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.
