It used to be that people were innocent until proved guilty. Sadly these days our laws allow innocent people to be harassed. For instance the 'Public Order Act' gives authority to the police to take personal details and photograph peaceful protesters even if they haven't committed any crimes.
At a recent demonstration against the building of the St Athan Military Academy in Wales, participants were read the riot act and had their details and photographs taken. If someone failed to comply with the order it could lead to them being arrested. Some of my PCS colleagues were in attendance to highlight their concerns which include poor value for the tax payer and increased danger to servicemen serving on the front line due to diminished levels of training skills. John McDonnell MP has tabled an Early Day Motion to this effect and the local MP, Mark Pritchard, recently asked a parliamentary question intended to find out the expected savings over a 25 year period due to centralising Defence Training at St Athan.
But, in the meantime, members of the public with genuine concerns and who are just trying to get their voices heard are having their details recorded and filed away in police records for doing absolutely nothing wrong. Some of the protesters suspected that their phone calls had been monitored too!
These measures are supposed to make the public feel safe, but they leave me feeling very worried!
At a recent demonstration against the building of the St Athan Military Academy in Wales, participants were read the riot act and had their details and photographs taken. If someone failed to comply with the order it could lead to them being arrested. Some of my PCS colleagues were in attendance to highlight their concerns which include poor value for the tax payer and increased danger to servicemen serving on the front line due to diminished levels of training skills. John McDonnell MP has tabled an Early Day Motion to this effect and the local MP, Mark Pritchard, recently asked a parliamentary question intended to find out the expected savings over a 25 year period due to centralising Defence Training at St Athan.
But, in the meantime, members of the public with genuine concerns and who are just trying to get their voices heard are having their details recorded and filed away in police records for doing absolutely nothing wrong. Some of the protesters suspected that their phone calls had been monitored too!
These measures are supposed to make the public feel safe, but they leave me feeling very worried!
A friend being read the riot act.
More photographs from the demonstration can be found here.
Click here for a readable version.
More photographs from the demonstration can be found here.
Click here for a readable version.
14 comments:
I would have either given false details or let myself be arrested.
The picture and link are both borked.
Oh I know the frustration you all would be feeling, irritates the hell out of me when that kind of thing happens. I realise the police are doing their jobs, but on whose orders?
Wonkotsane - I can see why you would let yourself get arrested. I think in these particular circumstances it would be counter productive though.
Everyone I have mentioned this to has got really irate about it!
I think I have managed to fix the link now.
Nunyaa - We are just not used to this kind of thing. The police are always there when we demonstrate you would expect that. But normally it is just making sure that neither the public or the demonstrators get hurt. This time it was quite different!
Welcome to the future...
You would be shocked at some of the powers that are coming in now.
But hey, even Verwoerd's South africa only had 90 days detention...
We'll soon catch up :)
Seems as though this is becoming more and more common.
Guess we'll soon be at the point where the police will want my name and address before I can blog about the NHS!
It must indeed be worrysome now in GB, what with not being able to take photographs or gather to protest.
The picture is private and the readable version says not found.
Any reason why you cant give a false name?
This duzzent sownd at all rite.
I remember we watcht a program abowt this sort ov thing. A gerl wor a t-shert that sed sumthing unfrendly abowt Mr Blair. She wor it wen she waz goin shoppin wiv sum frends. The pollees stopt her an sed she had to cover it up! It wassent rood or swear werds or enything. It sed "Blair is a liar" or sumthing like that. They sed the Public Order Act as well.
I thort protestin an stuff like that waz pertektid under sumthing calld Magna Carter. I don't think Labour peeps kno their histry.
(nose hugs)
:@~
I have fixed the link hopefully!!!
I shall be back later to catch up with all your other comments :-)
Crushed - The future seems bleak!
Calum - Now that is a scary thought!!!
Wonkotsane - I guess you could choose to give a false name but then could be charged with obstructing the police in their line of duty!
Bob - Sounds like an interesting program. I think you are right about the Labour party and history! xx
This is an utter disgrace. Where is the right to peaceful assembly?
Jams - I totally agree!!!
I have a dream ... it's not a nice one.
:)
Well, I am not Sir Render.
The peace of the night.
Sean - Not a nice dream no! Mine are much nicer ;-)
Wishing you a peaceful night too xx
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