A disabled man was banned from taking part in a critical mass (bike ride) with his weelchair at the G8 environment ministers meeting in Derby earlier this year (March 17th). Now he has dropped his case against Derbyshire police for disability discrimination after he learnt that the police had a get-out clause in the Disability Discrimination Act, which said that the act did not apply to the force if it was protecting national security.
A disabled man who was banned from protesting at the G8 summit in Breadsall, Derby has failed in his bid to bring a disability discrimination case against police.
Wheelchair bound Doug arrived in Breadsall on March 17 this year as an anti-G8 protester.
But he said that when he arrived to take part in the "critical mass" protest against world leaders, Derbyshire police told him that, despite the fact they were allowing cyclists to take part, he was not allowed to join in because of his wheelchair.
Police in Derby prepared for an invasion of protesters, with 1,000 officers drafted in from 23 different counties, as well as riot vans, squad cars and bikes to protect the G8 environment ministers meeting at Breadsall Priory.
At the time, memorials and statues were boarded up, shop windows were barricaded and a huge area of the Market Place was cordoned off with railings to keep crowds at bay - to keep the childrens face painting and samba band under control.
Doug, who has autonomic neuralgic failure, which means he cannot control his body's blood pressure and heartbeat, was in a specialist racing wheelchair on the day.
He had planned to join the group of cyclists who rode from Derby train station to the Market Place.
Doug wanted to take his disability discrimination case against David Coleman, Derbyshire's Chief Constable, to court and was due to appear at Leeds County Court yesterday.
But he had to withdraw his complaint after he learnt that Derbyshire police had a get-out clause in the Disability Discrimination Act, which said that the act did not apply to the force if it was protecting national security (what the statues? Odd how the market place is no where near the priory that the minggers met at).
Doug said: "I took it as far as I could but it became apparent that, if I took it any further, I was likely to get substantial costs awarded against me.
"It does not surprise me, it is clear that the police increasingly have the power to stop protests and people expressing their opinions."
"There were 1,000 police on the streets that day and about 100 protesters, I cannot understand why I was banned."
A Derbyshire police spokesman said: "We are satisfied that action taken by officers at the time in relation to Doug was both appropriate and lawful.
"Our main priority in relation to the G8 meeting was to make sure ministers could meet without disruption and in safety, and that disruption to people of Derby and Breadsall was kept to a minimum.
"Those people who wished to take part in a lawful protest could do so where possible, as long as their own and other people's safety was not compromised."
Wheelchair bound Doug arrived in Breadsall on March 17 this year as an anti-G8 protester.
But he said that when he arrived to take part in the "critical mass" protest against world leaders, Derbyshire police told him that, despite the fact they were allowing cyclists to take part, he was not allowed to join in because of his wheelchair.
Police in Derby prepared for an invasion of protesters, with 1,000 officers drafted in from 23 different counties, as well as riot vans, squad cars and bikes to protect the G8 environment ministers meeting at Breadsall Priory.
At the time, memorials and statues were boarded up, shop windows were barricaded and a huge area of the Market Place was cordoned off with railings to keep crowds at bay - to keep the childrens face painting and samba band under control.
Doug, who has autonomic neuralgic failure, which means he cannot control his body's blood pressure and heartbeat, was in a specialist racing wheelchair on the day.
He had planned to join the group of cyclists who rode from Derby train station to the Market Place.
Doug wanted to take his disability discrimination case against David Coleman, Derbyshire's Chief Constable, to court and was due to appear at Leeds County Court yesterday.
But he had to withdraw his complaint after he learnt that Derbyshire police had a get-out clause in the Disability Discrimination Act, which said that the act did not apply to the force if it was protecting national security (what the statues? Odd how the market place is no where near the priory that the minggers met at).
Doug said: "I took it as far as I could but it became apparent that, if I took it any further, I was likely to get substantial costs awarded against me.
"It does not surprise me, it is clear that the police increasingly have the power to stop protests and people expressing their opinions."
"There were 1,000 police on the streets that day and about 100 protesters, I cannot understand why I was banned."
A Derbyshire police spokesman said: "We are satisfied that action taken by officers at the time in relation to Doug was both appropriate and lawful.
"Our main priority in relation to the G8 meeting was to make sure ministers could meet without disruption and in safety, and that disruption to people of Derby and Breadsall was kept to a minimum.
"Those people who wished to take part in a lawful protest could do so where possible, as long as their own and other people's safety was not compromised."
Comments
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National security. Is there a legal definition of this term?
18.08.2005 13:32
Is anyone challenging the way the police use such clauses against demonstrators? Can such clauses be implemented (if they exist) unless someone is pointing cruise missiles at Whitehall?
Even when people go and dent death-subs or fighter planes it's hardly threatening to an immense power like the UK state. Perhaps some kind of legal challenge should be mounted, or would the government simply find some other way to harass dissenters?
Alastair