Police Powers ?

[anneasquith]

Why can’t / don’t the police remove and arrest the protesters from walking on the roads ?

[ToraToraTora]

I too struggle with that question anne. Obstructing the highway is a crime. Perhaps the police should be prosecuted for aiding and abetting.

[retrocop]

Because there are too many to walk on the pavement. Most demos or marches have walked on the road before CND took to them. It’s called peaceful protest. Sadly jaywalking doesn’t exist but new laws are on way as if they were needed. Highway Obstruction always did the trick. Sec 121 Highways Act.

[bookbinder]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65410634
It's not only the protesters that move at a snail's pace, it's the law that also moves at a snail's pace.

[JimF]

One theory here:
https://www.spiked-online.com/2022/11/18/judges-for-just-stop-oil/

[ToraToraTora]

"But in 2018, Stratford Magistrates’ Court quashed the charge, citing the protesters’ rights to free expression and peaceful assembly under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The protesters, it ruled, had a ‘lawful excuse’ for obstructing the highway." - I just knew the kin ECHR would be something to do with it!

[anneasquith]

Of the many protests I’ve seen, all the protesters are white, why is that ? I’m willing to be proved wrong though .

[ToraToraTora]

it just seems the ECHR is ugger ball to do with human rights and all to do with the "rights" of moronic criminal scum to disrupt the masses.

[fender62]

ToraToraTora, i agree a criminals charter and a giant feeding trough
for law firms, and i also wonder if some judges are impartial, besides them what of the house or lords blocking illegal migrant removal laws.

[Old_Geezer]

Thank goodness jaywalking legislation doesn't exist. In this nation we have mature responsible adults who don't need herding to specific crossing places because they are too thick to be trusted to cross a road safely.

As for the coppers, I suspect they want a peaceful life so let folk in groups get away with things. It'd save on the reporting, filling out paperwork, and having to drag tens of miscreants off to the station. After all, why do what is right for law abiding society when those misbehaving are part of that same society ? It may be easier to just deal with complainers instead. Perhaps protect the wrongdoers. Consider making them cups of tea, with a few biscuits ? That's much easier.

[tomus42]

People have the right to peaceful protest in this country.

When that impinges on other people's right to go about their business, I think it becomes a grey area for the police and they're not sure what to do.

Isn't there a law being passed to address this though?

[Old_Geezer]

Aren't protests supposed to be arranged in advance ? Otherwise there should be no apparent exemption from blocking the highway.

[William51]

In this case the police are useless, they carry out too much to the letter of the law and forget the meaning and disruption to the public.

[10ClarionSt]

AB's own Frank Doberman, aka Tora Tora Tora @ 17.30:
"...I just knew the kin ECHR would be something to do with it!"

Yeah! How dare people have rights! They should all be banged up just for wanting them! :o)

[vulcan42]

I think advance arrangement of protests have been quietly and conveniently forgotten, similar to the law that farmers have to clean the mud from the roads left by their tractors.

[fiveleaves]

Believe it or not we have a right to walk the roads of this country