Law banning insulting words and behaviour ‘has to end’ – BBC
“A law banning ‘insulting’ words or behaviour should be removed in an effort to protect free speech, MPs and civil rights groups have said.”
BBC News, 16th May 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: public order
Protester barred from all Jubilee and Games events – BBC News
“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.”
BBC News, 3rd May 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Our right to protest is under attack – The Guardian
“We need greater clarity on when the use of ‘kettling’ is permitted before people’s freedom to protest is severely curtailed.”
The Guardian, 1st May 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Riots may be controlled with chemicals – The Guardian
“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.”
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
“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.”
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
“Thomas Hammarberg, the European commissioner for human rights, calls Liam Stacey’s 56-day sentence excessive.”
The Guardian, 1st April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Occupy Cardiff protesters claim victory after CPS drops case – The Guardian
“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.”
The Guardian, 20th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Free speech on Facebook: unless you offend! – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“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.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 20th March 2012
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
This judgment in favour of kettling is a missed opportunity – The Guardian
“The European court of human rights had a chance to strengthen the right to protest. Instead, it set a dangerous precedent.”
The Guardian, 15th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
European court says ‘kettling’ tactics in 2001 lawful – BBC News
“‘Kettling’ tactics used by the Metropolitan police to contain crowds in 2001 were lawful, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.”
BBC News, 15th March 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Kettling ruling due from European court of human rights – The Guardian
“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
“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’.”
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
“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.”
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
“Prosecutors and police have been accused of keeping secret the identity of a police spy in a 1996 criminal trial of political campaigners.”
The Guardian, 7th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Should swearing be against the law? – BBC News
“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?”
BBC News, 21st November 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Swearing at police is not a crime, judge rules – Daily Telegraph
“Swearing at police is not a crime because officers hear foul language ‘too frequently’ to be offended, a judge has ruled.”
Daily Telegraph, 21st November 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Appeal court riot ruling is firm but fair – The Guardian
“Severe punishment for those taking part in public disorder is right, as a matter of law and of common sense.”
The Guardian, 18th October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Analysis: Laying down the law on riots – BBC News
“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.”
BBC News, 18th October 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Have your say on public order policing – Home Office
“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.”
Home Office, 13th October 2011
Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Abusive yobs could avoid prosecution under proposals – Daily Telegraph
“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.”
Daily Telegraph, 14th October 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
