information can be found on the bottom of the document. Marshals will be on hand to help on the day and again, any updates will be placed on this site.

Please e-mail via the website www.christianconcernforournation.co.uk if you have any queries.

Further information is available at another website: www.ReligiousHatredLaw.info."

Have the organisers of this event applied for prior permission ?

Such a polictical rally, would , in the past have traditionally made use of loud speaker systems, but, of course, these are now prohibited under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

We will be interested in any reports regarding any variations or amendments in the Conditions which may be imposed arbitrarily on the day by the senior police officers present.

October 3, 2005

Critical Mass monthly cycle rides under threat from the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act

It appears that participants in the the long established monthly London Critical Mass cycle rides, which have been happening on the last Friday of the month, every month for at least the last 10 years, are now being threatened with the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act Designated Area powers.

An email correspondent writes:

Continue reading "Critical Mass monthly cycle rides under threat from the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act" »

September 24, 2005

STWC Peace & Liberty March

Today's Stop the War Coalition March for Peace & Liberty, from Parliament Square to Hyde Park, is, presumbaly, covered by the existing public order legislation covering marches and processions, i.e. ones which might cause obstruction to traffic on the roadways.

As such, it is unlikley to attract any arrests under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Designated Area offences, but anything is possible under these arbitrary powers.

September 18, 2005

5 more arrests in Parliament Square - but were they under SOCPA ?

rikki has posted a report about Sunday 18th September's arrests in Parliament Square in a posting on the Indymedia UK website (which too often seems to suffer from technical and legal "collateral damage").

Were these arrests under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, or were they under other Police powers ?

"more arrests at parliament square under soca law today rikki | 18.09.2005 19:29 | Indymedia | London

five people were arrested late this afternoon for defying the ban on 'unauthorised protest' in parliament square under the new serious organised crime act legislation which became effective at the start of august this year

this afternoon's pro-democracy demonstration started well, with a small crowd sporting banners with many varied slogans contesting the draconian ban on protest in parliament square. armed with lists of bye-laws, protesters urged police to arrest people on all sorts of archaic and bizarre grounds, but without success. it seemed there was no quota for this afternoon!

later on, the crowd decided to move on to the south bank where preparations are underway for this evening's 'festival of light' public festival and procession attended by ken livingstone. although still in the 'designated area' the group was told by officers from lambeth police that they could carry on and so they demonstrated and informed people about the law in the area near the london eye. at one point private security guards tried to stop them, but as the police had basically given permission, they gave up a bit confused."

The Designated Area apparently comes under the jurisdiction of 3 different bits of the Metropolitan Police - most of it is under Westminster Borough Operational Command Unit (usually Charing Cross Police Station), the London Eye etc. South Bank of the Thames is under Lambeth Borough Operational Cammand Unit (probably Kennington Police Station), and then there is the Palace of Westminster Divsion (SO17).

Map of the Designated Area

"it was apparent once again that most people were unaware of this anti-democratic legislation, and many expressed surprise and disgust when they were informed.

some of the group decided to return to parliament square, and while attempting to hang a banner round churchill's neck they came to the attention of the police once again, and this time there were five arrests. it is not known whether soca legislation was used or whether other laws relating to the banner drop were used. the arrested are being held at charing cross police station this evening."

Surely that was a tactical mistake ? Posing in front of the statue of Sir Winston Churchill for press and media photos with banners is one thing, but foolishly draping or attempting to drape banners on the statue itself, was bound to be seen as "conspiracy to cause criminal damage" in the "reasonable opinion or belief" of the Police.

"meanwhile one or two protesters are still roaming the crowds at the south bank informing the crowds of this law, and hoping to both take part in the procession and to meet up with red (haha) ken as he does his customary walkabout.

to date, there have been 12 prior arrests under the new legislation and some of those waiting for charges on police bail are under condition not to return to parliament square. this condition is likely to be challenged in the courts, as of course will the whole law be if charges are finally brought.

there are ongoing protests, picnics and discussion groups at parliament square every sunday from noon, and you are all urged and welcome to attend - you can decide for yourself what level of challenge you wish to make to the law and thus whether to personally risk arrest, but at present it seems safe to simply go there and chat and picnic as police seem to be under political control and are simply targetting organisers and arresting quotas as instructed.

rikki"

If these arrests were under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, and none of the people involved have been arrested more than once, there could now be 17 people facing criminal charges, since 1st August 2005, for demonstrating peacefully about the curtailment of the right of free assembly, freedom of speech and freedom to protest or demonstrate peacefully.

