New Portobello High School - talking about marching

[wangi]

admin: split from here.

Bob did you go through the correct procedures before organising your "mass demonstration"? Was permission sought? risk assessment done? Police informed of large crowd?
I hope so.

You couldn't make this up!

[Betty Windsor]

Bob did you go through the correct procedures before organising your "mass demonstration"? Was permission sought? risk assessment done? Police informed of large crowd?
I hope so.

You couldn't make this up!

So it's ok for Bob to ask such questions when PPAG organise a run in the park but the rest of us are to keep quiet when he organises something. Does that sound fair to you?

[seashell]

I think the difference is that the run was a fundraising venture, with people paying to take part - but I could be wrong.

[Betty Windsor]

I think the difference is that the run was a fundraising venture, with people paying to take part - but I could be wrong.

You could be right but I thought that organising a "mass demonstration" especially with so many children involved, would at least require permission from the police, or at least that they be informed.
I could of course be wrong about that.

[wangi]

So it's ok for Bob to ask such questions when PPAG organise a run in the park but the rest of us are to keep quiet when he organises something. Does that sound fair to you?

Sounds to me like you're clutching at straws. An event which is being used to raise funds and involves athletic activity is very different to local residents turning up (pretty much spontaneously) to demonstrate their frustration at PPAG standing in the way of a new Portobello High School.

While the turnout was good, it is actually the number of people you would expect to be using such a park on a fabulous sunny day at the end of the school term. It's a shame such a demonstration is needed to get Portobello Park used!

a "mass demonstration" especially with so many children involved, would at least require permission from the police, or at least that they be informed.

We do not live in a police state - despite the best efforts of the nasty tories - where children go with their own parents is the parents responsibility.

[seanie]

Gillian, if we start discussing all the things you could be wrong about we'll be here forever.

[Betty Windsor]

FYI take from Campaigncentral.org
Re last paragraph-was this done for your mass demonstration Bob?

Protest and the law
The right to protest is a vital part of our democracy, and protesting is legal. But there are some legal restrictions...

Protesting is legal and the right to protest is a core part of our democracy. Direct action is a particular type of protest and so we will explore that separately.

Demonstrations, marches and stunts are all forms of ‘protest’. Despite their distinctions, what these different forms of protest have in common is that they are the most visible and public campaigning tactic.

Because of their public nature, protests may face restrictions under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, The Protection from Harassment Act 1977, The Highways Act 1980, or the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005. As with other aspects of campaigning, the law does also enshrine the rights to protest. A protestor’s most powerful legal ally is the Human Rights Act 1998 which protects free speech and peaceful protest.

There is an important distinction between the law around demonstrations and marches:

A ‘demo’ will take place in one location. With demos, these can take place anywhere, except for a ‘designated area’ around Parliament as defined by SOCPA. You also have to ensure that it is not obstructing any roads or paths that the public have the right of access to. As long as they remain peaceful and non-threatening, protests should not be accused of aggravated trespass, as defined by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. As we will see in the case study below, in practice even peaceful demonstrations have been stopped under this law.

A march, by its very definition, will move along a route. As such, you must notify the Police beforehand. This is discussed in more detail in SOCPA, but basically you need to notify the Police six days in advance wherever possible, and provide the names and contact details of the main organisers. You also need to provide the exact date, time and route.

[wangi]

You're getting sidetracked on something of no consequence... Plus also quoting things from an English legal perspective.

[seanie]

Hang on a moment Wangi, this is educational.

With demos, these can take place anywhere, except for a ‘designated area’ around Parliament as defined by SOCPA. You also have to ensure that it is not obstructing any roads or paths that the public have the right of access to.

We've now learnt that Gillian doesn't even read what she copy & pastes.

[Betty Windsor]

You're getting sidetracked on something of no consequence... Plus also quoting things from an English legal perspective.

Are you saying that there is no requirement to inform the police when you organise a demonstration?

[seashell]

Hang on a moment Wangi, this is educational.

With demos, these can take place anywhere, except for a ‘designated area’ around Parliament as defined by SOCPA. You also have to ensure that it is not obstructing any roads or paths that the public have the right of access to.

We've now learnt that Gillian doesn't even read what she copy & pastes.

In the interests of fairness, I think it's important to point out that Betty possibly did read it, seanie.
Whether she understood it is a different matter.