The right to peaceful protest in the UK

Two tier Keir. Very apt. He is a poor leader

Oreo

Facial recognition is a very useful tool for the Police.

It is. As is collecting IP addresses, which can be done even when a VPN is used.

It's a scary thought though. I associate facial recognition with Russia and China, not the UK. Maybe if it's used in limited circumstances and only to find specific people it's tolerable? I don't know.

Thank you Doodledog

Facial recognition is a very useful tool for the Police.

I have often said on here that the terms left and right are (IMO) often used where they don't really apply. People who perceive their own views as being Left or Right, and therefore Correct and Virtuous sometimes see accusing people of being the other as a (lazy) insult, and use them without thinking.

Sexism, racism and homophobia exist in all religions and on both the political Left and Right, as do notions of protecting 'our' jobs and 'our' way of life from 'others'. So, of course do inclusivity and respect for human life.

The recent riots, however, have been shown to be orchestrated by the Far Right, notably the EDL, using populist slogans and tropes, and rallying people on all forms of social media with incitement to riot, supposedly in the name of 'protest'. Witness the Nazi salutes in London.

It is easier for them to attract people who are already annoyed (or furious) at the idea of a Labour government, even when it is anything more than right of centre of the left wing (if that makes sense - it sort of did when I was writing it ) and blame them for what's happening as though it is an extension of their policies. They haven't had time to put long-term policies in place yet, so can't be blamed for creating the conditions that have led to the riots. Or so any reasonable person would realise.

Gaza complicates all of this. I really don't know what people on either side expect UK politicians of any party to do about a foreign war, but the situation is horrible, and understandably feelings are running high about that, too.

All we know about what happened in Leeds and the other flashpoints is what we have read or seen in the media or online unless we were there, and more information is coming through by the day. Obviously where families are concerned the authorities have to protect anonymity, and the finer points are confidential, but it seems that in Leeds the Local Authority has agreed that mistakes were made concerning the Roma family that triggered the riot. That is in no way to excuse it, but the Harehills area is deprived, it was hot (which always makes riots more likely) and sometimes an incident can seem like the last straw (eg when a police car ran into boys in Wales).

I completely agree that everyone should be treated the same under the law. 100%. But I remain to be convinced that 2 minute videos circulating on X and TikTok tell the whole story.

The reason (if there is one) for the dreadful killings of the children in Stockport is nothing to do with immigration. The perpetrator is from Wales, and his ethnic origin doesn't suggest that he will be Muslim. That was all deliberate misinformation, along with other nonsense about his being on a Prevent list etc, and whether it originated from Putin (Left) or Robinson (Right) doesn't matter. It was done to destabilise British society, and those of us who genuinely want to protect our culture have to hope it doesn't succeed.

varian

WE don'y need new ;laws. Just charge all those who show up on CCTV breaking the law.

Glad we have CCTV for this.

But those behind the riots openly post on Social media, and I'd like to see "incitement" on X or FB as a crime by key individuals.

We could ask Donald Trump?😲

Oreo

Tbh I thought there were already punishments for inciting riots, you would certainly think so, even if a person doesn’t take part in the said riot themselves?

There are punishments, but I suspect because of lack of capacity in jails both inciters and rioters get sentences that are very short. If anybody has any knowledge about this it would be h good to know.

WE don'y need new ;laws. Just charge all those who show up on CCTV breaking the law.

Casdon

Oreo

As to policing of riots or near riots, I think the perpetrators should be treated the same if they’re committing offences , don’t know what Keir Starmer has said to the police about this matter but we should all be treated equally under the laws of the land.

I’d agree, it’s the acts they commit which warrant punishment. I think there should be a more serious punishment for inciting riot. I hope the changes proposed to increase the police response, improved cybersecurity, and creation of capacity in jails will ultimately help.

Agreed: could "conspiracy to...." laws could be used? Certainly X posts from key offenders?

And they and their apologists say they are "protecting our culture"?

Tbh I thought there were already punishments for inciting riots, you would certainly think so, even if a person doesn’t take part in the said riot themselves?

Oreo

As to policing of riots or near riots, I think the perpetrators should be treated the same if they’re committing offences , don’t know what Keir Starmer has said to the police about this matter but we should all be treated equally under the laws of the land.

I’d agree, it’s the acts they commit which warrant punishment. I think there should be a more serious punishment for inciting riot. I hope the changes proposed to increase the police response, improved cybersecurity, and creation of capacity in jails will ultimately help.

I think Sunderland is uneasy tonight. Again like Hartlepool this cant be a surprise.

Oreo

As to policing of riots or near riots, I think the perpetrators should be treated the same if they’re committing offences , don’t know what Keir Starmer has said to the police about this matter but we should all be treated equally under the laws of the land.

They are.

But those groups classified as far right are going further. They are inciting violence throughout the country.

There is plenty of footage now on X showing violence kicking off in various places.

Agree with both your posts Oreo

As to policing of riots or near riots, I think the perpetrators should be treated the same if they’re committing offences , don’t know what Keir Starmer has said to the police about this matter but we should all be treated equally under the laws of the land.

Doodledog

growstuff

I welcome the contributions from the publicity machines of various anti-social movements on this thread. I guess it all adds to the info base.

I’ve been thinking the same.

I haven’t.
In fact I think it’s an inflammatory statement to make on a thread.
Either name the posters that you think are from ‘the publicity
Machines of various anti social movements on this thread’ or ask the mods to remove it.
Just cos you don’t agree with a different viewpoint doesn’t mean you can say this about GN posters.
There’s been quite a few commenting lately about how things have changed on the site and disliking the ‘unpleasantness’ well I for one think this remark growstuff is uber unpleasant.

Whitewavemark2

eazybee

So the riots in Leeds were simply a spontaneous peaceful protest.
This use of the label' far-right' was in evidence way before the election, a tactic employed by Labour against anyone supporting conservative policies.
I said before, this is thuggery looking for an excuse for a fight.

No they were riots, by a community of Roma.

But Roma are not a group that is recognised as the far right and a threat by the security forces.

The Southport, London etc group of rioters are described by the security and intelligence forces as far right.

So that is the appropriate description.

A far right group of politically motivated thugs and their puppet masters.

The other factor in Leeds that has been far too easily forgotten was the involvement of the local Councillor Mothin Ali and a youth worker in the evening who formed a human shield to stop violence escalating in Leeds riots. Imo opinion better people like him than water cannons directed at all there!

LizzieDrip

Same Doodledog

Add me

Same Doodledog

growstuff

I welcome the contributions from the publicity machines of various anti-social movements on this thread. I guess it all adds to the info base.

I’ve been thinking the same.

Have your read the analysis of what exactly happened in Leeds*eazybee*?
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/leeds-riots-cause-harehills-violence-roma-community-news-b2583202.html?page=4

eazybee

So the riots in Leeds were simply a spontaneous peaceful protest.
This use of the label' far-right' was in evidence way before the election, a tactic employed by Labour against anyone supporting conservative policies.
I said before, this is thuggery looking for an excuse for a fight.

No they were riots, by a community of Roma.

But Roma are not a group that is recognised as the far right and a threat by the security forces.

The Southport, London etc group of rioters are described by the security and intelligence forces as far right.

So that is the appropriate description.

A far right group of politically motivated thugs and their puppet masters.

So the riots in Leeds were simply a spontaneous peaceful protest.
This use of the label' far-right' was in evidence way before the election, a tactic employed by Labour against anyone supporting conservative policies.
I said before, this is thuggery looking for an excuse for a fight.