August 30, 2005

The Guardian: Picnicking protester arrested outside parliament

The Guardian reports:


Picnicking protester arrested outside parliament

Matthew Tempest, political correspondent
Tuesday August 30, 2005


A free speech activist arrested after a weekend "tea party" on Parliament Square has vowed to continue the campaign against new laws which restrict the right to protest outside the House of Commons.
Mark Barrett was arrested on Sunday after a midday picnic on the grass opposite Big Ben, aimed at demonstrating the severity of the clampdown on unauthorised protests.

Today he said the Sunday tea parties - which he claims are not demonstrations, but "Mad Hatter's Tea Party meets Speaker's Corner" and therefore are not subject to the new law - would continue.

Continue reading "The Guardian: Picnicking protester arrested outside parliament" »

August 26, 2005

12 Noon Every Sunday, Parliament Square London Picnic/Tea Party Protest

Press Release: 12 Noon Every Sunday, Parliament Square London Picnic/Tea Party Protest

Press: More Info at 0785 439 0408

"The Founding of the People’s Commons London, August 2005

Right Honourable Ladies and Gentlemen

You are cordially invited to join us for our weekly People’s Commons Meeting/Tea Party/Picnic-Protest on the Green at Parliament Square, Westminster. We meet every Sunday at 12 Noon on the Green in front of The House of Commons!

Continue reading "12 Noon Every Sunday, Parliament Square London Picnic/Tea Party Protest" »

August 19, 2005

Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign vigil protesting against Sir Ian Blair, the very man to whom they have to apply for prior written permission to demonstrate

On Monday 22nd August there is due to be another vigil in memory of Jean Charles de Menezes, presumably as dignified as the vigils held in July in Parliament Square, and opposite the New Scotland Yard Metropolitan Police headquarters, both of which are within the current Designated Area The vigil / service at the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathederal is outside the current Designated Area, but within the "1 kilometre in a straight line" maximum extent of the Designated Area.

Monday 22nd August's vigil will be, according to the BBC,"outside 10 Downing Street at 1800 BST (1700 GMT)", which is definately within the Designated Area.

To be fair to the politicians who brokered the undemocratic "wash up" procedure, at the end of the last Parliament, after the General Election had been called, by means of which the most controversial clauses of the Seruious Organised Crime and Police Bill were dropped (those to do with "incitement of religous hatred", which have re-surfaced as a separate Bill in this Parliament), but which allowed the other controversial clauses to do with the Designated Area, and the extension of a police constables the powers of arrest to all offences to go through "on the nod" , without proper scrutiny or debate, it is unlikely that they could have forseen the Stockwell Tube station killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, and the role played by Sir Ian Blair, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

The family and supporters of Jean Charles de Menezes, are understandably calling for the resignation of Sir Ian Blair, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to take responsibility for his police force's catalogue of blunders, which lead to the killing of an innocent man, and for the subsequent media spin, disinformation and possible attempts at a coverup.

Now, in August, in order to peacefully protest at this scandalous situation, the demonstrators have now to apply in writing beforehand, to the "Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis" i.e. to Sir Ian Blair himself, the very man that they are protesting against.

More information:

Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign
PO Box 273
London E7

07956 210332 / 07931 337890

Justice4jean@hotmail.co.uk


www.justice4jean.com

Another Sunday Picnic protest in Parliament Square

There will be another Peaceful Protest Picnic starting at 12 noon, this Sunday 21st August 2005 in Parliament Square, to protest against the iniquitous restrictions on protests without prior written permission.

All demonstrations and protests, even by a single person, no matter what the cause or politics, are affected by this disproportionate legislation.

For the technically proficient, there is now a WiKi which has been set up which people can edit or post to (no registration or password required):

http://www1.atwiki.com/picnic/

Hopefully this event will not have to become a regular one, and the Government will see sense and repeal this stupid law, before it is forced to do so by a legal challenge under the Human Rights Act.

The "Parliament Square 10" , are , in fact now the Parliament Square 11, as Chris Coverdale was arrested last Sunday.

August 17, 2005

Remembrance Sunday, wearing a Red Poppy and the Designated Area forbidding demonstrations without prior written permission in Whitehall and near the Cenotaph War Memorial

The 60th anniversary ceremonies commemorating the end of World War 2, will make this year's Remembrance Sunday on November 13th particularly important.

