Trial Set for McDonalds Protester!

Date for trial set for Cambridge protester. Support appreciated!

The campaigner who was arrested under Section 5 of the Public Order Act in a McLibel anniversary protest in Cambridge (See

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/401637.html for details and video) had his first hearing last Thursday. A trial date of the 15th Sep, 10.00 a.m. at Cambridge Magistrates Court at 43 Hauxton Road, Cambridge was set. The court set a full day trial for the case.

The prosecution handed over witness statements and said they wanted to use CCTV from McDonalds as well as a Youtube video (see

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld3I4zVxc2A). Well, have a look and judge for yourself. What an evil dangerous protest, right?

The campaigner is still awaiting his request for legal aid and so has no representation at this time.

Section 5 of the Public Order Act basically is words or behaviour likely to cause ‘harassment, alarm or distress’ and as we all know holding a placard and expressing your views in McDonalds is very harassing, alarming and distressing and a terrible crime!

Trial Date:
15th Sep, 10.00 a.m. at Cambridge Magistrates Court at 43 Hauxton Road, Cambridge – Support Welcome!

McProtester

Additions

Important info re. Sec 5

11.07.2008 11:09

Section 5 is frequently misused by the police against protesters, so it is vital that people understand what a S5 offence actually is. i.e. it's not 'basically causing alarm, harassment or distress', IN FACT a person commits S5 if they:

" a) use threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour, or
b) display any writing, sign, or other visual representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,

within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused alarm, harassment or distress thereby".

So, the key words to remember are threatening, abusive, insulting, disorderly. Any protest about something nasty could upset/distress/offend someone, but that doesn't mean the offence is made out. Merely causing alarm, harassment or distress is NOT a S5 offence, there has to be a threatening/abusive/insulting/disorderly element.

Barbara

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

Yeah, right...

07.07.2008 14:34

Sounds to me like the police are clutching at straws on this one.

No pack drill...

What a waste of tax payers money

07.07.2008 21:57

What an absolute waste of tax payers money to attempt the prosecution of a peaceful activist, this case will surely collapse in court. It just goes to show that Cambridgeshire police have absolutely nothing better to do with their time.

Fuck Cambridgeshire Police

Malicious prosecution ...?

08.07.2008 07:06

Has anyone tried taking the police to court for Malicious Prosecution for charges like these? It seems obvious that they are targeting the person rather than the crime.

Maxell

Well done...

08.07.2008 14:57

....to McProtester for standing up for your rights. That cop is going to look very silly when that video is shown in court. If he had grounds for arresting you under section 5 then he should have done so, regardless of whether or not you were prepared to give your date of birth. He obviously has as good a grasp of the law as your average PC Plod. What a muppet.

supporter

Thanks To Barbara…

11.07.2008 15:11

Yes, thanks for posting that. I didn’t want to get into the details, but it’s a good point that everyone should know exactly what Section 5 is.