Current Awareness » public order

‘Naked rambler’ Stephen Gough jailed for breaching Asbo – The Independent

sally — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:41:37 +0000

“The ‘naked rambler’ has been jailed for 11 months after being found guilty of breaching an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) banning him from being naked in public just minutes after it was imposed.”

Full story

The Independent, 19th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Met Police pay libel damages to riots ‘Good Samaritan’ – BBC News

tracey — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:06:32 +0000

“The Metropolitan Police is to pay substantial damages to a man who was wrongly
pictured in ‘wanted’ posters following the London riots in 2011.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd May 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crime and Courts Act 2013 – legislation.gov.uk

tracey — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:00:17 +0000

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.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

James Best: Jailed in the riots for stealing a gingerbread man… dead in the prison that should have protected him – The Independent

sally — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:17:54 +0000

“James Best had a history of mental health problems before being jailed after the riots of 2011. Now his brother has warned that the systemic failures which led to his death could happen again.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st April 2013

Source: www.independent.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

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

‘Naked rambler’ given Asbo by Southampton magistrates – BBC News

tracey — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:31:47 +0000

“A man known as ‘the naked rambler’ has been given an interim Anti-social
Behaviour Order (Asbo) banning him from going nude in public places.”

Full story

BBC News, 28th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Olympic 100m final bottle thrower Ashley Gill-Webb sentenced – BBC News

tracey — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:44:17 +0000

“A man who threw a plastic beer bottle on to the track at the start of the men’s
100m final at the London Olympics has been given a community order.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Father jailed for biting off love rival’s finger at Nativity play – Daily Telegraph

tracey — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:26:38 +0000

“A father-of-three who bit part of the finger off a love rival in a brawl at a children’s school Nativity play has been jailed for 11 months.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Public insults to be legalised but grossly offensive messages still criminal – UK Human Rights Blog

sally — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:03:00 +0000

“Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, which outlaws the use of ‘threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour’ will be amended to remove the word ‘insulting’. The amendment is the result of a successful, high-profile campaign which asked ‘Do we really need the police and the courts to deal with insults?’”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 15th January 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘Insulting words’ crime ditched – BBC News

sally — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:32:40 +0000

“The crime of ‘insulting’ someone through words or behaviour, which once led to the arrest of a student for asking a police officer whether his horse was gay, is to be dropped.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man who threw bottle at Usain Bolt at Olympics found guilty – The Guardian

tracey — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:57:42 +0000

“A man who threw a plastic beer bottle at Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt moments before the Olympic 100m final has been found guilty of public disorder at Stratford magistrates court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Luciana Berger MP abuse: Philip Hayes fined for anti-Semitic remarks – BBC News

sally — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 09:49:37 +0000

“A Merseyside music promoter who admitted making anti-Semitic remarks to a Jewish MP has been fined £120.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Peers vote to remove law banning insulting language – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:13:21 +0000

“The House of Lords on Wednesday night voted to remove a law that criminalises the use of insulting language in Britain.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man cleared of racial abuse after using nigger ‘as term of endearment’ – The Guardian

sally — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:29:22 +0000

“A court has cleared a man who shouted the word ‘nigger’ at a black man of racial abuse, after he claimed he was a rap music fan who used the term as an endearment.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man jailed over naked climb on Whitehall statue – BBC News

sally — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:51:39 +0000

“A 29-year-old who stripped naked on top of a statue in central London, before breaking off its sword and biting it, has been jailed for 12 weeks.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Criminal records of striking miners ‘should be erased’ – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:18:12 +0000

“Calls to erase the criminal records of the estimated 7,000 men detained and ‘falsely charged’ during the miners’ strike have been made by campaigners demanding a fresh inquiry into the policing of the dispute.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Freedom of expression: why are there greater restrictions online? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

sally — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:30:02 +0000

“When you are speaking to someone face to face you are free to say something grossly offensive to them, or even to shout it out so that anyone within earshot can hear. It’s not a crime. Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 states that it doesn’t matter whether you let loose your volley of invective in front of someone who is likely to be insulted by it, or even offended by it, provided they are not likely to have been caused harassment, alarm or distress.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 2nd November 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.com

Frankie Boyle, free speech and legal jokes – The Guardian

sally — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 08:35:28 +0000

“When speech offends, insults and disparages should we resort to legal action?”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd October 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

Barry Thew jailed for T-shirt mocking PCs deaths – BBC News

sally — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:39:54 +0000

“A man from Greater Manchester who wore a T-shirt daubed with offensive comments about the killing of two police officers has been jailed.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.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

England riots one year on: Culprits jailed for 1,800 years – BBC News

sally — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 09:29:59 +0000

“Prison sentences totalling more than 1,800 years have been handed out to rioters following the disorder which began exactly a year ago.”

