The JCHR is asking for fresher evidence on the policing of protests
Terrere | 23.04.2009 17:42 | SOCPA | Repression
22 April 2009 Session 2008-09 No. 34
CALL FOR SUPPLEMENTARY EVIDENCE
Policing and Protest
The Joint Committee on Human Rights published its Report Demonstrating
Respect for Rights? A Human Rights Approach to Policing Protest on 23 March
2009. It recommended a number of legal and operational changes to the way
that protests are policed.
In the light of recent high profile events, including the G20 protests in
the City of London, the Tamil protests in Parliament Square and the arrests
at the Iona independent school in Sneinton, Nottingham, the Committee has
decided to hold an oral evidence session on 12 May to follow up on its
Report.
During the course of its inquiry, the Committee received many submissions on
policing and protest, which it published with its Report. In advance of its
oral evidence session, it invites supplementary written evidence. The
Committee would welcome submissions by Monday 4 May.
NOTE:
Submissions should not exceed 1500 words and be addressed to Dr Mark Egan,
Commons Clerk of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Committee Office,
House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA (email:
jchr@parliament.uk).
Electronic submission in Word format is requested, but a signed hard copy
should also be sent.
Evidence becomes the property of the Committee, and may be printed, placed
on the Internet or circulated by the Committee at any stage. You may
publicise or publish your evidence yourself, but in doing so you must
indicate that it was prepared for the Committee. Evidence published other
than under the authority of the Committee does not attract parliamentary
privilege.
The members of the Committee Are:
Mr Andrew Dismore MP (Labour, Hendon) (Chairman) Lord Bowness
(Conservative)
John Austin MP (Labour, Erith & Thamesmead) Lord Dubs (Labour)
Dr Evan Harris MP (Liberal Democrat, Oxford West & Abingdon) Lord Lester of
Herne Hill (Liberal Democrat)
Mr Virendra Sharma MP (Labour, Ealing, Southall) Lord Morris of Handsworth
(Labour)
Mr Richard Shepherd MP (Conservative, Aldridge-Brownhills) The Earl of
Onslow (Conservative)
Mr Edward Timpson MP (Conservative, Crewe and Nantwich) Baroness Prashar
(Cross-Bencher)
Clerks of the Committee: Dr Mark Egan (House of Commons) 020 7219 2797 and
Rebecca Neal (House of Lords) 020 7219 6772
Enquiries: 020 7219 2797/2467 Fax: 020 7219 8393 E-mail:
jchr@parliament.uk
Homepage:
http://www.parliament.uk/jchr
Media Inquiries: Ms Jessica Bridges-Palmer: 020 7219 0724
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CALL FOR SUPPLEMENTARY EVIDENCE
Policing and Protest
The Joint Committee on Human Rights published its Report Demonstrating
Respect for Rights? A Human Rights Approach to Policing Protest on 23 March
2009. It recommended a number of legal and operational changes to the way
that protests are policed.
In the light of recent high profile events, including the G20 protests in
the City of London, the Tamil protests in Parliament Square and the arrests
at the Iona independent school in Sneinton, Nottingham, the Committee has
decided to hold an oral evidence session on 12 May to follow up on its
Report.
During the course of its inquiry, the Committee received many submissions on
policing and protest, which it published with its Report. In advance of its
oral evidence session, it invites supplementary written evidence. The
Committee would welcome submissions by Monday 4 May.
NOTE:
Submissions should not exceed 1500 words and be addressed to Dr Mark Egan,
Commons Clerk of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Committee Office,
House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA (email:
jchr@parliament.uk). Electronic submission in Word format is requested, but a signed hard copy
should also be sent.
Evidence becomes the property of the Committee, and may be printed, placed
on the Internet or circulated by the Committee at any stage. You may
publicise or publish your evidence yourself, but in doing so you must
indicate that it was prepared for the Committee. Evidence published other
than under the authority of the Committee does not attract parliamentary
privilege.
The members of the Committee Are:
Mr Andrew Dismore MP (Labour, Hendon) (Chairman) Lord Bowness
(Conservative)
John Austin MP (Labour, Erith & Thamesmead) Lord Dubs (Labour)
Dr Evan Harris MP (Liberal Democrat, Oxford West & Abingdon) Lord Lester of
Herne Hill (Liberal Democrat)
Mr Virendra Sharma MP (Labour, Ealing, Southall) Lord Morris of Handsworth
(Labour)
Mr Richard Shepherd MP (Conservative, Aldridge-Brownhills) The Earl of
Onslow (Conservative)
Mr Edward Timpson MP (Conservative, Crewe and Nantwich) Baroness Prashar
(Cross-Bencher)
Clerks of the Committee: Dr Mark Egan (House of Commons) 020 7219 2797 and
Rebecca Neal (House of Lords) 020 7219 6772
Enquiries: 020 7219 2797/2467 Fax: 020 7219 8393 E-mail:
jchr@parliament.uk Homepage:
http://www.parliament.uk/jchr Media Inquiries: Ms Jessica Bridges-Palmer: 020 7219 0724
--------------------------------------------------------
UK Parliament Disclaimer:
This e-mail is confidential to the intended recipient. If you have received
it in error, please notify the sender and delete it from your system. Any
unauthorised use, disclosure, or copying is not permitted. This e-mail has
been checked for viruses, but no liability is accepted for any damage caused
by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.
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Terrere
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
Too soon
23.04.2009 20:00
Stroppyoldgit
Members of the Committee
23.04.2009 21:39
Smells rather fishy to me. The MP wouldn't stand a chance of being elected on any platform if he gives a well-deserved censure of the killer kops given his constituency. Bit like foxes and hen houses, surely.
Ye Gads!
Do they accept questions?
24.04.2009 01:52
At a number of protest and politically motivated gatherings, it seems fairly self evident that the police seek to manage the media beforehand. This promotes a climate of fear in which protest is deemed to be escalated and force appears justified. In respect of justice, this perverts the course of just and reasonable protest by manufacturing conflict. The police engagement of the media to preempt events is a serious erosion of democracy and fundamental freedoms.
The consequence of Police engagement of the media prior to events is to create a fearful climate in which the Police can claim a successful operation regardless of outcomes.
The absence of conflict is seen as a policing success because the police have self evidently neutralised the threat. This ignores the very real possibility that there never was a threat. That people can, and do, protest peacefully or assemble in large numbers without any need for police facilitation or management.
The presence of conflict is seen as a policing success because it was predicted as common knowledge in the lead up to the event. The Police making pronouncements on various topics suggesting anonymous organised hordes of violent extremists will use the event for ill defined but certainly violent activities. This creates a fearful and tense atmosphere in which people feel that any conflict is not caused by policing unless they are directly involved in the policing.
Please can the comittee enquire into the public relations budgets and number of hours spent publicising these events by the police and the chilling effect it has on participation in public demonstrations of democracy?
dear doctor