Category: public order

The Coronation, the Public Order Act 2023 and ‘Free Speech’ – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted May 11th, 2023 in demonstrations, freedom of expression, news, public order, royal family by sally

‘In recent years, a lot has been written about “the right to protest” and “the right to free speech” in the UK. Yet neither phrase appears in the latest Public Order Act, which became law on 2nd May 2023. The absence of those phrases is unsurprising. First, neither phrase is precise enough for legal drafting. Second, the Tory government behind the 2023 Act wishes to avoid these conceptual problems by painting a picture of protest movements gone wild. In this post, I consider the new Act amid reports of its use during the coronation. From this early case study, we see a dangerous illustration of what is yet to come.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 9th May 2023

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 3rd, 2023 in ballots, housing, legislation, public order by tracey

2023 c. 15 – Public Order Act 2023

2023 c. 12 – Ballot Secrecy Act 2023

2023 c. 11 – Mobile Homes (Pitch Fees) Act 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

‘Hostile, authoritarian’ UK downgraded in civic freedoms index – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2023 in charities, demonstrations, freedom of expression, human rights, news, public order by sally

‘The UK has been downgraded in an annual global index of civic freedoms as a result of the government’s “increasingly authoritarian” drive to impose restrictive and punitive laws on public protests.’

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The Guardian, 16th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

What are the new developments with football banning orders? – The Independent

Posted March 15th, 2023 in football banning orders, internet, news, public order, racism, sport by sally

‘Legislation introduced last year has been used for the first time to hand a football fan a three-year banning order for racially abusing Premier League striker Ivan Toney online.’

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The Independent, 14th March 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Public Order Bill Set To Become Law: Know Your Rights – Each Other

Posted March 9th, 2023 in abortion, bills, media, news, public order, stop and search by sally

‘The controversial Public Order Bill is receiving final amendments from Parliament and will receive Royal Assent before becoming an official Act. Here is what those amendments mean for your rights.’

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Each Other, 8th March 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Public Order Bill: Peers defeat plans to curb protest disruption – BBC News

Posted February 8th, 2023 in bills, demonstrations, freedom of expression, human rights, news, police, public order by sally

‘The House of Lords has overturned plans to clamp down on protest marches that cause too much disruption.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New plans to widen police powers for disruptive protests – BBC News

Posted January 16th, 2023 in bills, demonstrations, freedom of expression, government departments, human rights, news, police, public order by tracey

‘Police could be allowed to shut down protests before they cause serious disruption, under new government plans.’

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BBC News, 15th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Football banning orders in England and Wales up 230% on last season – The Guardian

Posted January 12th, 2023 in drug offences, football banning orders, hate crime, news, public order, sport, statistics by sally

‘Football banning orders issued in relation to matches in England and Wales have increased notably in the first half of this season compared with the same period last season, according to police figures.’

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The Guardian, 12th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Leicester disorder: Second man sentenced cites social media influence – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2022 in demonstrations, internet, news, offensive weapons, public order, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

‘A man sentenced for carrying a knife at a protest in Leicester at the weekend said he was influenced by social media.’

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BBC News, 20th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS sets out the law on street-based sexual harassment – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted August 8th, 2022 in Crown Prosecution Service, harassment, news, public order, sexual offences, voyeurism, women by tracey

‘Street harassment such as cyber-flashing, up-skirting or the exposure of genitals in a public place are crimes which can and will be prosecuted the CPS has stressed, as new legal guidance is published today.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 8th August 2022

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Six convicted of abusing BBC Newsnight journalist during protest – The Guardian

Posted August 2nd, 2022 in BBC, coronavirus, demonstrations, media, news, public order, threatening behaviour by tracey

‘Five men and a woman who verbally abused a BBC journalist at a protest have been convicted of a public order offence, according to police.’

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The Guardian, 2nd August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Public Order Bill ‘Fundamentally Threatens’ UK Democracy – Each Other

Posted June 16th, 2022 in bills, freedom of expression, human rights, news, public order by sally

‘In the UK, there are several Bills and Acts that may threaten the right to free speech under UK and international law, including the Public Order Bill, The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, The Online Safety Bill to name a few. The right to free speech is protected under Article 10 of the the Human Rights Act (HRA) and under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Freedom of speech protects the right to express and disseminate opinions, ideas and information through any means, as well as providing a tool to hold authorities to account. Quinn McKew, Executive Director of advocacy group Article 19, tells us how the Public Order Bill threatens democracy in the UK.’

