The Serious Organised
Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA) deals with a range
of issues - from the establishment of the Serious
Organised Crime Agency
to a series of laws that place severe restrictions on freedom
to protest in this country. It is these restrictions that we
wish to see repealed. see
more on SOCPA legislation
The most controversial of the restrictions
is the ban on unauthorised protest in a large 'designated
area' around Parliament under sections
132-138 of SOCPA. However, there are also a growing number
of 'designated sites' within
which trespass is now a criminal offence under sections
128-131 of SOCPA. Currently these extend to a number of
military bases, royal, governmental
and parliamentary sites. SOCPA also includes a range
of other measures related to harassment and 'interference
with contractual relationships' which are currently
being used to clamp down on
animal rights
protests
and to impose harsh penalties including substantial
periods of remand and prison sentences.
March 2008: The
Government announce that restrictions on protest
around Parliament will be repealed but what will replace
it?
"Managing Protest around
Parliament: The Government proposes the repeal of sections
132-138 of the Serious Organised
Crime and Police Act 2005. Repeal of these sections will
remove the requirement to give notice of demonstrations
in the designated area around Parliament. It will also remove
the offence for such demonstrations to be held without the
authorisation of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. " 'The
Governance of Britain – Constitutional Renewal', March 2008
However,
Jack Straw left the way open for restrictions to creep back
in, saying, 'Our view is
that Parliament itself is best placed to decide what needs
to be secured to ensure Members are able freely to discharge
their responsibilities'. (see below) While we
need to continue to campaign against repressive legislation
and practices, this announcement represents
an inspiring, if yet to be fully realised, victory for everyone
who spoke out, and stood up, against these restrictions
on freedom of speech.
See details of the announcement
of the repeal of sections 132-138 of SOCPA
See SOCPA elsewhere for
how the legislation is affecting other protest around the
country.
June 2008: Two
parliamentary Committees need your evidence on Freedom
to Protest!
The
Joint Committee on Human Rights have issued a Call
for Evidence for an enquiry
into Policing and
Protest - deadline Monday
9 June 2008. Over recent years, many
repressive measures and practices have come into
place, including others contained
within the SOCPA legislation, anti-terrorism and anti-social
behaviour legislation. Small victories, such as the
repeal of Sections 132-138
of SOCPA, may be gained but we need to be alert to the ever-present
tendency of the government and the police to inhibit freedom
of speech and assembly.
The Joint Committee on the
Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill have issued a Call
for Evidence relating to protest around Parliament - deadline
Thursday 12 June 2008. The
repeal of sections 132-138 of SOCPA is yet to be made law
and it is vital that
none of the repressive measures
around Parliament
are allowed to remain - or new ones allowed to creep in.
"Whether
the intention of this consultation is to introduce more draconian
legislation or not, the consultation
itself should not be conducted in the first place. Our
freedoms should never be put to consultation or to a vote,
regardless whether
a majority votes for or against them." Freedom
to Protest: What Does the Proposed Repeal of Sections 132-38
of SOCPA Really
Mean?
See here for details of the Committees
and how to submit evidence
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"I am outraged that the centuries old
right to protest outside Parliament has been changed to a 'right
to protest with police permission'. This change has been extended
to other places in Britain too. I am going to introduce legislation
to try and force a Government rethink on this...It has
made the normal law abiding citizen wary of holding a placard
or marching in the wrong place in case they get a criminal record.
That is a shocking state of affairs for a country that used
to pride itself on its democracy."
Baroness
Miller, the Lib Dem
peer who introduced this private members bill.
“The Serious Organised Crime
and Police Act is a very good example of unscrutinised,
ill considered
and under-discussed legislation... civilians with no criminal
intent...have suffered receiving a criminal offence simply
because they have expressed their views within 1 kilometre
of the Houses of Parliament.”
Baroness Williams (Lib Dem)
26/01/07
“When I pass protestors every day
at Downing Street, and believe me, you name it, they protest
against it, I may not like what they call me, but I thank
God they can. That's called freedom."
Tony Blair 7/04/2002
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