The April demo of about 20 people was accompanied by 8 foot police and three police vans. This time no attempt was made to either stop the march or prevent the display of banners within the designated zone, or to stop and search, in contrast to previous occasions.

Sections 132-138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA), introduced in 2005, prohibits demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament which have not been previously authorised by police. Under this law people have been arrested for holding a simple banner, wearing a worded t-shirt or reading out a list of war dead. It is believed that this law infringes the basic Human Rights of Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Expression. Also prohibited in the SOCPA zone around Parliament are loudspeaker sound systems on bicycles and megaphones. Recently this repressive SOCPA law has been extended to cover other designated areas of the UK, including military bases and animal testing labs.

Following a Consultation the Government's intention is to repeal SOCPA 132-138 but to replace it with other ways of restricting public dissent. "The proposed powers and those already given to the police create a climate of criminalisation: a vast confusion of laws are applied arbitrarily so people are arrested simply for standing in the wrong place at the wrong time or having the wrong face".

More:

SOCPA Victory? Campaign For Free Assembly Demo 1pm April 5th Trafalgar Square
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395555.html

Freedom of Assembly denied.
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/392697.html

SOCPA Anti-demo Laws Should be Repealed, Not Extended
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/01/389354.html

SOCPA Reports.
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2006/socpa/