No-go zone to encircle arms fair
Hugh Muir | 08.08.2005 13:06 | London
London's over-stretched police officers will impose an exclusion zone on parts of the Docklands, in east London, up to 48 hours before the start of Europe's largest arms fair.
Routes leading to the Docklands ExCeL centre will be closed to demonstrators amid growing concern about the implications of policing the three-day event at the same time as maintaining the current high terrorist alert throughout the capital.
Routes leading to the Docklands ExCeL centre will be closed to demonstrators amid growing concern about the implications of policing the three-day event at the same time as maintaining the current high terrorist alert throughout the capital.
Monday August 8, 2005
The Guardian
London's over-stretched police officers will impose an exclusion zone on parts of the Docklands, in east London, up to 48 hours before the start of Europe's largest arms fair.
Routes leading to the Docklands ExCeL centre will be closed to demonstrators amid growing concern about the implications of policing the three-day event at the same time as maintaining the current high terrorist alert throughout the capital.
Anti-arms protesters, having caused significant disruption in the vicinity in previous years, have already pledged to go one step further and to force the cancellation of the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition (Desi).
On its website, the organisation Disarm Desi promises "a week of action and resistance to the arms fair and the unjust global system that supports it".
There is also growing political opposition to the exhibition, dubbed the "death fair" by critics.
Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, has branded the event "disgraceful" and bemoaned his inability to ban it.
"It is wrong for police resources to be diverted to this event and a travesty that the cost should be borne by Londoners and not the event organisers. Such events are a disgrace and ought to be denounced by all Londoners," he said.
Sir Robin Wales, mayor of Newham - the borough in which the fair will take place - has urged ExCeL to back out of hosting the fair. He has been trying to lure other events to ExCeL, such as the Boat Show and the Motor Show, to allow it to recoup lost income.
"I oppose the arms fair being held in Newham. I always have and I always will," he said. "My priority will be ensuring that the people of this borough do not suffer because of it."
The planned exclusion zone, or Public Protection Route Closure, is likely to come into force on September 11, two days before the start of the event. It is likely to encompass the dockside around ExCeL, the footbridge across Royal Victoria Dock and routes to the centre from the local train station.
"It is difficult to see the decision to have the arms fair here and now as anything but a provocative act," said Jenny Jones, a Green party representative on the London assembly and the Metropolitan Police Authority. "Sealing off the area so that people cannot demonstrate is not the right way to handle this. If people can't demonstrate, we have no way of judging the level of concern."
The organisers, Spearhead Exhibitions, were unavailable for comment.
The Guardian
London's over-stretched police officers will impose an exclusion zone on parts of the Docklands, in east London, up to 48 hours before the start of Europe's largest arms fair.
Routes leading to the Docklands ExCeL centre will be closed to demonstrators amid growing concern about the implications of policing the three-day event at the same time as maintaining the current high terrorist alert throughout the capital.
Anti-arms protesters, having caused significant disruption in the vicinity in previous years, have already pledged to go one step further and to force the cancellation of the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition (Desi).
On its website, the organisation Disarm Desi promises "a week of action and resistance to the arms fair and the unjust global system that supports it".
There is also growing political opposition to the exhibition, dubbed the "death fair" by critics.
Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, has branded the event "disgraceful" and bemoaned his inability to ban it.
"It is wrong for police resources to be diverted to this event and a travesty that the cost should be borne by Londoners and not the event organisers. Such events are a disgrace and ought to be denounced by all Londoners," he said.
Sir Robin Wales, mayor of Newham - the borough in which the fair will take place - has urged ExCeL to back out of hosting the fair. He has been trying to lure other events to ExCeL, such as the Boat Show and the Motor Show, to allow it to recoup lost income.
"I oppose the arms fair being held in Newham. I always have and I always will," he said. "My priority will be ensuring that the people of this borough do not suffer because of it."
The planned exclusion zone, or Public Protection Route Closure, is likely to come into force on September 11, two days before the start of the event. It is likely to encompass the dockside around ExCeL, the footbridge across Royal Victoria Dock and routes to the centre from the local train station.
"It is difficult to see the decision to have the arms fair here and now as anything but a provocative act," said Jenny Jones, a Green party representative on the London assembly and the Metropolitan Police Authority. "Sealing off the area so that people cannot demonstrate is not the right way to handle this. If people can't demonstrate, we have no way of judging the level of concern."
The organisers, Spearhead Exhibitions, were unavailable for comment.
Hugh Muir
Comments
Hide the following 8 comments
??
08.08.2005 17:30
Sam
...
08.08.2005 18:04
magoo
Sam
08.08.2005 18:36
magoo
.
08.08.2005 22:26
.
legal basis
11.08.2005 10:27
That probably gives them enough scope to impose an exclusion zone, but no doubt they have other more recent powers to rely on too.
I thought the Serious organised crime and police bill just outlawed protests within a mile of parliament.
chavette
No go zone
20.08.2005 03:57
legal basis
11.08.2005 11:27
"The public order act 86 gives police powers to impose conditions on assemblies and processions where they consider that there may be "serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community."
That probably gives them enough scope to impose an exclusion zone,"
That PROBABLY gives them enough scope to impose an exclusion zone around most of Englands Cities, towns, Soccer grounds,government buildings and military establishments......including Disey, I would say.
Totalitarianism, Totalishmarianism!!
The Land is OURS
Concerned citizen
Police and exclusion
27.08.2005 18:57
R
Legal Basis
12.09.2005 14:11
Erm, having lived near there during previous fairs, I can tell you it's the police and exclusion zones thet "cause disruption to the life of the community.".
A Londoner