However, is wearing a Royal British Legion Red Poppy before, during or after the annual Remembrance Sunday demonstrations and ceremonies, within the Designated Area i.e. Whitehall and the Cenotaph War Memorial, without individual prior written permission, now illegal ?

Even if the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, actually wanted to exempt everyone who was wearing a Red Poppy from having to apply for prior written permission, there is no legal mechanism for him to do so. He must automatically grant such permission once it has been applied for in writing, and may choose not to apply any further conditions, but he has no discretion under the Act as it has been enacted.

It is impossible for anyone to argue that the whole purpose of the Centaph War Memorial, to demonstrate solidarity and remembrance with the victims and participants of various wars, the wreath laying ceremonies, the purchase and wearing of Royal British Legion Red Poppies, the "two minute silence" etc. are not an "organised demonstration". Therefore these activities within the Designated Area must fall foul of the Act, even though they are entirely traditional, peaceful and highly laudable.

Surely there must be equality before the Law, and it must be equally and fairly applied to everyone ?

Will the Metropolitan Police enforce the law against the Members of Parliament, the members of the Royal Family, VIPs and other dignatories who attend the Cenotaph ceremonies on November 13th ?

Surely the Government must repeal this stupid law before such a shameful national disgrace is allowed to happen ?

Continue reading "Remembrance Sunday, wearing a Red Poppy and the Designated Area forbidding demonstrations without prior written permission in Whitehall and near the Cenotaph War Memorial" »

August 15, 2005

Activists in Court over new Anti-Protest Exclusion Zone around Parliament - Bow Street Magistrates' Court, 9.30am Tuesday 16th August

PRESS RELEASE
15 August 2005

ACTIVISTS IN COURT OVER NEW ANTI-PROTEST EXCLUSION ZONE AROUND PARLIAMENT

Bow Street Magistrates Court, 9.30am, Tuesday 16 August: Ten people arrested earlier this month during unauthorised demonstrations in the new anti-protest "exclusion zone" around Parliament will appear in court on Tuesday morning to plead "not guilty" to charges of participating in an unauthorised protest in the zone "without lawful authority or reasonable excuse." Among other things the ten - who will be outside the court at 9.30am with a banner reading "Defending the Right to Protest" - are expected to challenge the legality of the zone, which effectively removes the right to meaningful protest within 1km of the House of Commons.

Five of the defendants were arrested during a 1 August protest in Parliament Square organised by the Stop the War Coalition [A]. The remainder were arrested during a 'Mass Act of Defiance' in the Square on 7 August [B]

Under the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) anyone wishing to demonstrate in the "designated area" around Parliament - which includes the Square, extends as far as the London Eye and includes all of Whitehall and a large part of Westminster - must apply to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner at least 6 days in advance or, if not "reasonably practicable", 24 hours in advance. Permission must be granted but the Commissioner can impose draconian conditions on the protest including: when and where it can take place; how long it can last; how many people can attend; how much noise can be made; and the number and size of banners and placards used [A].

One of the defendants, Emma Sangster said: "The new Act allows the police to make political decisions as to who may protest - and how - near Parliament, something clearly unacceptable in a free society. Protest and dissent are the source of many of the rights and freedoms we enjoy today and have played a crucial role in helping to end injustices such as Apartheid. We intend to challenge the legality of this zone and to expose just how unjust and draconian it is."

PRESS CONTACTS
Prasanth Visweswaran 07838 101491, Emma Sangster 07791 486484

NOTES
[A] See http://politics.guardian.co.uk/commons/story/0,9061,1540521,00.html
[B] See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4742589.stm
[C] For more information on the Act see
www.parliament-square.org.uk/defend.htm and www.parliamentprotest.org.uk

Continue reading "Activists in Court over new Anti-Protest Exclusion Zone around Parliament - Bow Street Magistrates' Court, 9.30am Tuesday 16th August" »

August 12, 2005

More Beautiful Acts of Defiance - Sunday 14th August, noon, Parliament Square

"MORE BEAUTIFUL ACTS OF DEFIANCE!
London Calling For the Right to Protest, 12 Noon, 14 August, Parliament Square
Urgent Call to Action!