Full story

BBC News, 6th August 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Olympics fast-track court at Stratford magistrates – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:10:43 +0000

“Duncan Campbell reports from the east London court for the first conviction of a racially aggravated offence at the Games.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man who gave Nazi salute at a basketball match fined £2,500 – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 08:50:43 +0000

“A Lithuanian man who gave a Nazi salute during an Olympic basketball match has become the first person to be convicted of a racially aggravated offence at the Games and fined £2,500. He was told that his behaviour and that of other Lithuanian fans was ‘despicable’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

John Terry racism trial: the difficulties of prosecuting someone who uses abusive language – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

sally — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:04:39 +0000

“John Terry has been acquitted of racially aggravated causing harassment, alarm or distress under s 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 and s 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 31st July 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Two Met police officers face racism trial – The Guardian

sally — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:34:32 +0000

“Two Metropolitan police officers are to stand trial accused of making racist remarks to their colleagues, prosecutors have announced.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Waiter who streaked alongside Olympic Torch relay denies indecency claiming his naked body inspired ‘hilarity not distress’ – The Independent

sally — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 08:47:04 +0000

“A waiter who streaked alongside the Olympic Torch was merely inspiring ‘hilarity not distress’ when he joined the relay wearing nothing but trainers, his lawyer insisted today.”

Full story

The Independent, 25th July 2012

Source: www.independent.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

John Terry found not guilty of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 09:51:35 +0000

“The former England captain John Terry has been cleared of racially abusing fellow footballer Anton Ferdinand in a no-blame verdict that ruled the incident could have been down to a misunderstanding.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

London 2012: Protester’s banning order extended – BBC News

sally — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:25:17 +0000

“A man barred from protesting at the site of an Olympic basketball training facility has had his banning order extended by two years.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th June 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

How do you insult someone legally? – BBC News

sally — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:59:23 +0000

“Campaigners want to overturn laws targeting “insulting words and behaviour”. Just how safe is it to scorn others?”

Full story

BBC News, 18th May 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law banning insulting words and behaviour ‘has to end’ – BBC

sally — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:34:52 +0000

“A law banning ‘insulting’ words or behaviour should be removed in an effort to protect free speech, MPs and civil rights groups have said.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th May 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Protester barred from all Jubilee and Games events – BBC News

sally — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:06:47 +0000

“A man barred from protesting at the site of an Olympic basketball training facility has been ordered by a court to stay away from all Games venues.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd May 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Our right to protest is under attack – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:17:16 +0000

“We need greater clarity on when the use of ‘kettling’ is permitted before people’s freedom to protest is severely curtailed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Riots may be controlled with chemicals – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:48:46 +0000

“Future riots could be quelled by projectiles containing chemical irritants fired by police using new weapons that are now in the final stages of development.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Kettling: Can a public interest motive justify a deprivation of liberty or not? – UK Human Rights Blog

sally — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:57:08 +0000

“The Grand Chamber of the ECtHR recently tackled the question of whether the police tactic of ‘kettling’ (verb, UK, of the police – to contain demonstrators in a confined area) amounted to a deprivation of the liberty of four applicants within the meaning of Article 5(1) of the ECHR.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd April 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Student who abused Fabrice Muamba on Twitter ‘should not have been jailed’ – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:04:17 +0000

“Thomas Hammarberg, the European commissioner for human rights, calls Liam Stacey’s 56-day sentence excessive.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Occupy Cardiff protesters claim victory after CPS drops case – The Guardian

sally — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:38:41 +0000

“Two Occupy protesters who were arrested and charged when they attempted to set up camp in Cardiff are claiming victory after a case against them was unexpectedly dropped.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Free speech on Facebook: unless you offend! – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

sally — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:30:12 +0000

“No sooner had HLE published a post on the joke (in every sense) trial of Paul Chambers than another story appears which leaves one wondering how many in officialdom have even heard of free speech, let alone understood it.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 20th March 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

This judgment in favour of kettling is a missed opportunity – The Guardian

tracey — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:05:52 +0000

“The European court of human rights had a chance to strengthen the right to protest. Instead, it set a dangerous precedent.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

European court says ‘kettling’ tactics in 2001 lawful – BBC News

sally — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:01:01 +0000

“‘Kettling’ tactics used by the Metropolitan police to contain crowds in 2001 were lawful, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Kettling ruling due from European court of human rights – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:37:33 +0000

“The police power to contain large numbers of people at protests, the tactic known as kettling, could be called into question on Thursday by a ruling at the European court of human rights.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Metropolitan Police succeed in G20 “kettling” appeal – Wessen Jazrawi – UK Human Rights Blog

sally — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:53:46 +0000

“The Metropolitan Police has succeeded in its appeal against a Divisional Court ruling (see previous post) that the use of crowd control measures – in this case, containment or ‘kettling’ – against Climate Camp protesters did not constitute ‘lawful police operations’.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 19th January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

MPs oppose police plans to use water cannon to quell public disorder – The Guardian

tracey — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:47:04 +0000

“MPs have come down firmly against the police employing water cannon or plastic bullets to quell any future repeat of the August riots. The Commons home affairs committee say in a report on Monday that their use in the summer would have been an indiscriminate and dangerous way of further inflaming the situation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Undercover policeman’s identity ‘kept secret’ as he prepared to appear in court – The Guardian

sally — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:11:23 +0000

“Prosecutors and police have been accused of keeping secret the identity of a police spy in a 1996 criminal trial of political campaigners.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Should swearing be against the law? – BBC News

sally — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:12:57 +0000

“A High Court judge has ruled that people should not be punished for hurling obscenities in public because such words are now so common they no longer cause distress. Should the courts punish profanity?”

Full story

BBC News, 21st November 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk