UK 2011 Census Resistance Newswire Archive
Census Refuser challenges Census Act by way of Judicial Review
28-05-2012 04:18
A Birmingham Census refuser, Nigel Simons, has been granted a judicial review that will consider the legality of the Census Act. Simons is arguing that the Act, which makes it a criminal offence to fail to complete the Census, is incompatible with Human Rights legislation. If his challenge is successful, other ongoing prosecutions of census refusers are likely to collapse, previous convictions may be overturned and it may become impossible for the government to contract with arms companies (and other businesses to which people may have legitimate conscientious objection) to provide any public services.Statement by Census refuser Deborah Glass Woodin
17-05-2012 20:09
Deborah's Census case was heard in Reading Magistrates Court on Monday 14 May. She was found guilty, fined and is minded not to pay the fine.Shrewsbury: Case against Census refuser dismissed
17-05-2012 18:38
Census Refuser Latest - three court appearances this week
16-05-2012 06:43
Deborah Glass Woodin appeared in Reading Magistrates court at the beginning of the week, was found guilty and fined. Barbara Dowling appeared at Glasgow Sheriff's court and her trial has now been adjourned until 25 September.
Census refuser case dropped: Press Release from John Marjoram
14-05-2012 16:28
John Marjoram was prosecuted for failing to complete the 2011 Census. His trial was set for the end of this month in Bristol, but the Crown Prosecution Service suddenly decided that it didn't have enough evidence to "provide a realistic prospect of conviction." It has likewise dropped the case against John Voysey, which had been linked with John Marjoram's case but had latterly been referred back to Wrexham Magistrates. Other census court cases are still going ahead with some hearings taking place this week.Census refuser court update: CPS drops some cases
11-05-2012 08:03
Scottish Census Refuser Jailed for Anti-Nuclear Court Graffiti Protest
19-03-2012 16:04
Roger Franklin explains why he refused to complete the 2011 Census
15-03-2012 17:06
When Roger Franklin of Stroud, aged 84, received a court summons for failing to comply with the 2011 Census, he wrote to the Magistrates in Bristol explaining his stance and refusing to enter a plea. Roger was found guilty at a court hearing on 8 February. His fine has just been paid by a total of 222 individual donations as cheques made payable to the court, many sent with scathing comments about the conviction.
Important update in Scottish Census Refuser court case
07-02-2012 15:25
John Voysey's census case: photos and report from Wrexham Magistrates Court
02-02-2012 12:49
25 supporters gathered at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Wednesday 1 February in solidarity with John Voysey, 82, of Herefordshire who is charged with failing to complete the 2011 Census. John, who registered as a conscientious objector in 1947 while still a schoolboy and later became a Quaker, has refused to complete the 2011 Census on moral grounds because of Lockheed Martin's £150 million contract for processing the census data. The case has now been adjourned until Friday 2 March midday for a pre-hearing and will be heard by a District Judge in recognition of the important legal points raised by the defendant, who is representing himself in court.
Non-Census Protest at Wrexham Law Courts
01-02-2012 18:55
John Voysey from Herefordshire appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court today Wednesday 1 February charged under the Census Act 1920 with failing to complete the 2011 Census.
John has been a conscientious objector since 1947 and is still standing up for his principles today, aged 82, to the point that he will refuse to pay any fine imposed rather than 'become an accessory' to the actions of the arms industry.
Lockheed Martin is the world's largest weapons manufacturer. It jointly runs Aldermaston AWE, makes nuclear weapons, fighter jets, cluster bombs and many other deadly products. It has interrogation contracts at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib and is implicated in torture. It has been awarded a £150 million contract for processing the 2011 England and Wales Census data.
NOCONCENSUS SUPPORT NETWORK
A network of census refusers and supporters, organising under the banner 'No CONcensus' has been offering information and solidarity to defendants in census refuser cases, which are being heard all over the country. Many people are being required to travel long distances from their homes to hearings in other towns and cities.
No CONcensus can be contacted at NoCONcensus@yahoo.co.uk
and by phone on 0845 330 4505 or 0709 201 4524.
All images copyright:
© Stillshooter 2012
Join solidarity vigil for census refusers, 8 Feb, Bristol
31-01-2012 23:55
Two veteran peace campaigners will be appearing at Bristol Magistrates Court, Marlborough St, Bristol BS1 3NU on Wed 8 February on charges of failing to complete the 2011 Census. Both have a conscientious objection to the contract to process census data being awarded to arms manufacturers Lockheed Martin.There will be a solidarity vigil outside the court from 9am. Please support if you can.
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Surprise legal development could undermine census trials throughout the UK
26-01-2012 19:55
The trial of a Glasgow woman accused of failing to fill in her census form properly was adjourned today at the request of the Procurator Fiscal. Barbara Dowling appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court expecting to defend herself against charges that she had committed a criminal offence by failing to fill her census form in properly in protest at the involvement in the census of defence and intelligence contractor CACI. CACI is implicated in human rights abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and has so far ducked responsibility by claiming legal immunity as a US government contractor. The Procurator Fiscal asked for the trial to be adjourned pending the outcome of a case before the UK Supreme Court which could make evidence collected by Register Office staff inadmissible.Liverpool Census Refuser cases: two adjournments, one 'guilty' verdict
17-01-2012 20:23
Two cases adjourned pending the outcome of judicial review in the High Court. One defendant found guilty.
Important Update: Census Refuser Trials Tue/Wed this week in Liverpool
16-01-2012 17:43
Support still needed at court on Tuesday morning but two cases adjourned pending outcome of judicial review.
Solidarity with Census Refusers in Birmingham. Report from 5 Jan
06-01-2012 16:10
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Photos from Court: Census refuser cases, Liverpool
08-12-2011 21:00
Liverpool - Census Refuser Solidarity Demo - Venue update
08-12-2011 07:16
PLEASE NOTE: The court has been telling journos that the case has been moved from Dale St to Victoria St Magistrates Court. Sarah has not been informed of this change, so we'll be at Dale St as planned. However, be prepared to walk round the corner to Victoria Street if you come along and we've gone.
13 December: Oxford Census Refuser's court hearing in Reading
17-11-2011 13:25
Deborah Glass Woodin of Oxford, green activist, mother of two and widow of Mike Woodin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Woodin, is due in Reading Magistrates Court on Tuesday 13 December at 10am for refusing to complete the 2011 Census. Census Refuser in Court in Birmingham: 5 January
17-11-2011 08:04
Roger Grenville, 66, a former Local Government Officer and local Councillor from Leamington, Warwickshire, is being prosecuted for refusing to complete the 2011 Census on grounds of conscience because of Lockheed Martin's involvement. Solidarity and support needed at the court hearing in Birmingham on 5 January.