‘Protesters disrupting motorways will face up to six months in prison or unlimited fines under plans to stop climate campaigners bringing traffic to a halt, Priti Patel will say this week.’
The Guardian, 3rd October 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A High Court judge has rejected an application by the London Borough of Hackney for a final injunction prohibiting a number of defendants until 13 September 2022 from engaging in various activities which were said to constitute anti-social behaviour and/or public nuisance in any public space in the borough.’
Local Government Lawyer, 24th September 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A British Paralympic gold medallist has been jailed for a year for glueing himself to the roof of a passenger jet in an Extinction Rebellion protest – the first custodial sentence for any action linked to the group.’
The Guardian, 24th September 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Activists who have been carrying out a string of disruptive demonstrations along the M25, causing travel chaos for tens of thousands of people, will be in contempt of court if they breach the terms of an interim injunction won by National Highways today (22 September 2021).’
Home Office, 22nd September 2021
Source: www.gov.uk
‘Priti Patel and Grant Shapps are seeking a court injunction to stop environmental protesters from targeting major motorways after five days of tailbacks and damaging headlines for the government.’
The Guardian, 21st September 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Extinction Rebellion has demanded to know how its upcoming demonstrations will be policed after the Supreme Court ruled that protest can be a “lawful excuse” to block roads under human rights law.’
The Independent, 22nd August 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘In July 2020, the UN Human Rights Committee adopted General Comment No. 37 on the right to peaceful assembly, directing States to recognise the “intrinsic value” of the right, and to “promote an enabling environment for the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly without discrimination”. The Human Rights Committee also reaffirmed that, even in states of emergencies, states’ obligations to ensure non-discrimination remain: emergency measures must not discriminate either in their purpose or their effects.’
Oxford Human Rights Hub, 19th August 2021
Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk
‘Tucked away in the government’s 300-page police, crime, sentencing and courts bill, are various clauses which will have serious implications for the right to protest. The bill seeks to quietly criminalise “serious annoyance”, increase police powers to restrict protests, and give the home secretary discretion over what types of protests are allowed.’
The Guardian, 9th August 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Prosecutors are reviewing numerous Extinction Rebellion cases after a third protester in as many days had their conviction quashed.’
The Independent, 5th August 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A former Paralympian who glued himself to the roof of a plane has been found guilty of causing a public nuisance.’
BBC News, 29th July 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘MPs have voted for “draconian” protest laws in spite of mounting warnings over human rights and questions over whether police want or need the powers.’
The Independent, 5th July 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Police breached “fundamental rights” at a vigil for Sarah Everard and “Kill the Bill” protests earlier this year, an inquiry by MPs has found.’
BBC News, 1st July 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Supreme Court has ruled that protests can be a “lawful excuse” to block roads, as the government pushes for new laws to limit peaceful demonstrations. Britain’s most senior judges said it was right to acquit a group of protesters who blockaded the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair in London in 2017.’
The Independent, 26th June 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Restrictions on protests in the controversial new policing bill breach human rights laws and will increase the risk of peaceful demonstrators in England and Wales being criminalised, MPs and peers have warned.’
The Guardian, 22nd June 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Several hundred people assembled in London’s Hyde Park in July 2020 to protest rules making face masks mandatory in shops and supermarkets to help control the spread of COVID-19. This was not an isolated event. Similar protests have occurred in many places around the world in reaction to the prospect of “mask mandates” – especially in the United States.’
City Law Forum, 2nd June 2021
Source: blogs.city.ac.uk
‘Lawyers have threatened to launch a first-of-its-kind legal action to introduce a “buffer zone” outside abortion clinics to stop protesters “heartlessly” targeting women seeking pregnancy terminations.’
The Independent, 18th May 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A trial of six people over an Extinction Rebellion protest was delayed when a defendant glued himself to a table in court.’
BBC News, 10th May 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Anti-protest curbs contained in the new policing bill are disproportionate, hand subjective powers to officers and the home secretary, and violate international human rights standards, MPs and peers have been told.’
The Guardian, 28th April 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘One of the UK’s biggest police forces is refusing to back down after being accused of wrongly issuing a £10,000 fine to a nurse who was protesting over the government’s 1% pay rise for NHS workers, reigniting concern over new powers to inhibit protest.’
The Guardian, 24th April 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
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