Governance of Britain Green Paper: "will consult widely" on SOCPA ss 132-138 Designated Area around Parliament Square ?
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made some headline grabbing promises about trying to restore trust in Parliament and the Government through Constitutional reforms, published in a Green Paper: The Governance of Britain (.pdf)
There is a section which promises some sort of vague "consultation" on the controversial Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 sections 132 - 138 Designated Area around Parliament Square:
Restrictions on protests around Parliament164. The ability of citizens to campaign and protest is essential to a democracy.
No government should place unnecessary restrictions on this right. For decades the Commons sessional orders effectively prohibited demonstrations n an area around Westminster when Parliament was sitting. However, the Government is aware of the strong views expressed in reaction to the provisions on protests around Parliament introduced in sections 132-138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, both in terms of the principle behind these restrictions and how they have operated in practice
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The current restrictions require protesters to obtain authorisation from the police before demonstrating in the vicinity of Parliament and to abide by any conditions imposed by the police on a demonstration.165. Freedom of expression is a fundamental British value, and the right to peaceful protest has long been regarded as an important component of the liberties of British citizens. This right is also protected by Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights,29 incorporated into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998.
166. The Government will therefore consult widely on the provisions in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act with a view to ensuring that people’s right to protest is not subject to unnecessary restrictions. This review will need to reflect the security situation and allow the business of Parliament to proceed unhindered, but will be conducted with a presumption in favour of freedom of expression. In return, protesters will of course need to obey the law and relevant bylaws.
The devil is in the detail, and until we see exactly what is being proposed, we remain extremely suspicious of this alleged "consultation" process, given this Government's track record on ignoring the feedback from the public, and pressing on with their own agenda regardless.