16-06-2008 15:48
For those of you who think we're moving towards a police state, this video will show you that we are already living one.
Read more >>16-06-2008 13:48
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Yesterday's anti-war protest at Parliament Square and the testing of the MPS's security operation to protect the US president.
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16-06-2008 09:17
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8 minute film of bush protests in parliament square yesterday. more than a thousand police blockaded whitehall and brutally foiled any attempt to voice peaceful protest outside downing street while the disgraced war-criminals had their cosy dinner before being consigned to the dustbin of history
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29-05-2008 15:23
The NUJ has called for Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to put an end to police surveillance of journalists.
Read more >>16-05-2008 10:56
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15-05-2008 13:14
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
Read more >>09-05-2008 12:07
Key quotes:
"The MPS believes that it should be a matter for Parliament to decide if there are any geographical areas where protest should not be allowed [...] such as the footway immediately adjacent to the Palace of Westminster, might also impact so adversely on access to the Palace of Westminster and therefore on the smooth running of Government that Parliament may wish to decide that it should be ruled out as a site for protest in the amended legislation."
"The use of the undefined term ‘demonstration’ in the SOCPA provisions has caused difficulties. The MPS believes that prior notification for assemblies in the defined area above should rely upon the current definition of assembly under the POA and should only apply when two or more people intend to assemble."
"The concept of ‘authorisation’ for any protest should be removed. [...] However, given recent challenges that the MPS has faced in dealing with SOCPA, it believes that the legislation must make it clear that the onus is on those protesting to show that they have complied with the notification requirements."
"The MPS believes that the POA should be amended so that the flexibility that currently applies to conditions on processions also applies to assemblies."
"the MPS believes that the Public Order Act should be amended to allow appropriate and proportionate conditions to be imposed on any procession or assembly taking place anywhere on the grounds of security."
"Sessional Orders, which are orders passed by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, place a duty on the Commissioner to ensure that access to Parliament is kept free of obstruction. However, these orders do not create any additional police powers [...] The powers available under this Act are very limited, are increasingly being challenged by protestors and do not provide any statutory framework to place conditions on processions and assemblies."
"Parliament Square is a World Heritage Site. [...] This area also attracts large numbers of protestors who hold very strong views and beliefs and some of their activities and behaviour may not be compatible with this vision [...] Government needs to define in the amended legislation any activities or behaviours they see as being unacceptable in this area."
"the MPS is increasingly having to deal with those who choose to protest in the SOCPA area in situations where a power of arrest does not exist [...] The MPS believes that a power to arrest should exist to prevent individuals continuing to commit an offence after they have been formally reported for it. This could be achieved by an amendment to s24(5) PACE."
"the MPS believes [...] it should also have the power to apply conditions on those protests comprising of only one person. [...] There is no obvious reason why this power, to impose conditions on a lone demonstrator, should be limited to the new designated area."
"the MPS believes that the POA should be amended to allow conditions to be placed on any procession or assembly or lone protestor to prevent a security risk wherever it takes place in the country."
Next Campaign for Free Assembly public meeting:
Sunday 11th May 2-4pm
London School of Economics Connaught House
Room H101
Map:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/mapsAndDirections/
Read more >>08-05-2008 15:11
Key quotes:
"there have been three public gatherings on Parliament Square Garden with approval from the GLA since the introduction of SOCPA from 1 August 2005 until 30 November 2007."
"It may be appropriate to develop criteria to distinguish between assemblies and marches to focus on timing, scale, size, and information on organisers requesting permissions, for example."
"The impact on the Authority’s ability to manage the permanent protests and camping around Parliament Square has required a significant resource investment to prevent low level disorder issues"
"Trafalgar Square has a long and established historical tradition as a place to protest as opposed to Parliament Square, which does not have the same historical or symbolic character."
"if a protest takes place it will inevitably limit the public uses of the square, and the protests should be limited in duration."
Next Campaign for Free Assembly public meeting:
11th May 2-4pm
London School of Economics Connaught House
Room H101
Map:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/mapsAndDirections/
Read more >>08-05-2008 10:05
Key quotes:
"The City Council would propose that consideration be given to prohibiting the use of loudspeakers in Parliament Square and excluding the local authority’s power to grant consent."
"The City Council would propose that the police should consult the City Council before granting consent for a demonstration and for them to be required to have regard to any representations made."
"Parliament Square is one of the most prestigious, visited and photographed squares in the world and is a place the City Council is rightly proud of. The City Council recognises all individuals’ right to peaceful protect, but the extent and manner of such protest can often have a disproportionate detrimental effect on amenity. The south side of Parliament Square is often an eyesore; a blot on the landscape."
Next Campaign for Free Assembly public meeting:
11th May 2-4pm
London School of Economics Connaught House
Room H101
Map:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/mapsAndDirections/
Read more >>06-05-2008 11:44
audio interview with brian haw late last night at accident&emergency st thomas hospital after he was attacked in parliament square yesterday by police and held for more than six hours for an alleged public order offence.
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05-05-2008 17:05
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03-05-2008 15:06
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The attacks took place late last night with police and CCTV looking on.
Read more >>27-04-2008 07:35
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Early in the ride police blocked the front at traffic lights and prevented movement, even when the lights were green. This is a familiar tactic which is done to compress the ride into as small a space as possible, with officers and a van at the back hassling stragglers to keep up, which slows things down and holds up traffic as well as making cycling difficult.
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24-04-2008 15:17
what a tangled web they weave when first they practise to decieve... what a load of bollocks
Read more >>23-04-2008 18:57
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Justice Owen ordered an answer be given as to why Babs was in Holloway and you guys called your mate, the Governor, down at Holloway to release Babs, then you decided that there was nothing to talk about as Babs was released?
Bollocks!
Read more >>18-04-2008 11:52
a high court hearing and a document given 'charity sweet' blow a huge hole in the decision to imprison her - now the matter of her imprisonment will be added to the forthcoming judicial review of various aspects of the constitutional campaign of harassment against her.
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17-04-2008 15:46
babs was freed from hmp holloway just before midday today. several supporters were waiting in the morning for her. she is at the high court tomorrow morning for a 'habeus corpus' hearing when the legitimacy of her prison sentence will be contested
high court hearing at 10 am tomorrow morning - support welcome
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17-04-2008 06:49
16-04-2008 15:45
Dear Mr. Governor of Holloway...
GIVE HER BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read more >>12-04-2008 19:56
parliament square peace campaigner barbar tucker is currently serving two weeks in holloway prison for 'breach of police bail'
support by postcard/letter or visit is very welcome
details for contact given below
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