Non-violent protesters should not have to disavow motives at trial, study says – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2025 in demonstrations, news, public order, sentencing by tracey

‘Protesters charged with non-violent offences should not be forced to disavow their motives when defending themselves at trial or seeking mitigation on their sentences, academics have said.’

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the Guardian, 19th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police admit arrest of anti-monarchy heckler in Oxford was unlawful – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2025 in compensation, demonstrations, news, police, public order, royal family by tracey

‘Police have admitted acting unlawfully in arresting a trainee Baptist minister who called out “Who elected him?” at a local proclamation of the accession of King Charles III.’

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The Guardian, 11th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Just Stop Oil co-founder Roger Hallam has sentence reduced after Court of Appeal win – The Independent

Posted March 7th, 2025 in appeals, climate change, demonstrations, news, public order, sentencing by Lily

‘Six climate activists jailed for their roles in demonstrations, including co-founder of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion Roger Hallam, have had their sentences reduced at the Court of Appeal.’

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The Independent, 7th March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

No assumption of responsibility after release from police custody: Dobson v Leicestershire Police – 12 KBW

‘In the tragic case of Dobson v Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police [2025] EWHC 272 (KB), HHJ Bird examined whether the police had assumed responsibility for the wellbeing of a person released from custody. The court held that there was no assumption of responsibility, and the claim failed. Alexander Cornelius, pupil barrister at 12KBW, analyses the reasoning and parties’ choice of expert evidence.’

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12 KBW, 5th March 2025

Source: pilawblog.com

Law Commission opens a further consultation in light of the contempt issues that arose after the Southport murders. – Law Commission

‘Since the guilty pleas by Axel Rudakubana, there has been a renewed and acute focus on liability for contempt of court, and specifically on what can be said after a suspect has been arrested. The Law Commission has today (3 March) published a brief supplementary consultation paper so that people have an opportunity to let us know their views about the law in light of those events.’

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Law Commission, 3rd March 2025

Source: lawcom.gov.uk

Preaching hate: free speech, religion and the Human Rights Act – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In Sleeper v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2025] EWHC 151 (KB) Mr Justice Sweeting dismissed an appeal against the decision of HHJ Saggerson to dismiss a claim against the Metropolitan Police by a street preacher arrested for displaying anti-Muslim signs.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 28th February 2025

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Man sentenced for spitting at police during disorder – BBC News

Posted February 11th, 2025 in affray, assault, compensation, news, police, public order, sentencing, suspended sentences by tracey

‘A man who assaulted a police officer during disorder in Bristol has been sentenced.’

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BBC News, 11th February 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

XL bully owner jailed for man’s attack death – BBC News

Posted January 28th, 2025 in dogs, guilty pleas, news, public order, sentencing by sally

‘The owner of an XL bully dog which chased and killed a man has been jailed for three years.’

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BBC News, 27th January 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rapper convicted of posting ‘menacing’ video directed at Tommy Robinson – The Guardian

‘A rapper has been convicted of posting a “menacing” video on social media directed towards Tommy Robinson, in which he mentioned artillery and made a gun gesture while shouting “pow, pow, pow”.’

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The Guardian, 8th January 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog says police unprepared for scale of riots – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2024 in immigration, murder, news, ombudsmen, police, public order, violent disorder by sally

‘Police were unprepared for the scale of disorder that broke out in part of the UK following the Southport knife attacks, a police watchdog has found.’

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BBC News, 19th December

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rotherham rioter who tried to burn down asylum seeker hotel jailed for nine years – The Guardian

‘A rioter who tried to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for nine years – the joint highest sentence passed down so far for the nationwide disorder over the summer.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Britain leads the world in cracking down on climate activism, study finds – The Guardian

‘British police arrest environmental protesters at nearly three times the global average rate, research has found, revealing the country as a world leader in the legal crackdown on climate activism.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Allison Pearson: Police drop investigation into social media post by journalist – The Independent

Posted November 25th, 2024 in freedom of expression, incitement, media, news, police, public order, racism by tracey

‘Essex Police have closed an investigation into columnist Allison Pearson for alleged incitement of racial hatred over a social media post. The force said it would be conducting an independent review will be launched into the force’s handling of the case which centred around a now-deleted X/Twitter post published last year.’

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The Independent, 21st November 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Abortion service protection zones in place in England and Wales – Home Office

Posted November 1st, 2024 in abortion, government departments, harassment, news, public order by tracey

‘Safe access zones are now in force around abortion clinics in England and Wales to protect women accessing these services.’

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Home Office, 31st October 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Social media algorithms need overhaul in wake of Southport riots, Ofcom says – The Guardian

Posted October 23rd, 2024 in bills, demonstrations, immigration, internet, news, ombudsmen, public order, violent disorder by tracey

‘Social media algorithms must be adjusted to prevent misinformation from spreading, the chief executive of Ofcom has warned, responding to the rioting that broke out after the killing of three girls in Southport this summer.’

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The Guardian, 22nd October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Wife of Tory councillor jailed for stirring racial hatred after Southport attack – The Guardian

‘A childminder married to a Conservative councillor has been jailed after calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire after the Southport attacks.’

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The Guardian, 17th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man, 81, sentenced after city centre protests – BBC News

‘An 81-year-old man who stamped on another man who was being arrested during protests in Nottingham city centre has been sentenced.’

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BBC News, 7th October 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

First person convicted of riot over UK summer disorder is jailed – The Guardian

‘A man who was the first person in the UK to be convicted of a charge of riot after widespread disorder this summer has been jailed for four years and four months.’

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The Guardian, 27th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government-backed knife crime campaigner wins Met Police payout over wrongful strip-search – The Independent

‘A government-backed anti-knife crime campaigner has won damages from the Met Police after being strip-searched by officers, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Independent, 12th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Met Police ‘didn’t get everything right’ as report shows impact of protests on tourism and public services – The Independent

‘The Metropolitan Police “didn’t get everything right” in policing recent large-scale protests, as a new report reveals the impact caused on tourism, retail and public service finances.’

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The Independent, 9th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk