A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.

End of SOCPA?

Fred | 23.03.2008 23:42 | London

A controversial ban on protests outside the Houses of Parliament will be scrapped by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith this week in a symbolic victory for freedom of speech campaigners.

Article spotted in the observer...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/mar/23/jacquismith

Fred

Additions

A bit more.

24.03.2008 12:22

There is a bit more here:

http://thejournal.parker-joseph.co.uk/blog/_archives/2008/3/23/3596655.html

I have no doubt that even if the requirement for prior police permission to exercise human rights is removed the police will still be capable of using their plethora of powers to reduce political dissent outside Parliament and elsewhere.

Commenter

Just a token gesture

24.03.2008 19:37

All the other aspects of SOCPA will just be tightened as pressure's piled on activists across the board. Animal rights has been the most hard-hit so far but no doubt they'll be coming after other types of activism as well.

For more information about how SOCPA's affecting animal rights see www.stopsequani.co.uk

Potter, Western Animal Rights Network
mail e-mail: info@animalliberation.co.uk
Homepage: http://animalliberation.co.uk

Comments

Hide the following 10 comments

Anyone have more details?

24.03.2008 00:31

The observer article is very short.

Simon

yeh, like they scrapped indefinite detention for non uk citizens

24.03.2008 11:42

they just came up with control orders which apply to all of us.

i think their plan is to harmonise it over the whole country, probably under new draconian legislation.

the ptb rarely back-track.

although in these changing times anything is possible. it is deeply unpopular with the police and the few members of the public that know or care about it.

bob

Not the end of SOCPA!

24.03.2008 12:27

Not the end of SOCPA at all, Animal rights people who are suffering the most under SOCPA is still continuing and no doubt Smash EDO will have their very own extra special private law added under SOCPA just like the vivisection industry got!

There is more to SOCPA than parliament protests.

Do not be fooled it will probably be a change of tactic by them!

Start of something new

24.03.2008 12:58

Which will no doubt be a lot worse, as somebody else mentioned, it's probably just going to cover the rest of the country, with the help of the "positive" media helping to spin things.

Watch a video here to get more of an idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCmG9-x-dQY

As a top NETCU cop has said, the SOCPA laws were not drafted widely enough...

"The term domestic extremism applies to any unlawful action that is part of a protest campaign. It is most often associated with animal rights, anti-war, anti-globalisation and anti-GN crops."

WATCH:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCmG9-x-dQY

V(A)

smoke & mirrors

24.03.2008 16:57

possibly just a knee jerk reaction from home secretary after the observer rang brian to ask about his recent appearance last week in city of westminster over 12th january outside downing street and he directed them re: socpa to papers filed at the high court for various judicial reviews and indymedia for the truth.

babs tucker

stop me if you've heard this one before

24.03.2008 20:46

"The restored right to protest outside parliament will be combined with plans to bolster the protection of the Palace of Westminster and key ministries and government buildings along Whitehall."

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/374322.html

ACAB

skeptical

24.03.2008 21:52

I think it is possible that the con-sultation process may have been leading up to an actual change to the law. However I am unsure about whether a repeal of the law (or amendment) would need a vote from the whole of parliament. Even if this does happen then we should hardly be considering thanking the government for restoring liberties that we previously held, as a matter of course. It also would not compensate at all for our loss of the freedom to protest for the last few years, which I would consider to have been a breach of our human rights.

Brian B

It's a scam

24.03.2008 23:53

They're going to repeal the Parliment square ban under much fanfare as not to appear totalitarian and then they're going to very quietly bring the national public order legislation up to the standard of SPOCA in the interests of "harminisation"

Dead

25.03.2008 00:55

Protest against government policy will now be banned nationwide (you'll have to ask the neu labour politico filth first before holding useless peaceful protest)

Fascism through the back door courtesy of new labour.

Everyone bow and stare into your screens.

Bones

Grrrr "S"

25.03.2008 01:07

Parliament - SOCPA - Harmonisation . . .

Fuuuuuck ! ! !

Spelling Mistakes really piss me fucking right off

UK Indymedia