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

Posted March 21st, 2012 in freedom of expression, internet, news, public order by sally

“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.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 20th March 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

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

Posted March 16th, 2012 in demonstrations, human rights, news, police, public order, restraint by tracey

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

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The Guardian, 15th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

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

Posted March 15th, 2012 in demonstrations, human rights, news, police, public order, restraint by sally

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

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BBC News, 15th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

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

Posted March 15th, 2012 in demonstrations, human rights, news, police, public order, restraint by sally

“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.”

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The Guardian, 14th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

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

Posted January 19th, 2012 in demonstrations, news, police, public order by sally

“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’.”

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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

Posted December 19th, 2011 in news, police, public order by tracey

“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.”

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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

Posted December 7th, 2011 in disclosure, evidence, news, police, public order by sally

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

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The Guardian, 7th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Should swearing be against the law? – BBC News

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in consultations, freedom of expression, news, public order by sally

“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?”

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BBC News, 21st November 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Swearing at police is not a crime, judge rules – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 21st, 2011 in harassment, news, police, public order by tracey

“Swearing at police is not a crime because officers hear foul language ‘too frequently’ to be offended, a judge has ruled.”

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Daily Telegraph, 21st November 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Appeal court riot ruling is firm but fair – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in appeals, magistrates, news, public order, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“Severe punishment for those taking part in public disorder is right, as a matter of law and of common sense.”

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The Guardian, 18th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Analysis: Laying down the law on riots – BBC News

Posted October 19th, 2011 in appeals, magistrates, news, public order, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“If we know one thing for certain about the England riots, it’s that the public have been urging the courts to dish out some serious punishment.”

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BBC News, 18th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Have your say on public order policing – Home Office

Posted October 14th, 2011 in consultations, police, press releases, public order by tracey

“In the light of the summer riots James Brokenshire launched a consultation today to consider how to give the police more tools to tackle disorder.”

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Home Office, 13th October 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Abusive yobs could avoid prosecution under proposals – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 14th, 2011 in commemorations, news, public order, threatening behaviour, violent disorder by tracey

“Abusive troublemakers who call British soldiers murderers or burn poppies on Remembrance Day could escape prosecution under moves to scrap ‘insulting behaviour’ as a criminal offence.”

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Daily Telegraph, 14th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

May seeks stronger police riot powers – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2011 in consultations, news, police, public order, violent disorder by tracey

“The home secretary, Theresa May, is to press ahead with seeking public order curfew powers for the police to create ‘no-go’ areas during riots. The powers are expected to include immediate curfews over large areas to tackle the kind of fast-moving disturbances that swept across many of England’s major cities in August. May also wants to extend existing powers to impose curfews on individual teenagers aged under 16.”

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The Guardian, 13th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prison for hospital Nazi salute at Jewish teenager – BBC News

Posted September 30th, 2011 in news, public order, religiously aggravated offences, sentencing by tracey

“A man has been described as a ‘bully with hatred in his heart’ and jailed for nine months after making Nazi salutes at a Jewish teenager.”

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BBC News, 29th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met offer £5,000 compensation to arrested royal wedding protester – The Guardian

Posted September 26th, 2011 in compensation, freedom of expression, news, police, public order, stop and search by sally

“A protester who was held in police cells for six hours during a crackdown on street protests during the royal wedding has received £5,000 compensation and an official apology from the Metropolitan police.”

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The Guardian, 23rd September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rereading the Riot Act – The Lawyer

Posted August 16th, 2011 in compensation, legislation, news, public order, victims, violent disorder by sally

“In light of recent rioting across England, Colin Wynter QC believes a sympathetic application of a strict law can be necessary for victims of crime.”

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The Lawyer, 15th August 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Is the law being misused to undermine peaceful protest? – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2011 in Crown Prosecution Service, demonstrations, news, public order, trespass by sally

“The CPS may have dropped charges against 109 Fortnum and Mason protesters; but why are some still facing prosecution?”

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The Guardian, 21st July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Nottingham pig’s head mosque race abuse man sentenced – BBC News

“A man who was involved in placing a pig’s head on a pole outside the possible site of a mosque in Nottingham has been given a suspended sentence.”

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BBC News, 21st July 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pressure grows to ban kettling as police face triple legal challenge – The Independent

Posted July 4th, 2011 in demonstrations, news, police, public order by sally

“The contentious police tactic of ‘kettling’ demonstrators is to face a series of legal challenges that could result in it being outlawed – starting with a case tomorrow brought by three teenagers.”

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The Independent, 4th July 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk