The right to peaceful protest in the UK

I was very cross about the BLM riots too GG. The police allowed all Covid rules to be broken whilst simultaneously charging two women who went for a socially distanced walk and stopped to drink coffee - in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Those women had to pay fines for sitting either end of a bench to drink their coffee, meanwhile during the BLM riots………

As someone involved in childrens services, the idea that riots following a safeguarding incident does not impact on the wider community is not true. Those scenes impact those who work within that environment and who have to make difficult decisions eith regard to childrens welfare.

JaneJudge

I thought the reason they withdrew in Leeds was because the police were more under threat rather than the general public.

The EDL marching/rioting seems very much like football hooliganism and maybe they have better training to deal with that sort of disorder?

What happened at the vigil was awful and I think indicative of misogyny in the met maybe? I dunno

No it is because the two incidents were different.

That is why we see different responses.

They by no means always get it right, but I think on the whole they do.

maddyone

I share your concerns GG.
I was also concerned about the policing of the pro Palestine marches and the JSO protests.

The leeway given on the Pro Palestine marches was incredible…

We suffered the effects of JSO on the M25 here 😡

Whitewavemark2 I understand where you are coming from, I really do.

I am trying to see all sides impartially, and it is becoming obvious that the police treat shite male protesters totally different from others.

Even BLM marches which took place during our Covid lockdowns and therefore illegal under the Covid laws were policed softly softly and allowed to continue.

Our police needs to be seen to treat all fairly and equally and that is not happening at the moment, and hasn’t done for a while.

I share your concerns GG.
I was also concerned about the policing of the pro Palestine marches and the JSO protests.

Sorry Wyllow3 who is they who have complained? The Roma Community in Leeds, Patsy Stevenson or Jennifer Edmunds (arrested at Sarah Everard vigil), or any of the Southport Rioters?

I thought the reason they withdrew in Leeds was because the police were more under threat rather than the general public.

The EDL marching/rioting seems very much like football hooliganism and maybe they have better training to deal with that sort of disorder?

What happened at the vigil was awful and I think indicative of misogyny in the met maybe? I dunno

I think that the two incidents were entirely different, and so prompting different responses by the police.

So the Leeds - and I am sure iam64 - will help over this.

This was a violent protest by the Roma community prompted by what they saw as interference into their life. It was entirely unplanned and although violent poses no threat outside of their immediate community.

This is not true of Southport.

These groups are identified far right groups of interest to our security services and pose a serious threat to the U.K.

They are communicating via social media and using AI and bots to appeal to the far right groups. They are organised and dangerous. They are being looked at as potential terrorists by the security servicees, and are in many instances treated similarly.

The police forces throughout the U.K. are being constantly updated with intelligence relating to these groups.

Robinson is one of their most effective leaders.

(They as in the rioters, who didnt come from the Southport community)

Well, they would complain, wouldn't they? Anything to stir things up further. They didn't have to go on the streets when the community was suffering with appalling murders.

There are so many different situations it's impossible to find a "one size fits all response". But I'm glad that police responses are now going to be looked at to work out best practice in managing civil unrest.

growstuff

People seem to forget that arrests were made after the Leeds riot.

Haven’t forgotten growstuff

The policing which I hoped could be discussed rationally was totally different.

People seem to forget that arrests were made after the Leeds riot.

Just needs consistency across the board, to be fair amidst all the noise I think Starmer did say that when asked a similar question by a Sky reporter. It was a good question and there was something in his response which made me a little less worried.