July 2005 Archives

Charing Cross Police Station have sent (via snail mail) a letter with a copy of the Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1537 The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Area) Order 2005 printed off from the HMSO website, and a colour map of the Designated Area (similar in style to the Collins Bartholemw map www.streetmap.co.uk colour scheme) with the border of the Designated Area marked.

They also sent a paper copy of Form 3175A "Application for Demonstration Within The Serious Organised Crime & Police Act Designated Area"

CW(CX) = Westminster Borough
(Charing Cross Division)
CX - Charing Cross Police Station

Charing Cross Police Station
Agar Street
London
WC2N 4DH
Telephone: 020 7321 7524
Facsimile: 020 7321 7527
Email: operations-cx@met.police.uk
www.met.police.uk

"it is hoped to have all the information on the Metropolitan Police web site soon: www.met.police.uk"

But not yet as of today, Friday 29th July 2005.

"If you require any assistance or further advice please feel free to contact us on the above number. The office will be open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday."

The Press Association has a few more of the legal details concerning Brian Haw's Judicial Review in the High Court of the controversial Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Designated Area around Parliament and beyond.

The BBC reports that Brian Haw has won his legal loophole case against the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, and can continue his protest.

This must be hugely embarassing for the Government which brought in the controversial legislation partly, but not wholly, to restrict his long running peace camp protest in Parliament Square.

"Last Updated: Friday, 29 July 2005, 11:25 GMT 12:25 UK
Parliament protester wins battle

A man who has held a four-year anti-war protest outside Parliament, has won a legal battle to continue his vigil.

From 1 August all protests in a half-mile zone in Westminster, London, must have prior permission from police.

But the High Court has ruled Brian Haw, 56, from Worcestershire, who claimed he was exempt as his protest pre-dated the new laws, can continue his protest.

The government said Mr Haw posed a potential security risk and described his argument as "absurd".

Lawyers for Mr Haw said his demonstration had begun four years ago and therefore he did not have to apply for authorisation, even though the law was actually targeted at him.

Lady Justice Smith, sitting with Mr Justice McCombe and Mr Justice Simon, said the new law did not catch Mr Haw because of a drafting error.

She said: "If Parliament wishes to criminalise any particular activity, it must do so in clear terms. If it wishes to do so, Parliament can amend this Act.""

Nowever, the rights and freedoms of all of the rest of are still restricted by these stupid and disproportionate Designated Area regulations.

The Global Womens' Strike weekly protest may also be exempt, since they have also been regularly demonstrating for over 2 years. However their activities might be classed as a series of separate demonstrations, so their next one would fall foul of the new law. Their use of "open mike" loudspeakers will simply be banned under the new law either way.

Reminder: a Non-Violent Direct Action Training Workshop and Legal Briefing will be held this Sunday 31st July 2005.

11.30am to 5pm,

St Martins Community Centre,
43 Carol Street, London NW1

Nearest Tube Station: Camden Town

Please note that there is no parking near the centre.

The workshop will cover strategies for creating empowering and effective non-violent actions and so will be useful for anyone taking part in the protests around Parliament.

It will be particularly useful if you have never been arrested before or if you're intrigued but feel you lack the confidence or knowledge to take things further.

All welcome!

Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group.

For more info. e-mail massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm

Update: Bloggerheads seem to have printed 250 A3 posters for the Monday 1st August demonstration

The Times reports that a week after the shooting of the innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Tube station:

"A vigil marking one week since Mr Menezes’s death will take place at 5.30pm on Friday in Parliament Square. A service will be held at Westminster Cathedral at the same time as his funeral in Brazil."

There seems to be a demonstration in Broadway, directly opposite the Metropolitan Police HQ at New Scotland Yard, protesting about the killing of the innocent Brazilian, Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot by the Police last Friday aat Stockwell Tube Station.

This area is just within the Designated Area. The demonstration has both banners and a megaphone, and obviously several police officers standing by.

If this demonstration happens again, or continues after August 1st, the megaphone loudspeaker will be banned, and arbitrary conditions on the demonstration can be imposed.

The BBC reports that Brian Haw's legal loophole challenge to the Serious Organised Crime and Security Act 2005, is being considered by a panel of three High Court Judges, who will rule on it by the end of the week.

Unfortunately, even if the High Court rules in favour of Brian Haw, the legal precedent will not apply to the vast majority of other people who might wish to demonstrate in the Designated Area in the future.

It is not clear from the Home Office's Freedom of Information Act disclosure,

"9) Will a short walk in and around the Parliament Square "Designated Area" entail getting prior permission from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police if you happen to be wearing a "political slogan" T-shirt or badge ?

9. The definition of a demonstration is ultimately a matter for the courts."

that there may have to be another test case to determime exactly what constitutes "a demonstration" under this very poorly worded new legislation, as this panel of High Court Judges will probably only be considering the narrow point of law applicable to Brian Haw.

The Times reports:

"July 23 2005
The Times

Westminster protest challenge

A PROTESTER who has held a 24-hour vigil for four years outside Parliament is to go to the High Court to fight a government attempt to remove him.

