UK consultation into ban on protests near Parliament opens

By at 1:02 am Thursday, Dec 6

Dave sez,
UK based Boing Boingers will be interested to know that the government has opened a public consultation about repealing the anti-protest provisions of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.

I've read the consultation document, and have had my faith (slightly) renewed in the democratic process by it - it is a well put together piece of documentation that highlights the differences between the Public Order Act 1986 and SOCPA 132-138 which covers protest in the Parliamentary zone.

The main thrust of the argument is that, while there has always been a requirement for protest organisers to inform the police (where possible) the wider public order law has always allowed for the possibility of completely spontaneous protest, which SOCPA specifically prohibits, by requiring 6 days notice where possible and *no less* than 24 hours.

In effect, this has 'chilled' the possibility of good old-fashioned hot-blooded British protest, and has also disallowed, through over-enthusiastic enforcement, the making of *any* spontaneous or incidental political statement within the zone

This is an all too rare (and as usual, under-publicised) opportunity to directly influence government policy in the UK. Download the consultation document and send in your thoughts, and make it clear that this government or any other does not have the right to restrict your right to protest.

Link (Thanks, Dave!)

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