Current Awareness » demonstrations

Lawyers protest outside parliament against legal aid cuts – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:09:08 +0000

“Hundreds, some wearing wigs and gowns, demonstrate against justice secretary’s plans, which they say undermine UK justice.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal watchdog warns budget cuts will damage justice – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:10:42 +0000

“Depriving defendants of the ability to choose their own solicitor will undermine confidence in the criminal justice system, an official legal watchdog warned on Monday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Dale Farm protester awarded damages – Daily Telegraph

sally — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:28:44 +0000

“A protester arrested at the Dale Farm traveller eviction will receive undisclosed damages after she complained she was left in a police van for too long.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd April 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

15 trials and 42 court hearings adjourned as barristers boycott crown courts in protest at plans to slash legal aid bill – The Independent

sally — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:46:19 +0000

“More than 400 barristers boycotted crown courts in northern England today in what was described as the first militant action against Government plans to slash the criminal legal aid bill by millions.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Criminal legal aid cuts prompt protest by northern lawyers – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:09:29 +0000

“Hundreds of barristers and solicitors are holding an all-day protest meeting against government plans to cut criminal legal aid and end defendants’ right to choose their lawyer.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Last British resident in Guantánamo ‘may never be allowed home’ – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:41:12 +0000

“The last British resident being held in Guantánamo Bay may never be allowed to return to his family in London because of an alleged ‘secret deal’ between US authorities, Saudi Arabia and the British security services.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Who, what, why: Can police stop protests at Margaret Thatcher’s funeral? – BBC News

sally — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:12:24 +0000

“There has been widespread speculation that protests will take place during the funeral of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. But what laws will be in force?”

Full story

BBC News, 16th April 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Thatcher funeral: Police plan to arrest protesters under ‘draconian’ Public Order Act – The Independent

sally — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:57:46 +0000

“Campaigners reacted angrily last night after Scotland Yard suggested protesters should consider avoiding Baroness Thatcher’s cortège – because they face arrest under a controversial public order law.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

University of Sussex protesters to be evicted – BBC News

sally — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:32:32 +0000

“The High Court has ruled that protesters should be evicted from part of the University of Sussex.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bauer and others v Director of Public Prosecutions (Liberty intervening) – WLR Daily

tracey — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:44:00 +0000

Bauer and others v Director of Public Prosecutions (Liberty intervening): [2013] EWHC 634 (Admin); [2013] WLR (D) 121

“Continued occupation as a trespasser could in appropriate circumstances amount to an additional act beyond the initial act of trespass as required by section 68(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in order to prove an offence of aggravated trespass.”

WLR Daily, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Gipsies ordered to leave after three-year village fight – Daily Telegraphj

tracey — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:13:51 +0000

“Villagers who have spent almost three years blockading an illegal gipsy camp
declared victory after a High Court judge ordered the travellers to leave.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Canterbury court sentences royal car protester Jonathan Elliott – The Independent

sally — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:27:33 +0000

“A protester has been bound over to keep the peace for 12 months after he lunged at a car carrying the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall before the Archbishop of Canterbury’s enthronement.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Privacy, Protests and Policing – Panopticon

tracey — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:23:44 +0000

“In Catt v ACPO and others; T v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and another [2013] EWCA Civ 192, the Court of Appeal considered two appeals regarding the powers of the police to collect and retain personal information about members of the public. Both cases turned on the application of Article 8 of the Convention; in both, the Court held that there had been an interference with the Article 8(1) right to respect for private life, and that the interference was not justified under Article 8(2).”

Full story

Panopticon, 20th March 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Regina (Catt) v Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and another (Equality and Human Rights Commission and others intervening): Regina (T) v Comr of Police of the Metropolis (Secretary of State for the Home Department intervening) – WLR Daily

tracey — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:48:33 +0000

Regina (Catt) v Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and another (Equality and Human Rights Commission and others intervening): Regina (T) v Comr of Police of the Metropolis (Secretary of State for the Home Department intervening): [2013] EWCA Civ 192; [2013] WLR (D) 108

“The retention by the police of personal information on an individual stored on a police national database, or the issue of a warning notice against a person accused of harassment and its retention in police records, involved an interference with a person’s right to respect for his private and family life, within the meaning of article 8 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and such retention would breach the right unless justified.”

WLR Daily, 14th March 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Activist ‘shocked’ at conviction for yelling at David Cameron – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:10:31 +0000

“A woman has described her shock after being found guilty of a public order offence for telling David Cameron he had ‘blood on his hands’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Police surveillance of this kind undermines our democracy’: Judges rule that action against peaceful protester John Catt was unlawful – The Independent

sally — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:10:25 +0000

“Police face having to rethink their whole strategy for public demonstrations after judges ruled today that the surveillance they placed a peaceful protester under was unlawful.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Energy giant EDF drops lawsuit against climate change protesters after backlash – The Independent

sally — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:25:20 +0000

“Energy giant EDF today dropped a £5m law suit against 21 climate change protesters that shut down the company’s new West Burton gas-fired power station last October.”

Full story

The Independent, 13th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

A dangerous use of police force to quell protest – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:04:21 +0000

“The Alfie Meadows ruling is a reminder of the coalition’s hypocrisy on non-violent protest.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Youth jail illegally punished seven protesting teenagers, court rules – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:33:23 +0000

“A privately run youth jail illegally punished seven teenagers after they were involved in a protest over conditions on their wing, a high court judge has ruled.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court bans protests near home of Abu Qatada – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:39:25 +0000

“A high court judge has banned protests by groups such as the English Defence League being held within 500 metres of the home of the radical Islamist cleric Abu Qatada.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bloody Sunday families offered £50,000 compensation by MoD – The Guardian

sally — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:57:46 +0000

“The families of those shot dead by Parachute Regiment soldiers on Bloody Sunday in 1972 have been offered around £50,000 each in compensation by the Ministry of Defence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Iraq war activists to get £4,000 compensation over 2003 protest – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:15:46 +0000

“Anti-war protesters who were prevented by police from attending a mass rally outside an RAF airbase have been awarded more than £4,000 each in compensation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

RAF Fairford protesters win legal battle against police – BBC News

sally — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:38:42 +0000

“Anti-war campaigners whose coaches were prevented from joining a mass rally against the Iraq war have won their legal battle against police.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Gallastegui) v Westminster City Council and others – WLR Daily

sally — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:15:58 +0000

Regina (Gallastegui) v Westminster City Council and others [2013] EWCA Civ 28; [2013] WLR (D) 45

“Sections 143 and 145 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 were carefully targeted to prevent protesters camping with tents or sleeping equipment on Parliament Square Gardens, but did not generally impair freedom to protest at all. As a consequence they were not incompatible with the rights to freedom of expression and protest in articles 10 and 11 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Sincethe procedure set out in the 2011 Act allowed for access to a court, article 6 of the Convention was not engaged.”

WLR Daily, 30th January 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

John Catt takes protester records case to Court of Appeal – BBC News

sally — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:03:38 +0000

“A man from Brighton who wants records of his political activities removed from a police database has taken his case to the Court of Appeal.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barnet library squatters to be evicted, judge rules – The Guardian

sally — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:02:01 +0000

“Squatters who have occupied a north London library for more than three months with the blessing of the local community are to be evicted, a judge has ruled. However, the court recognised their right to protest and the illegal tenants have been given a six-week stay of execution before they will be moved on.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

SodaStream ‘black’ TV ad protests regulator’s ban on original campaign – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:38:24 +0000

“SodaStream is to air a TV advert, featuring just a black screen with white text, in protest at an 11th-hour decision by regulators to ban its planned £11m campaign after an objection that it ‘denigrated’ the bottled drinks industry.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Boat Race protester Trenton Oldfield jailed – BBC News

sally — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 12:07:12 +0000

“A man who disrupted this year’s University Boat Race has been jailed for six months for causing a public nuisance.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS admits to ‘inadvertent’ disclosure of tuition fee protestors’ data – OUT-LAW.com

sally — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:59:22 +0000

“The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has apologised to hundreds of people after it ‘inadvertently disclosed’ their names, dates of birth and other personal data in a document as part of its response to a freedom of information (FOI) request.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 28th September 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Activists warned to watch what they say as social media monitoring becomes ‘next big thing in law enforcement’ – The Independent

sally — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:16:06 +0000

“Political activists must watch what they say on the likes of Facebook and Twitter, sites which will become the ‘next big thing in law enforcement’, a leading human rights lawyer has warned.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Boat race saboteur Trenton Oldfield guilty of public nuisance – The Independent

sally — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:16:38 +0000

“A protester who disrupted this year’s Boat Race by swimming into the path of the crews was found guilty today of causing a public nuisance.”

