The government wants your help (well, mainly the police and MPs, but it looks better this way) to restrict freedom to protest in new soundbite friendly ways, in particular to "prevent permanent demonstrations in Parliament Square":
"JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL RENEWAL BILL
CALL FOR EVIDENCE
The two Houses of Parliament have established a Joint Committee to examine and
report on the Government’s Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill (Cm 7342) published
on 25 March 2008. The committee has been ordered to report by 18 July.
At its first meeting on 7 May the Committee elected Michael Jabez Foster MP as
Chairman.
Members’ declared interests are available on the Committee’s website:
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/jcdcrb.cfm
The Committee expects to take oral evidence up to mid-June."
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/Cfe080509.pdf
"JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL RENEWAL BILL
CALL FOR EVIDENCE
The two Houses of Parliament have established a Joint Committee to examine and
report on the Government’s Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill (Cm 7342) published
on 25 March 2008. The committee has been ordered to report by 18 July.
At its first meeting on 7 May the Committee elected Michael Jabez Foster MP as
Chairman.
Members’ declared interests are available on the Committee’s website:
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/jcdcrb.cfm
The Committee expects to take oral evidence up to mid-June."
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/Cfe080509.pdf
From the document:
Protests
11. The Draft Bill provides an opportunity to re-balance the right to protest outside Parliament against the right of Parliament to operate effectively and without hindrance. How should this balance be struck?
12. Should Parliament be treated any differently from any other part
of the country in terms of managing protests? How should the legitimate expectations of Parliamentarians and Parliamentary authorities be defined?
In particular, would the repeal of sections 132 to 138 of Serious Organised Crime and Police Act give rise to a need for new powers for the police or other authorities to:
(i) Ensure free access to, from and around the Parliamentary Estate and to enable Parliamentarians to discharge their roles and responsibilities,
(ii) Restrict the use of loudspeakers,
(iii) Take account of the particular security risk,
(iv) Protect Parliament Square as a world heritage site,
(v) Prevent permanent demonstrations in Parliament Square,
(vi) Ensure equal access to the right to protest.
13. Are Sessional Orders (Orders passed by Parliament which impose an obligation on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner) still an appropriate means to manage protests around Parliament?
----------------------------------------
GUIDANCE FOR THOSE SUBMITTING WRITTEN EVIDENCE
Submissions should aim to be no more than 3,000 words and a summary is helpful.
We welcome submissions that cover particular aspects of the Committee’s inquiry as well as those that cover the Draft Bill more widely. Annexes may be submitted, but will not necessarily be published. Relevant material prepared for other purposes
(such as reports or submissions to other inquiries and consultations) may be submitted to the Committee for information, but will not be printed. Witnesses who submit written evidence may be invited to give oral evidence to the Committee if time allows.
Submissions should be sent electronically (in Word) and in hard copy. Evidence should be clearly printed or typed on single sides of A4 paper, unstapled, and should be set out in numbered paragraphs. If drawings or charts are included, they should be in black-and-white and of camera-ready quality. The hard copy submission should be signed and dated, together with a note of the author’s name and status and whether the evidence is submitted on an individual or corporate basis. Please ensure that you include relevant contact details. These will be removed before publication.
Evidence and inquiries should be addressed to:
Kate Lawrence
Clerk to the Joint Committee on the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill
House of Lords
London SW1A 0PW
email to
dcrbill@parliament.uk
Tel: 020 7219 8675; Fax: 020 7219 4931
The deadline for submitting written evidence is 12 June
Once submitted, evidence submitted becomes the property of the Committee, and may be published. Witnesses may publicise their written evidence themselves, but in doing so should indicate that it was prepared for the Committee.
You can follow the inquiry via the Committee web pages, accessed from
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/jcdcrb.cfm
This is a public call for evidence. You are welcome to bring it to the attention of
other groups and individuals who may not have received a copy directly.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/Cfe080509.pdf
Protests
11. The Draft Bill provides an opportunity to re-balance the right to protest outside Parliament against the right of Parliament to operate effectively and without hindrance. How should this balance be struck?
12. Should Parliament be treated any differently from any other part
of the country in terms of managing protests? How should the legitimate expectations of Parliamentarians and Parliamentary authorities be defined?
In particular, would the repeal of sections 132 to 138 of Serious Organised Crime and Police Act give rise to a need for new powers for the police or other authorities to:
(i) Ensure free access to, from and around the Parliamentary Estate and to enable Parliamentarians to discharge their roles and responsibilities,
(ii) Restrict the use of loudspeakers,
(iii) Take account of the particular security risk,
(iv) Protect Parliament Square as a world heritage site,
(v) Prevent permanent demonstrations in Parliament Square,
(vi) Ensure equal access to the right to protest.
13. Are Sessional Orders (Orders passed by Parliament which impose an obligation on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner) still an appropriate means to manage protests around Parliament?
----------------------------------------
GUIDANCE FOR THOSE SUBMITTING WRITTEN EVIDENCE
Submissions should aim to be no more than 3,000 words and a summary is helpful.
We welcome submissions that cover particular aspects of the Committee’s inquiry as well as those that cover the Draft Bill more widely. Annexes may be submitted, but will not necessarily be published. Relevant material prepared for other purposes
(such as reports or submissions to other inquiries and consultations) may be submitted to the Committee for information, but will not be printed. Witnesses who submit written evidence may be invited to give oral evidence to the Committee if time allows.
Submissions should be sent electronically (in Word) and in hard copy. Evidence should be clearly printed or typed on single sides of A4 paper, unstapled, and should be set out in numbered paragraphs. If drawings or charts are included, they should be in black-and-white and of camera-ready quality. The hard copy submission should be signed and dated, together with a note of the author’s name and status and whether the evidence is submitted on an individual or corporate basis. Please ensure that you include relevant contact details. These will be removed before publication.
Evidence and inquiries should be addressed to:
Kate Lawrence
Clerk to the Joint Committee on the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill
House of Lords
London SW1A 0PW
email to
dcrbill@parliament.uk Tel: 020 7219 8675; Fax: 020 7219 4931
The deadline for submitting written evidence is 12 June
Once submitted, evidence submitted becomes the property of the Committee, and may be published. Witnesses may publicise their written evidence themselves, but in doing so should indicate that it was prepared for the Committee.
You can follow the inquiry via the Committee web pages, accessed from
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/jcdcrb.cfm
This is a public call for evidence. You are welcome to bring it to the attention of
other groups and individuals who may not have received a copy directly.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/Cfe080509.pdf
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