header-logo header-logo

Out of order?

19 October 2012 / Ruth Brander
Issue: 7534 / Categories: Features , Public
printer mail-detail
hires_4_4

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

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll