Pickets, prayers and protests: using anti-social behaviour legislation to curb protest – UK Police Law Blog

‘Two recent cases have required the High Court and Court of Appeal to consider in detail the use by local authorities of different powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (“ASBCPA”) to limit or prevent protests that have contained a strong religious or moral element. To what extent are the courts prepared to sanction the use of these powers in relation to types of activities that perhaps would not immediately spring to mind when the words “anti-social behaviour” are heard? The answer, in two words, is “very prepared”, judging by the decisions in the cases of Dulgerhiu v London Borough of Ealing [2019] EWCA Civ 1490 and Birmingham City Council v Asfar [2019] EWHC 3217 (QB).’

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UK Police Law Blog, 27th January 2020

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Priti Patel defends inclusion of Extinction Rebellion on terror list – Home Office

‘The home secretary, Priti Patel, has defended anti-terror police for putting the Extinction Rebellion environmental protest group on a list of extremist ideologies, saying it was important to look at “a range of security risks”.’

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Home Office, 13th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man, 81, seeks to quash conviction for apartheid protest – The Guardian

Posted January 6th, 2020 in appeals, demonstrations, disclosure, evidence, human rights, inquiries, news, police, spying by sally

‘An 81-year-old retired academic is seeking to overturn a criminal conviction he received after taking part in an anti-apartheid protest that had been infiltrated by an undercover police officer.’

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The Guardian, 6th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Extinction Rebellion trial jury express regret at convicting activists – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2019 in climate change, demonstrations, juries, news, railways by sally

‘A jury has expressed its regret at convicting three Extinction Rebellion protesters who glued themselves to a Docklands Light Railway train at Canary Wharf.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Education, street protests and injunctions: Afsar – Law & Religion UK

‘Birmingham City Council v Afsar & Ors [2019] EWHC 3217 (QB) was a claim by the Council for injunctions to restrict street protests about Anderton Park Infant and Junior School and to prohibit online abuse of teachers at that school.’

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Law & Religion UK, 2nd December 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Extinction Rebellion: The ‘reluctant activists’ facing criminal records – BBC News

Posted December 2nd, 2019 in climate change, demonstrations, imprisonment, news, public order by sally

‘Thousands of people from across the UK have been arrested this year as part of climate change protests that police said have stretched resources.’

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BBC News, 1st December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Charges dropped against more than 100 Extinction Rebellion protesters – The Guardian

‘More than 100 Extinction Rebellion protesters have had charges against them dropped after the ban forbidding protest in London last month was ruled unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Birmingham anti-LGBT school protesters had ‘misinterpreted’ teachings, judge says – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2019 in demonstrations, equality, homosexuality, injunctions, Islam, news, school children by sally

‘A high court judge has said activists protesting against LGBT equality lessons had “grossly misrepresented” what was being taught to children as he ruled that they would be permanently banned from demonstrating directly outside a Birmingham primary school.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal to hear facial recognition technology challenge – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A Cardiff resident who lost a High Court challenge over police deployment of automated facial recognition technology has been given permission to take his case to the Court of Appeal.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th November 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Extinction Rebellion protest: Met accused of 521 abuses of power – The Guardian

‘Police carried out widespread abuses of power during Extinction Rebellion’s two weeks of protests in October, according to investigators who have collated dozens of reports from protesters.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fracking: How The Police Response Is Threatening The Right To Protest – Rights Info

‘The UK government has announced an immediate moratorium on fracking. The decision came after new scientific analysis concluded it was not possible to “rule out future unacceptable impacts”.’

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Rights Info, 11th November 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Police ban on Extinction Rebellion protests ruled illegal by high court – The Guardian

Posted November 6th, 2019 in climate change, demonstrations, false imprisonment, news, police, public order by sally

‘Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion protesters may now sue the Metropolitan police for unlawful arrest after the high court quashed an order banning the group’s protests in London last month.’

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The Guardian, 6th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update Gordon Wignall, Christopher Badger and Natasha Hausdorff consider the recently published Environment Bill, the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and whether public nuisance might provide a means of taking action in cases of climate change.’

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Six Pump Court, 23rd October 2019

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Met PC cleared of beating ‘yellow vest’ protester during clashes – BBC News

Posted October 29th, 2019 in assault, demonstrations, news, police by tracey

‘A Metropolitan Police officer has been found not guilty of beating a protester at a pro-Brexit “yellow vest” march.’

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BBC News, 28th October 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lawyer protestors advised to do “risk analysis” – Legal Futures

‘Lawyers keen to protest in the streets with Extinction Rebellion (XR) should carry out their own “risk analysis” before taking part, a regulatory specialist has said.’

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Legal Futures, 24th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Extinction Rebellion London Ban: What Is A Section 14 Order And Is It Lawful? – Rights Info

‘Police have banned climate campaigners Extinction Rebellion (XR) from protesting in London, a move that human rights groups have condemned as “chilling”. What power does the police have to do this, and is it lawful? RightsInfo explores.’

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Rights Info, 15th October 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Extinction Rebellion lawyers apply for judicial review over protest ban – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2019 in climate change, demonstrations, internet, judicial review, news, police, public order by sally

‘Lawyers for Extinction Rebellion have filed an urgent application for a judicial review hearing at the high court in London, as the number of arrests in 10 days of demonstrations rose to more than 1,600.’

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The Guardian, 16th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court bid to stop LGBT lesson protests at Birmingham school starts – The Guardian

‘City council asks high court for permanent exclusion zone around Anderton Park primary.’

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The Guardian, 14th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government review of abortion clinic buffer zones ‘misrepresents impact of protestors on patients’ – The Independent

‘A government review into buffer zones outside abortion clinics underplayed and misrepresented the impact of activists on staff and patients, a number of medical bodies and charities have claimed in a renewed call for better protections for women in vulnerable situations.’

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The Independent, 8th October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Specialist police assigned to Extinction Rebellion rallies – The Guardian

Posted October 3rd, 2019 in climate change, demonstrations, environmental protection, news, police by tracey

‘Specialist police teams will be heading to London this weekend to help deal with two weeks of protests planned by Extinction Rebellion, the environmental activists who brought the capital to a standstill over Easter.’

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The Guardian, 2nd October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com