New protest restrictions breach human rights, say MPs and peers

Jun 22, 2021 | Comment, Protest

PHOTO: Loredana Sangiuliano /Shutterstock A legislative scrutiny report on the public order section of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, published today by the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), a parliamentary committee made up MPs and peers, says...

Now Extinction Rebellion is really threatening power, Priti Patel is labelling them ‘extremists’

Sep 10, 2020 | Comment, Domestic Extremism, Protest

Extinction Rebellion banners on the streets of London. PHOTO: Splento This opinion piece first appeared on The Canary website on 9 September Whether you agree with their politics or not, it’s really no surprise that with one very effective protest,...

“We don’t use rubber bullets in the UK, we don’t know what they are”

Jun 11, 2020 | Comment

PHOTO: Stephen Reel GUEST POST Maev McDaid and Brian Christopher are Irish migrants from Derry living in London. Yesterday, Victoria Derbyshire said, “we don’t use rubber bullets in the UK, we don’t know what they are”. Derbyshire, it seems, is unaware there are...

Netpol calls for restrictions to police powers and a strict time-limit on ‘draconian’ Coronavirus Bill

Mar 19, 2020 | Comment, Rights

PHOTO: Brian A Jackson | Shutterstock PRESS STATEMENT ON THE GOVERNMENT’S NEW CORONAVIRUS BILL While everyone is currently very anxious about the future, it is important that any emergency response the government plans to adopt and implement to contain the...

Police restrictions on protests were not just unlawful but a breach of human rights

Dec 2, 2019 | Comment, Protest

PHOTO: Splento In early November, the High Court ruled that the use of police powers to severely limit protests by Extinction Rebellion were unlawful. The Metropolitan Police claimed this was “made with good intent “. As part of our recent report...

Climate strikes: police and schools must positively respect children’s right to protest

Sep 19, 2019 | Comment, Protest

PHOTO: Flickr This Friday, tens of thousands of young people will take part in the Global Climate Strike, demanding immediate action to address the global climate crisis. Students who have not been granted permission by their headteachers to participate may find their...