Continue reading "More Beautiful Acts of Defiance - Sunday 14th August, noon, Parliament Square" »

August 9, 2005

Quicktime video clip of the Sunday 7th August 2005 demonstration in Parliament Square

what u shoutin 'bout blog has published a short Quicktime video of the demonstration on Sunday 7th August 2005, protesting against the unecessary loss of our freedoms and liberties caused by the restrictions on even peaceful protests within the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square.

August 8, 2005

Hairy Jedi: "Serious Organised Crime"

Hairy Jedi reports on Sunday 7th August's Parliament Square demonstration against the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Designated Area around Parliament Square and beyond.

August 7, 2005

More arrests in Parliament Square

The BBC is reporting that today's Mass Act of Defiance demonstration in Parliament Square has led to more arrests.

"Last Updated: Sunday, 7 August 2005, 13:44 GMT 14:44 UK

Arrests at Parliament protest ban Protest

Six people have been arrested as about 100 campaigners staged a protest in Parliament Square against the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.."

August 6, 2005

Legal Briefing leaflet - Mass Act of Defiance demonstration in Parliament Square Sunday 7th August 2005 midday

A legal briefing leaflet has been produced, ahead of tomorrow's Mass Act of Defiance demonstration in Parliament Square, starting at noon.

For more info contact the Mass Act of Defiance Group:
e-mail: massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm

Download the Legal Briefing (.pdf)

Text of the Legal Briefing leaflet:

Continue reading "Legal Briefing leaflet - Mass Act of Defiance demonstration in Parliament Square Sunday 7th August 2005 midday" »

August 3, 2005

Links to first hand reports about the 1st August Parliament Square demonstration and arrests

Tim Ireland at Bloggerheads has a detailed article on the Parliament Square demonstrations against the new restrictions on demonstrations in the Designated Area around Parliament Square on the 1st August 2005.

The warning leaflet which was handed out by the Police with a map of the area was quite interesting. It does look like "www.streetmap.co.uk" like, but that is not necessarily the case, as the online version does not zoom out to cover the same area , without switching to an Ordanance Survey style map without strreetnames. It also looks like the slightly larger view (which includes a compass rose) Collins Bartholomew type map which Charing Cross police station sent us by post with Form 3175A. It may well be that the Metropolitan Police are licensed to use this copyrighted map, if not , then they should pay the royalty fees.

The concept of a warning leaflet is similar to the procedures used to enforce an Anti-social Behavior Dispersal Zone, where Police Officers or Communitry Service Support Officers
can tell "groups" of people who might look "threatening" to move out of the Zone and not come back for 24 hours. They first give you a leaflet and then tell you to disperse and then arrest you if you do not comply.

Some other independent accounts and photos (and here and also here) have been posted to Indymedia, of some of the people who were arrested. It still seems to be unclear how many were arrested under the provisions of the new law. Does anyone have any details ?

Some other blogs which cover this demonstration:

Kitty Killer

Blurred Clarity

August 1, 2005

Parliament Square protest exclusion zone protest - 5 arrests

The BBC reports that 5 demonstrators have been arrested at today's Stop the War Coaltion protest in Parliament Square, protesting against the draconian Serious Organised Crime and Police Act Designated Area.

"Last Updated: Monday, 1 August, 2005, 15:57 GMT 16:57 UK Arrests over Parliament demo ban

Five anti-war activists demonstrating against a ban on unauthorised protests near Parliament have been arrested.

A ban on protests within half-a-mile of Westminster which have not been cleared by police came into force at midnight.

However, about 50 people wearing black gags to symbolise the "infringement" of their right to protest have gathered in Parliament Square in defiance.

Ministers say planned protests can be held but the rights of protesters and workers in the area must be balanced.

But campaigners say the move restricts an established right to protest.

More than a dozen police officers were at the scene, and arrests were made around an hour after the protest begun."

These restrictions do not just apply to "anti-war" protestors, (apart from Brian Haw who is exempt), they apply to everyone else, of whatever political or religous opinions.

Continue reading "Parliament Square protest exclusion zone protest - 5 arrests" »

Legal restrictions on demonstrations in the viciinity of Parliament are now fully in force - Stop the War protest at 2pm

Today, the controversial sections 132 to 138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Security Act 2005 which curtail free democratic demonstrations or protests in the Designated Area around Parliament Square, have come fully into force.

