The BBC reports that 5 demonstrators have been arrested at today's Stop the War Coaltion protest in Parliament Square, protesting against the draconian Serious Organised Crime and Police Act Designated Area.
"Last Updated: Monday, 1 August, 2005, 15:57 GMT 16:57 UK Arrests over Parliament demo banFive anti-war activists demonstrating against a ban on unauthorised protests near Parliament have been arrested.
A ban on protests within half-a-mile of Westminster which have not been cleared by police came into force at midnight.
However, about 50 people wearing black gags to symbolise the "infringement" of their right to protest have gathered in Parliament Square in defiance.
Ministers say planned protests can be held but the rights of protesters and workers in the area must be balanced.
But campaigners say the move restricts an established right to protest.
More than a dozen police officers were at the scene, and arrests were made around an hour after the protest begun."
These restrictions do not just apply to "anti-war" protestors, (apart from Brian Haw who is exempt), they apply to everyone else, of whatever political or religous opinions.
The Guardian has more details:
"Up to 200 members of the Stop the War coalition, CND and other groups symbolically put gags over their mouths as part of the unauthorised protest, which the police had warned would now be illegal.""After warning and photographing demonstrators, police moved in and arrested three men and two women."
"The Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, who had been breaking the new law by addressing the demonstration through a small microphone at the time, said: "This is absolutely absurd. Ordinary people have been arrested for taking part in a perfectly peaceful demonstration outside parliament during the recess.
"This demonstration was all about the right to express one's point of view. I suspect that this provocative action by the police on the first day of this new law may encourage other demonstrations."
The demo - which included Lauren Booth, a sister of the prime minister's wife, Cherie - was to highlight the enactment of a new law banning demonstrations within half a mile of the palace of Westminster without at least 24 hours' prior authorisation from the Metropolitan police."
"Ms Booth said three of the five people arrested appeared to come from minority groups even though most of those on the protest were white.
Lindsey German, convener of the Stop The War Coalition said: "We object very strongly to this infringement on our right to protest.
"We will now have to seek permission to stage any form of protest near parliament, putting the onus on the police [to decide] who is allowed to demonstrate, which is totally unacceptable.
"Anyone speaking through a megaphone will be arrested under this draconian new law. Parliament should be doing more important things than stopping people staging legitimate protests."
Ms Booth also attacked the government over the imposition of the exclusion zone.
"This is all about silencing critics of the war in Iraq and ID cards and denying people the right to free speech.
"If you heard on television that someone in another country were banned from gathering near a government building to stage a legitimate protest you would probably think thank goodness that kind of thing doesn't happen in this country. This law must be overturned."
"The protestors carried banners and chanted: "Defend the right to protest, free speech now."
Some 45 minutes after the 2pm start of the protest, police officers handed out leaflets to the protesters telling them that the demonstration was unauthorised and did not comply with the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
At around 3.20pm police made the arrests.
Ms German said organisers had told the police about their intentions, but had not filled in the "permission form" required under the Act.
"We don't want to fill in the form. We want to make a point," said Ms German.
She added that the police had been "as helpful as they can be", but noted that under the legislation they have no discretion about allowing unauthorised demonstrations."
I still haven't got a reply back from when I sent a letter two weeks ago to the Commissioner asking for permission for people to protest with Brian. As far as I am concerned, the police have not fulfilled their duty under the law of at least responding and setting out their conditions. So the arrests they have made ought not be legal.
That is where you need your Recorded Delivery Receipt and/or Proof of Posting Certificate, so that they cannot claim not to have received it.
Does anybody know who exactly got arrested today, which sections of the Act they were charged under ?