Paganarchy Press

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005, section 132 makes it illegal to hold a demonstration without prior police permission within 1Km of parliament. Even when demonstrators are given permission, the police then have the power to arbitrarily
* shut down a protest at their leisure,
* to restrict numbers of protestors,
* to restrict numbers of banners,
* to restrict sizes of banners,
* to restrict the volume of people speaking and the noise factor,
* to restrict the use of megaphones and
* to restrict the duration of a demonstration.

And say you want to demonstrate against Ian Blair for his involvement in covering up the Stockwell shooting. Under this legislation you have to ask his permission! Well where's the fun in that?!?!

And just what constitutes a "demonstration" anyway? Can you demonstrate how to fry an egg? Is that illegal?

Click here to watch a video of activists conducting various Illegal demonstrations at Parliament Square in London on January 22nd, 2006.

Ridiculous laws such as SOCPA 132 need to be tested and threatened from every angle possible. We must be creative as well as passionate when we work towards defending our freedoms.