Today we got a clue, inasmuch as it seems that wealth and power might have a bit to do with it. Britain's top bosses marched straight through the SOCPA zone to the Home Office - author of that law - without a constable in sight.
Riley: "SOCPA doesn't apply to us"
Despite banners, this is claimed to not be a demonstration.
The demonstration proceeds towards the Home Office
Not a demonstration? Here's another banner.
Not a demonstration? Petitioners sign on the street.
Police check the legality of the march.
This says the police knew, but turned blind eye.
Thanks madame, mind how you go...
"We don't have one, it doesn't apply to us".
And indeed it didn't, for despite two motor cycle police at the start calling in the illegal demo, not one officer arrived to challenge the march.
The march - or actually a procession, according to the lawyer seen in the above pictures with the Green Party banner - of one hundred and forty three people, (according to IoD spokesman Karl Watkins) wound its way through central London to the Home Office.
At our arrival at the Home Office we were finally challenged by the police. 2 officers arrived in a car and spoke with Ms Riley who produced an e-mail from Nicolas
Woodward@met.police.uk (Belgravia) reading: "I've made contact with the Home Office direct and a Gordon Vance will arrange for a person to receive your letter".
So the police knew of the demonstration, and the Home Office knew of the demonstration. And both chose to turn a blind eye.
Some questions need to be asked. Once again, as the latest Home Secretary would say, this is not a department fit for purpose.
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Comments
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Eh up?
29.06.2006 23:04
Was that Alan Duncan in the pictures?
Why was that 'lawyer' carrying a green party placard although seemingly not alofting it proudly?
And if we find out what this is about can we copy the demo and see what happens to us?
MatronX
Matron
Good idea matron
29.06.2006 23:36
gung ho
Not all of the march was within the Designated Area
30.06.2006 05:10
Neither the steps between the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall and the The Mall (Alan Duncan placard photo) , nor St. James's Park (Green Party placard) are within the Designated Area (even the the path by the duck pond is literally only a sttone's throw from Number 10 Downing street.
Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1537
The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Area) Order 2005
"Is the SOCPA Designated Area actually bigger than we have assumed ?"
Peaceful Demonstrator
e-mail:
info@parliamentprotest.org.uk
Homepage:
http://ParliamentProtest.org.uk
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..
re cop e-mail link
30.06.2006 09:19
hawkeye
acronyms on email
30.06.2006 14:59
pedant