Full story

The Independent, 26th September 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Anti-abortion protesters cleared of public order offences – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:52:26 +0000

“Anti-abortion protesters who displayed pictures of aborted foetuses outside a clinic offering pregnancy terminations have been cleared of public order offences.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tomlinson death case officer faces Met disciplinary hearing – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 09:04:35 +0000

“The police officer cleared of killing Ian Tomlinson on the fringes of the G20 protests in London will this week face further scrutiny into his conduct through an internal Metropolitan police disciplinary hearing which, unusually, will be held in public. It will be only the second time such an internal police hearing will take place in the open since a 2008 law gave the Independent Police Complaints Commission powers to compel this in instances with particular public interest.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Dale Farm prosecutions abandoned by council – The Guardian

sally — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:24:36 +0000

“A council will take no further action against protesters arrested during the clearance of Europe’s largest illegal travellers’ site. The protesters were among those arrested as they clashed with police and bailiffs as travellers were removed from Dale Farm, Essex, last October.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

End protest at travellers’ site or face jail, villagers told – Daily Telegraph

tracey — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 08:19:34 +0000

“Villagers who set up a protest camp after a group of travellers moved on to green belt land near their homes were last night facing threats of £20,000 fines or even jail unless they leave.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd August 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police protest tactics ‘give officers excessive and disproportionate control’ – The Guardian

tracey — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:15:06 +0000

“Pre-emptive arrests, confinement by kettling and the gathering of personal data give police officers ‘excessive and disproportionate’ control over public protests, a report by a coalition of police monitoring groups has warned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police officer Simon Harwood cleared of killing Ian Tomlinson – Daily Telegraph

tracey — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:57:12 +0000

“Police officer Simon Harwood was today cleared of killing newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests in London in 2009. Concerns about the Pc’s alleged previous ‘heavy handed policing’ were only disclosed after acquittal.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th July 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Protesters lose royal wedding High Court case – The Independent

tracey — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:10:49 +0000

“ Royal wedding protesters have lost their High Court claim that they were the victims of unlawful searches and arrests.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th July 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

DPP invites defence to appeal convictions of Drax Power Station protestors – Crown Prosecution Service

sally — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:08:59 +0000

“The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has invited 29 individuals convicted following the Drax Power Station protest in 2008 to appeal against their convictions. This protest involved the former undercover officer Mark Kennedy.”

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 3rd July 2012

Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk

Leniency for protest student – The Independent

sally — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:55:28 +0000

“Owen Holland, the Cambridge PhD student suspended by Cambridge University for two and half years for a protest against cuts, had his sentence cut to one term yesterday.”

Full story

The Independent, 23rd June 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

University tutor wins £60,000 libel damages from Mail and Standard – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:13:45 +0000

“A university tutor has won £60,000 in libel damages from the Daily Mail and London Evening Standard over stories alleging he was involved in violence at a demonstration against education cuts.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Trial begins of police officer accused of killing Ian Tomlinson – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:44:37 +0000

“The trial has begun of Simon Harwood, the police constable accused of killing Ian Tomlinson, who died shortly after he collapsed amid a major Metropolitan police operation around the G20 summit in London in April 2009.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Anti-cuts university tutor begins libel action against Mail and Standard – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:35:06 +0000

“A university tutor described by the Daily Mail and London Evening Standard of having a key role in violent anti-cuts protests in London has begun a landmark libel action against the two newspapers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Retention of data on octogenarian protester “amply justified” – UK Human Rights Blog

tracey — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:50:50 +0000

“Catt v Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis [2012] EWHC 1471. Retention of data on a national database of material relating to a protester’s attendance at demonstrations by a group that had a history of violence, criminality and disorder, did not engage Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 31st May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Protester John Catt loses database fight – The Independent

tracey — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:10:44 +0000

“ An 87-year-old political campaigner has lost a legal action to have details about his attendance at various protests removed from a police ‘extremism’ database.”

Full story

The Independent, 30th May 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Leveson passes Tony Blair protester case to director of public prosecutions – The Guardian

tracey — Tue, 29 May 2012 15:51:09 +0000

“David Lawley-Wakelin, the 49-year-old intruder, was taken into custody by police following the incident on Monday but released in the afternoon without charge. Resuming the inquiry at 2pm on Tuesday afternoon, Leveson announced that he was now taking the matter into his own hands. The judge’s intervention is exceptionally rare.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Activists arrested before royal wedding to challenge police in high court – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 28 May 2012 08:52:35 +0000

“Activists who were rounded up before last year’s royal wedding are challenging the Metropolitan police in the high court on Monday in a case that could have implications for the way the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations and the Olympics are policed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Yvonne Fletcher investigation renewed – The Guardian

tracey — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:36:17 +0000

“David Cameron announces detectives will fly to Libya in pursuit of information about the policewoman’s 1984 killing.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Dale Farm council urged to drop private prosecution of protesters – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:50:25 +0000

“A council is seeking to privately prosecute two dozen protesters for obstructing bailiffs during the eviction of Dale Farm, after police and the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge them.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Peace campaigner evicted from Parliament Square using new law – UK Human Rights Blog

sally — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:13:46 +0000

“On 27 April 2012, Maria Gallastegui, a peace campaigner and resident of the East pavement of Parliament Square since 2006, lost her legal battle to continue her 24 hour, tented vigil in protest against the folly of war and in particular the UK’s involvement in armed conflict.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 17th May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com