FREEDOM TO PROTEST: PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES NEED YOUR OPINION

New deadline for Policing and Protest inquiry - Monday 22 September 2008

See articles and other resources for information to use when making a submission

"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?

In March, the Government announced that sections 132-138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act, banning unauthorised protest around Parliament, will be repealed in the Constitutional Renewal Bill. This is a result of the efforts of all those who campaigned against SOCPA, the widespread opposition to it and to any further restrictions on protest expressed in the Government consultation earlier this year.

The Government noted that "Given the strength of feeling in responses to the consultation document on potential restrictions on legitimate protest, and in the absence of greater evidence of a policing problem, the Government will not pursue harmonisation of the sorts of conditions that can be placed on marches and assemblies in the Public Order Act 1986."

However, 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.

Furthermore, we must use the opportunities available to demand freedom to protest and to express the views, concerns and experience of all of us who wish to freely voice our opinions - don't leave it up to the 'experts' and our so-called representatives to debate these issues without your input. 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.

SUBMISSIONS TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL RENEWAL BILL - BY THURSDAY 12 JUNE 2008

Issues around repealing sections 132-138 of SOCPA are currently being debated by the Draft Constitutional Renewal Committee who will report to Parliament on 22 July 2008.

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/jcdcrb.cfm

The Call for Evidence from the Committee asks:
" Should Parliament be treated any differently from any other part of the country in terms of managing protests? How should the legitimate expectations of Parliamentarians and Parliamentary authorities be defined? In particular, would the repeal of sections 132 to 138 of Serious Organised Crime and Police Act give rise to a need for new powers for the police or other authorities to:
(i) Ensure free access to, from and around the Parliamentary Estate and toenable Parliamentarians to discharge their roles and responsibilities,
(ii) Restrict the use of loudspeakers,
(iii) Take account of the particular security risk,
(iv) Protect Parliament Square as a world heritage site,
(v) Prevent permanent demonstrations in Parliament Square,
(vi) Ensure equal access to the right to protest."

The Committee may well recommend that other restrictions on protest around Parliament are created in place of SOCPA.

If you have opinions on these issues, you have until Thursday 12th June to send in a written submission. See the link above for how to submit.

Evidence should be sent to: Kate Lawrence, Clerk to the Joint Committee on the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW. email to dcrbill@parliament.uk, Tel: 020 7219 8675; Fax: 020 7219 4931. Once submitted, evidence submitted becomes the property of the Committee, and may be published. Witnesses may publicise their written evidence themselves, but in doing so should indicate that it was prepared for the Committee.

SUBMISSIONS TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS - POLICING AND PROTEST ENQUIRY

New deadline for Policing and Protest inquiry - Monday 22 September 2008

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has issued a Call for Evidence for an enquiry into Policing and Protest. This enquiry is about SOCPA but also about many other aspects of how protest is policed across the country. It poses a number of questions and invites evidence on a broad range of protesting related issues.

Please consider making a submission to the committee. After all we are the ones often on the sharp end of policing policy and our experiences need to be taken into account by the Joint Committee on Human Rights. It is our rights and freedoms that are being discussed.

If you would like to submit a response to the enquiry it must be done by Monday 9 June 2008.

All details about the policing and protest enquiry can be found here.

Submissions should be no longer than 2,500 words and be addressed to Dr Mark Egan, Commons Clerk of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Committee Office, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA (email: jchr@parliament.uk). Electronic submission in Word format is requested, but a signed hard copy should also be sent.

Evidence becomes the property of the Committee, and may be printed, placed on the Internet or circulated by the Committee at any stage. You may publicise or publish your evidence yourself, but in doing so you must indicate that it was prepared for the Committee.