This means that even if you have applied for, and received prior written permission from the Metropolitan Police for your
"demonstration" (a term which is itself unclear legally), then arbitrary Conditions can be applied including, but not limited to:


"(a) the place where the demonstration may, or may not, be carried on,
(b) the times at which it may be carried on,
(c) the period during which it may be carried on,
(d) the number of persons who may take part in it,
(e) the number and size of banners or placards used,
(f) maximum permissible noise levels."

These arbitrary Conditions can be modified, or new Conditions imposed, by the senior Police Officer on the spot.

The criminal penalties for demonstrating without prior permission, for refusing to obey these any Conditions even if you have got prior written permission, or for any use of loudspeakers (as defined by the Act) have all come into force today.

The Stop The War Coalition has called for a demonstration in Parliaemnet Square from 2pm onwards, to protest against these excessive restrictions on spontaneous demonstrations without prior written permission by the Metropolitan Police.

Will the Parliament Square Jam Cam which gives a periodic snapshot vire of Parliament Square, including Brian Haw's peace protest magically devlop a fault, or go offline "for operational reasons", during the Stop the War demonstration ?

See if you can spot any of the Metropolitan Police Public Order Unit, will be able to police this demostration properly, and determine exactly who has, and who has not, got prior written permission to demonstrate.

Will there be any of the peaceful demonstrators be arrested ?

July 29, 2005

Brian Haw wins his legal loophole case and can continue to protest in Parliament Square - but the restrictions still apply to everybody else

The BBC reports that Brian Haw has won his legal loophole case against the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, and can continue his protest.

This must be hugely embarassing for the Government which brought in the controversial legislation partly, but not wholly, to restrict his long running peace camp protest in Parliament Square.

"Last Updated: Friday, 29 July 2005, 11:25 GMT 12:25 UK
Parliament protester wins battle

A man who has held a four-year anti-war protest outside Parliament, has won a legal battle to continue his vigil.

From 1 August all protests in a half-mile zone in Westminster, London, must have prior permission from police.

But the High Court has ruled Brian Haw, 56, from Worcestershire, who claimed he was exempt as his protest pre-dated the new laws, can continue his protest.

The government said Mr Haw posed a potential security risk and described his argument as "absurd".

Lawyers for Mr Haw said his demonstration had begun four years ago and therefore he did not have to apply for authorisation, even though the law was actually targeted at him.

Lady Justice Smith, sitting with Mr Justice McCombe and Mr Justice Simon, said the new law did not catch Mr Haw because of a drafting error.

She said: "If Parliament wishes to criminalise any particular activity, it must do so in clear terms. If it wishes to do so, Parliament can amend this Act.""

Nowever, the rights and freedoms of all of the rest of are still restricted by these stupid and disproportionate Designated Area regulations.

The Global Womens' Strike weekly protest may also be exempt, since they have also been regularly demonstrating for over 2 years. However their activities might be classed as a series of separate demonstrations, so their next one would fall foul of the new law. Their use of "open mike" loudspeakers will simply be banned under the new law either way.

Reminder: Non-Violent Direct Action Training Workshop and Legal Briefing - Sunday 31st July

Reminder: a Non-Violent Direct Action Training Workshop and Legal Briefing will be held this Sunday 31st July 2005.

11.30am to 5pm,

St Martins Community Centre,
43 Carol Street, London NW1

Nearest Tube Station: Camden Town

Please note that there is no parking near the centre.

The workshop will cover strategies for creating empowering and effective non-violent actions and so will be useful for anyone taking part in the protests around Parliament.

It will be particularly useful if you have never been arrested before or if you're intrigued but feel you lack the confidence or knowledge to take things further.

All welcome!

Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group.

For more info. e-mail massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm

Update: Bloggerheads seem to have printed 250 A3 posters for the Monday 1st August demonstration

July 28, 2005

Vigil in memory of Jean Charles de Menezes - 5.30pm Friday 29th July 2005, Parliament Square

The Times reports that a week after the shooting of the innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Tube station:

"A vigil marking one week since Mr Menezes’s death will take place at 5.30pm on Friday in Parliament Square. A service will be held at Westminster Cathedral at the same time as his funeral in Brazil."

July 27, 2005

Demonstration opposite the Metropolitan Police HQ at New Scotland Yard in Broadway is within the Designated Area

There seems to be a demonstration in Broadway, directly opposite the Metropolitan Police HQ at New Scotland Yard, protesting about the killing of the innocent Brazilian, Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot by the Police last Friday aat Stockwell Tube Station.