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Each Other, 15th June 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Priti Patel outlaws dangerous tunnelling protests – Home Office”

Posted June 13th, 2022 in bills, demonstrations, government departments, news, public order by tracey

‘Dangerous tunnelling by protesters will be banned under a new law announced by the Home Secretary today (Tuesday 7 June), as the government acts to end the serious disruption and risk to life this guerrilla protest tactic poses.’

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Home Office, 7th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

New calls for buffer zones around UK abortion clinics – BBC News

Posted May 31st, 2022 in abortion, demonstrations, news, public order by sally

‘Medical leaders in the UK have launched a fresh call for buffer zones to be set up around abortion clinics to prevent activists targeting patients and staff.’

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BBC News, 30th May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Margaret Thatcher statue egg-thrower Jeremy Webster fined – BBC News

Posted May 27th, 2022 in fines, monuments, news, political parties, public order by sally

‘A university arts chief who threw eggs at a statue of Margaret Thatcher within hours of its installation has been fined £90.’

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BBC News, 26th May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 12th, 2022 in animals, artistic works, asylum, citizenship, civil partnerships, criminal justice, disqualification, drug abuse, elections, emergency services, examinations, forced labour, immigration, legislation, local government, marriage, medicines, offensive weapons, police, prisons, public order, road traffic offences, sentencing, setting traps, trafficking in human beings, violence, young persons by tracey

2022 c. 28 – Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022

2022 c. 27 – Approved Premises (Substance Testing) Act 2022

2022 c. 26 – Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022

2022 c. 22 – Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022

2022 c. 20 – Professional Qualifications Act 2022

2022 c. 17 – Local Government (Disqualification) Act 2022

2022 c. 36 – Nationality and Borders Act 2022

2022 c. 34 – British Sign Language Act 2022

2022 c. 32 – Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

2022 c. 29 – Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022

2022 c. 24 – Cultural Objects (Protection from Seizure) Act 2022

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Woman jailed over role in Bristol riot despite mental health issues – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2022 in arson, demonstrations, mental health, news, public order by tracey

‘A judge has jailed a woman for the part she played in last year’s Bristol riot despite hearing she had mental health issues and had run out of medication.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Street preaching and human rights: Overd & Ors – Law & Religion UK

Posted December 9th, 2021 in false imprisonment, human rights, news, public order, religiously aggravated offences, trespass to the person, wrongful arrest by sally

‘In Overd & Ors v The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Constabulary [2021] EWHC 3100 (QB), the appellants, Michael Overd, Michael Stockwell Don Karns and Adrian Clark, four evangelical Christians, were arrested at Broadmead shopping centre in Bristol on 6 July 2016 after complaints from members of the public that their street preaching was racist and anti-Islamic and was causing a disturbance. Mr Overd was arrested on suspicion of an offence under s 50 Police Reform Act 2002 and the other three were arrested on suspicion of a racially-aggravated offence under s 5 Public Order Act 1986. They were detained before being released on bail and, ultimately, prosecuted under s 5 of the 1986 Act, but the prosecutions failed.’

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Law & Religion UK, 8th December 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Bristol ‘Kill the Bill’ protester convicted of trying to endanger police by torching vans – The Independent

Posted November 1st, 2021 in arson, bills, demonstrations, news, police, professional conduct, public order by tracey

‘A protester has been convicted of trying to endanger the life of a police officer by torching a van during a riot after the “Kill the Bill” demonstrations in Bristol earlier this year.’

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The Independent, 30th October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

England given one-match stadium ban following unrest at Euro 2020 final – BBC News

Posted October 19th, 2021 in news, public order, sanctions, sport by tracey

‘England have been ordered to play one match behind closed doors as a punishment for the unrest at Wembley Stadium during the Euro 2020 final. Uefa also imposed a ban for a second game, which is suspended for two years.’

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BBC News, 18th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk