Independence From America @ Menwith Hill
Stephen | 04.07.2007 17:23 | Sheffield
A number of protesters then went onto the A59 despite being told not to and were arrested. The main march then returned back to the front gates.
6 people have been arrested in total, and are all still being held at Harrogate police station.
Stephen
Additions
Section 12 Notice
04.07.2007 19:51
Section 12 notice under the Public Order Act 1986
Protestor
Update
04.07.2007 20:24
Stephen
Bronze Boy Mark Khan intimidates procession to a halt
07.07.2007 01:25
Senior Officer present (Mark Khan [Bronze?]) uses intimidation and section 12 to bring the procession round the base to a halt. He never states that he is worried about "serious disruption" only disruption. and is more concerned about safety (safety doesn't appear to be covered by section 12) than any of the serious disruption of the type that is covered in the act. And if, as is stated above, there is no history of such "seriousness" on previous walks round the base it looks like the section 12 was unjustifiable.
2%Human
Comments
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was permission for demo asked for
04.07.2007 21:48
or not? interested in how they've applied law
Grounds for restrictions?
05.07.2007 16:28
What interests me is that in order to impose those the senior officer had to reasonably believe that there would be disorder etc as quoted in the notice. The least he had to believe is that we would cause "serious disruption to the community". By any standards - size and peaceable nature of demo, previous history of no trouble, place miles from anywhere etc - such a belief was completely unreasonable. I wonder if there is any way the order can be disputed? Is it too late to be worth it?
Vincent Wood
Health and Safety
07.07.2007 01:01
I was there and the senior officer seemed to be stressing the safety of his officers and the protestors
on the busy A59 as the reasons for stopping the procession.
It would seem from the links below that Section 12 is for expected "serious" disorder etc.
Closing the A59 for 30 mins while the procession processed would hardly be "serious" disruption.
So it would seem that the police were less inclined to facilitate our right to protest
and more inclined to keep traffic flowing on the A59.
From
"Section 12 Public Order Act 1986: Imposing conditions on public processions.
Identification of organisers may be difficult in giving written notice prior to
procession. Some forces distribute leaflets and post signs at the scene of a protest
procession.
· In relation to imposing conditions on a procession, which is sporadic in nature, the
imposition is by the senior officer at the scene. This is by rank and length of
service. Forces must ensure that the senior officer present at the scene can be
identified at all times. The other issue re this power is that the senior officer must
believe that disorder, damage, disruption or intimidation will occur. If the
precious (sic) processions have been without incident, this may pose problems."
Other Links
2%Human