This area is just within the Designated Area. The demonstration has both banners and a megaphone, and obviously several police officers standing by.

If this demonstration happens again, or continues after August 1st, the megaphone loudspeaker will be banned, and arbitrary conditions on the demonstration can be imposed.

July 20, 2005

Calendar of events July - August 2005 - regarding the curtailment of your rights to demonstrate around Parliament Square in London:

Calendar of forthcoming events regarding the curtailment of your rights to demonstrate in the Designated Area around Parliament Square in London, in addition to Brian Haw's continuous peace protest:

  • Wednesday 20th July 2005
    Transport and General Workers Union picket of the Houses of Parliament - 170 cleaning staff are on strike. This picket is exempt from the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 restrictions.

  • Wednesday 20th July
    Anti-war Community Picket organised by the Global Women's Strike will take place as always from 5.30 to 7pm in Parliament Square.

    Join the picket and show solidarity.

    www.globalwomenstrike.net

  • Thursday 22nd July

    Parliament starts its Summer Recess until October 9th.

  • Tuesday 26th July
    [update 23rd July]
    Brian Haw's , test case in the Royal Courts of Justice, whether his demonstration is exempt from the requirement for priior application for permission, since it has already started before 1st August 2005.

  • Wednesday 27th July
    Anti-war Community Picket organised by the Global Women's Strike will take place as always from 5.30 to 7pm in Parliament Square.

    www.globalwomenstrike.net

  • Sunday 31st July
    NVDA WORKSHOP & LEGAL BRIEFING
    A nonviolent direct action (NVDA) training workshop and legal briefing for the Mass Act will take place on Sunday 31st July:

    11.30am to 5pm,
    St Martins Community Centre,
    43 Carol Street, London NW1
    (nearest tube Camden Town).

    Please note that there is NO parking near the centre.

    If you're planning to come on 7 Aug and have never been arrested before or if you're intrigued but feel you lack the confidence or knowledge to take things further then this is the workshop for you. All welcome!

    Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group.

    For more info. e-mail massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm

  • Sunday 31st July
    Deadline for the PledgeBank pledge:

    "I will apply for authorisation to demonstrate in the vicinity of Parliament every day for a month from 1st August 2005 but only if 50 other responsible citizens will too."

    www.pledgebank.com/ParliamentSquare or send a mobile phone SMS text message "pledge parliamentsquare" to 60022 (normal SMS text message charges apply)

  • Monday 1st August
    The full provisions of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 sections 132 to 138 come into full force.

  • Monday 1st August
    Stop the War have called a demonstration at 2pm on Monday 1st August in Parliament Square against the new protest exclusion zone.

    www.stopwar.org.uk/ExclusionZone.htm

  • Tuesday 2nd August
    Solidarity with Brian Haw's eviction / arrest. All the indications are that 2nd August will be the day that the police will try and evict Brian and stop his 4 year continuous protest for peace and justice. Gather in Parliament Square as early as you can to show he is not alone.

    www.parliament-square.org.uk

  • Wednesday 3rd August
    Anti-war Community Picket organised by the Global Women's Strike will take place as always from 5.30 to 7pm in Parliament Square.

    www.globalwomenstrike.net

    This will be their first such regular protest event after the new restrictions on "Loudspeakers in designated area"
    have come into force.

  • Sunday 7th August
    MASS ACT OF DEFIANCE For the Right to Protest
    Assemble 12 noon, Sunday 7 August, Parliament Square
    This law will affect all activists and campaigners. Everyone should bring their own banners, leaflets, placards and campaigns - for peace, human rights, asylum rights, labour rights, animal rights, social justice, international solidarity, the environment etc - to this action to defy the new anti-protest legislation and defend the right to demonstrate near Parliament.

    Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group. For more info.
    e-mail massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm

Please let us know about any other demonstrations and protests or meetings.

Mass Act of Defiance For the Right to Protest - Parliament Square, London, 12 noon, Sunday 7th August 2005

MASS ACT OF DEFIANCE
For the Right to Protest

Assemble 12 noon, Sunday 7 August

Parliament Square

The new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) makes all unauthorised protests within a Designated Area, which can be up to 1km of Parliament, illegal after 1 August.

The first targets of the Act are likely to be Brian Haw's 4-year 24-7 peace vigil in Parliament Square and the weekly Anti-war Community Picket of the Global Women Strike (also in the Square), but the law will affect all activists and campaigners.

