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Out of order?

19 October 2012 / Ruth Brander
Issue: 7534 / Categories: Features , Public
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Is our right to protest under threat, asks Ruth Brander

In the fifth of a series of articles specially commissioned to mark the 75th anniversary of Atkin’s Court Forms, Ruth Brander, a barrister & contributor to Atkin’s Court Forms, considers recent cases on the law of protest.

Britain’s summer in the spotlight has been hailed as a triumph, with both the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the Olympic and Paralympic Games passing off “trouble-free”. But what has been the cost in terms of freedom of expression and the right to protest?

As Danny Boyle’s Olympic opening ceremony celebrated Britain’s traditions of diversity, innovation, creativity and humour, outside the stadium, 182 cyclists were being kettled and then arrested for participating in “Critical Mass”—a monthly mass cycle ride through central London, open to all, and with no pre-determined route. On the evening of 27 July 2012, despite Critical Mass having taken place monthly since 1994 without significant threat to public order, the Metropolitan Police sought to impose conditions under s 12 of the Public

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Firm strengthens leveraged finance team with London partner hire

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

NEWS
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Artificial intelligence may be revolutionising the law, but its misuse could wreck cases and careers, warns Clare Arthurs of Penningtons Manches Cooper in this week's NLJ
The Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment in July that overturned the convictions of Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo, once poster boys of the Libor and Euribor scandal. In NLJ this week, Neil Swift of Peters & Peters considers what the ruling means for financial law enforcement
Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Rylatt and Robyn Laye of Anthony Gold Solicitors examine recent international relocation cases where allegations of domestic abuse shaped outcomes
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