First arrests under the New Police Act preventing freedom of speech

Katie59

Now is not the time for republicans to voice their opposition to the monarchy, the result activism quite likely to result in violence towards them.

Plenty of opportunity for free speech later although I don’t expect to see a republic this century.

I think many would agree with that but the point about the freedom to voice your opinion is that it can be said however inconvenient and irritating others find your exercise of freedom of speech.

It is not a human right that can only be exercised when convenient to others, it is

Excerpt from article written by the man arrested in Oxford.

“It was only when they declared Charles to be “King Charles III” that I called out “Who elected him?” I doubt most of the people in the crowd even heard me. Two or three people near me told me to shut up. I didn’t insult them or attack them personally, but responded by saying that a head of state was being imposed on us without our consent.

A security guard appeared, stood right in front of me and told me to be quiet. Two more security guards came along and they tried to push me backwards. As I asked them to give the legal basis for what they were doing, the police came over, more or less moved the security guards out of the way and took hold of me. I was outraged that they were leading me away, but was taken aback when they told me they were arresting me. I have no illusions about the police’s questionable relationship with the law, but I seemed to have been arrested for nothing more than expressing an opinion in public. They gave me confused answers when I asked on what grounds I had been arrested.

As the police led me away, I heard people asking them why I was being arrested. Eventually I realised that two men were walking along beside them demanding answers about it. I heard one of them say, “I don’t agree with him but surely he’s got a right to his views? Isn’t this a free country?” (or similar words). These two people – not activists, not anti-monarchy – were giving a fine example of excellent citizenship by speaking up when they saw the police abusing their powers. I have no idea who they were, but their actions really cheered me.

Eventually I was handcuffed – I don’t know what sort of threat they thought I posed – and put in the back of a police van. A police officer got in the van and took my details. After lots of conversations on his radio he said I would be de-arrested but that they would want to interview me. I said I would do so only with a lawyer present. After some more radio conversations he told me I would be de-arrested and then contacted to be interviewed at a later date, and possibly charged.“

Now is not the time for republicans to voice their opposition to the monarchy, the result activism quite likely to result in violence towards them.

Plenty of opportunity for free speech later although I don’t expect to see a republic this century.

There was a woman who stood outside her (her own) Scottish chipshop during the funeral cortege,declaring that the Windsors were secretly lizards and were plotting against the world. She carried a placard.

Apparently she follows several "blodsucking lizard" proponents and other spreaders of such fantasies theorists, has held and declared this belief for ages and is mentally unstable.

Locals have said they will not set foot in her shop, and one newspaper says a window has been smashed.

Luckygirl3

Yes - very worrying for free speech.

However, I can see that there might have been concerns about security - for all the security and police knew, it could have been a prelude to throwing a bomb. They have to act in the moment to make sure no-one is hurt. Once they realised that he was not a threat he should have been "de-arrested" instantly.

It was very crass of him to shout this out when people are feeling emotional about the queen's death - he has a right to express his views but maybe this was neither the place nor the time. Let him start/join a republican campaign, as is his right.

His views are important, and he should be able to express them, but also the security services have to make split-second decisions to protect the public.

They can only operate under the law, that is the point. 1 year ago they had no powers to arrest anyone who was exercising their human right to freedom of speech and protest.

Now they can and are!

Riverwalk

I know people can search but I think it's a good idea to provide a link when starting a thread!

www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/21276222.anti-monarchist-arrested-shouting-oxford-proclamation/

My I-pad won’t do links and people will often kindly put one up for me,.

Yes - very worrying for free speech.

However, I can see that there might have been concerns about security - for all the security and police knew, it could have been a prelude to throwing a bomb. They have to act in the moment to make sure no-one is hurt. Once they realised that he was not a threat he should have been "de-arrested" instantly.

It was very crass of him to shout this out when people are feeling emotional about the queen's death - he has a right to express his views but maybe this was neither the place nor the time. Let him start/join a republican campaign, as is his right.

His views are important, and he should be able to express them, but also the security services have to make split-second decisions to protect the public.

Colour me surprised. Or not, in fact.

It’s a draconian law, and these arrests are a worrying sign of how our rights to protest - a fundamental part of any democracy - have been eroded.

Oh, I love the last line which states that 'he has since been de-arrested'!!!! What a total farce.

I am totally anti-monarchist, horrified at present at all the upset going on in the country for ten days over the death of a 96-year old. But each to their own, just do not go to official proclamations, etc. Do wish people would, maybe, show their respect of my views as I do of theirs. Would prefer to see money being spent on flowers left to die on pavements could be donated to food banks, where it could do so much more good.

I am however, very concerned that the government has eroded so much of what we have long taken for granted of our right to freedom of speech.

I know people can search but I think it's a good idea to provide a link when starting a thread!

www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/21276222.anti-monarchist-arrested-shouting-oxford-proclamation/

Do you have information about the arrests WWM2?

Oldwoman70

I understand the woman in Scotland was arrested for breach of the peace. I haven't heard anything about the arrest in Oxford. Perhaps we should wait to get full details before jumping to conclusions

Carrying a poster and calling for a ban to the monarchy would have constituted a breach of the peace under the new law. That is what all the alarm is about.

Previously we proudly upheld that freedom however irritating or noisy it was.

I understand the woman in Scotland was arrested for breach of the peace. I haven't heard anything about the arrest in Oxford. Perhaps we should wait to get full details before jumping to conclusions

Are you allowed to arrest for someone’s own safety? You can section someone for their own safety, but if someone is of sound mind then they are free to make unwise choices. I would assume therefore any arrest made to shut her up rather than protect her.

I doubt a crowd paying respects to the queen would lynch an anti-monarchist. However crass she/he was.

rosie1959

Was this the 'lady' carrying a sign saying F### imperialism abolish the monarchy
Probably arrested for her own safety such sentiments would not have gone down well in the crowds yesterday

And the man in Oxford?

Was this the 'lady' carrying a sign saying F### imperialism abolish the monarchy
Probably arrested for her own safety such sentiments would not have gone down well in the crowds yesterday

Yes people who cheer on erosion of free speech seem to think that it will always be 'others' speech that will be curtailed, opinions they dont agree with silenced, of course it wont be.