PLEASE JOIN US ON 7 AUGUST: Bring your banners, leaflets, placards and campaigns for peace, human rights, asylum rights, labour rights, animal rights, social justice, international solidarity, the environment etc... to this action to defy the new anti-protest legislation and defend the right to demonstrate near Parliament.

PLEASE NOTE:
[1] There is a risk of arrest at this action, since it is an unauthorised protest against a law which makes such protests illegal.

Please read the legal briefing below before deciding to attend.

[2] This is a peaceful protest: participants should not harm or dehumanise any human being at this event.

NVDA WORKSHOP & LEGAL BRIEFING
A nonviolent direct action (NVDA) training workshop and legal briefing for the Mass Act will take place on Sunday 31st July:

11.30am to 5pm,
St Martins Community Centre,
43 Carol Street, London NW1
(nearest tube Camden Town).

Please note that there is NO parking near the centre.

If you're planning to come on 7 Aug and have never been arrested before or if you're intrigued but feel you lack the confidence or knowledge to take things further then this is the workshop for you. All welcome!

Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group.

For more info. e-mail massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm

Continue reading "Mass Act of Defiance For the Right to Protest - Parliament Square, London, 12 noon, Sunday 7th August 2005" »

July 14, 2005

The Guardian: media footage of Parliament Square demonstrations and the IPPC

The Guardian has a report that is of relevance to anyone planning a protest or demonstration in Parliament Square or the Designated Area.

Media lose hunt rally legal bid

Staff and agencies
Thursday July 14, 2005

News organisations today failed in their high court bid to overturn an order to hand over pictures of last year's pro-hunt rally in Parliament Square.

Guardian Newspapers, ITV, ITN, Associated Newspapers and Reuters challenged an earlier court order requiring them to hand over cine film, video tape, photographs and negatives of the demonstration.

The order was obtained in March by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is investigating allegations of police violence against demonstrators.

Media organisations were ordered to release all rally footage shot between 1pm and 7pm on September 15, 2004, whether or not it was transmitted or published.

Some organisations complied with the order but others did not."

Sunday August 7th 12 noon Parliament Square - Mass Act of Defiance For The Right To Protest

There is to be a Mass Act of Defiance For The Right To Protest, on Sunday 7th August, starting at 12 noon, in Parliament Square.

A full press release should be available this Friday.

July 10, 2005

"Two fingers up" to terrorism solidarity demo with last Thursday's bomb victims is also affected by the Designated Area around Parliament

There are calls for Madrid style mass demonstration of people to show solidarity with the victims of the horrible bomb attacks in London last Thursday, and to "stick two fingers up" to terrorism.e.g. another PledgeBank pledge ia gaining rapid support, and has increased its target number of sign ups, after the initial one was met in a single day:

http://www.pledgebank.com/solidarity

"I will at the earliest opportunity, assemble in London in a public demonstration of respect to the victims of the July 7 atrocity, defiance of the murderers who carried it out and solidarity with the people of London but only if 2500 other people will too."

It may be that such a demonstration will not enter the Designated Area, but it would have been traditional to do so, even if the rallying point is Trafalgar Square, or near Kings Cross where the majority of the bomb victims were killed or injured. The London Eye, which is used as the graphic for the pledge above, is within the Designated Area, for no good reason.

It is important to note that even people demonstrating in support of the Government and and the Police and Emergency Services etc. are also coverd by the Designated Area restrictions around Parliament Square, and the need for prior written notification has already had a chilling effect on spontaneous, peaceful, democratic demonstrations.

Most of the good people who are signing up to this pledge are not aware of the restrictions on demonstrations in the Designated Area, or the fact that the law applies to them as individuals and also as a group.

It is not just anti Government policy demonstrations which are affected by the disproportionate and draconian Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 legislation, everyone is affected, and this law must be changed.

July 6, 2005

Stop the War Coalition calls for a mass protest in Parliament Square on 1st August

The Stop the War Coalition is calling for some form of demonstration in Parliament Square on 1st August, starting at 2pm, in order to protest against the restrictions on demonstrations which come fully into force on that day.

It is not yet clear if prior written permission will be sought for this demonstration by the Stop the War Coalition:

Continue reading "Stop the War Coalition calls for a mass protest in Parliament Square on 1st August" »