Brian Haw, 56, has been protesting in Parliament Square since 2001, initially against Western sanctions on Iraq and later against Britain’s involvement in the American-led war. The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act, passed this year, requires protesters to obtain police permission before staging any demonstration within an area designated by the Home Secretary, which includes Parliament Square and Whitehall. But Mr Haw will argue that the legislation does not apply to his protest, as it began before August 1 this year, when the new law comes into effect.

In 2002, Mr Haw fought off an attempt by Westminster City Council to evict him on the ground that he was obstructing the highway.

Mr Haw’s case is expected to be heard in London on Tuesday"

The Home Office has disclosed some details about the restrictions on demonstrations in the Designated Area around Parliament Square, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The FOIA request was submitted before the SI Order outlining the Designated Area was signed.

The FOIA request asked 16 specific questions, which have been reproduced with the Home Office answers below.

The Designated Area does not, apparently extend Underground e.g. to the Jubilee line Tube Station at Westminster, or to the Airspace above the Designated Area. The FOIA request did not ask, and the Home Office did not clarify if a the River Thames itself below low the water mark is covered or not.

The important "new" information revealed by the disclosure seems to be:

8) What is the minimum duration of a protest or demonstration before it falls under the new regulations ?
8. There is no minimum duration to a demonstration before it falls under the new provisions.

9) Will a short walk in and around the Parliament Square "Designated Area" entail getting prior permission from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police if you happen to be wearing a "political slogan" T-shirt or badge ?

9. The definition of a demonstration is ultimately a matter for the courts.

13) What is the position regarding a "fuel protest" type convoy of vehicles beeping their horns, rather than using loudspeakers ?

13. Beeping of horns is not classified as a loudspeaker. A convoy of moving vehicles could be classed as a "procession". In this case the provisions of sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Public Order Act 1986 would apply and not the provisions of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

14) Does a separate notification of a demonstration or protest have to be submitted for each and every day, or part of a day that it lasts ?

14. A separate notification needs to be submitted for each new demonstration, however long it lasts. However one letter could seek authorisation for more than one demonstration.

The Home Office Freedom of Information Act disclosure:

Calendar of forthcoming events regarding the curtailment of your rights to demonstrate in the Designated Area around Parliament Square in London, in addition to Brian Haw's continuous peace protest:

  • Wednesday 20th July 2005
    Transport and General Workers Union picket of the Houses of Parliament - 170 cleaning staff are on strike. This picket is exempt from the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 restrictions.

  • Wednesday 20th July
    Anti-war Community Picket organised by the Global Women's Strike will take place as always from 5.30 to 7pm in Parliament Square.

    Join the picket and show solidarity.

    www.globalwomenstrike.net

  • Thursday 22nd July

    Parliament starts its Summer Recess until October 9th.

  • Tuesday 26th July
    [update 23rd July]
    Brian Haw's , test case in the Royal Courts of Justice, whether his demonstration is exempt from the requirement for priior application for permission, since it has already started before 1st August 2005.

  • Wednesday 27th July
    Anti-war Community Picket organised by the Global Women's Strike will take place as always from 5.30 to 7pm in Parliament Square.

    www.globalwomenstrike.net

  • Sunday 31st July
    NVDA WORKSHOP & LEGAL BRIEFING
    A nonviolent direct action (NVDA) training workshop and legal briefing for the Mass Act will take place on Sunday 31st July:

    11.30am to 5pm,
    St Martins Community Centre,
    43 Carol Street, London NW1
    (nearest tube Camden Town).

    Please note that there is NO parking near the centre.

    If you're planning to come on 7 Aug and have never been arrested before or if you're intrigued but feel you lack the confidence or knowledge to take things further then this is the workshop for you. All welcome!

    Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group.

    For more info. e-mail massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm

  • Sunday 31st July
    Deadline for the PledgeBank pledge:

    "I will apply for authorisation to demonstrate in the vicinity of Parliament every day for a month from 1st August 2005 but only if 50 other responsible citizens will too."

    www.pledgebank.com/ParliamentSquare or send a mobile phone SMS text message "pledge parliamentsquare" to 60022 (normal SMS text message charges apply)

  • Monday 1st August
    The full provisions of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 sections 132 to 138 come into full force.

  • Monday 1st August
    Stop the War have called a demonstration at 2pm on Monday 1st August in Parliament Square against the new protest exclusion zone.

    www.stopwar.org.uk/ExclusionZone.htm

  • Tuesday 2nd August
    Solidarity with Brian Haw's eviction / arrest. All the indications are that 2nd August will be the day that the police will try and evict Brian and stop his 4 year continuous protest for peace and justice. Gather in Parliament Square as early as you can to show he is not alone.

    www.parliament-square.org.uk

  • Wednesday 3rd August
    Anti-war Community Picket organised by the Global Women's Strike will take place as always from 5.30 to 7pm in Parliament Square.

    www.globalwomenstrike.net

    This will be their first such regular protest event after the new restrictions on "Loudspeakers in designated area"
    have come into force.

  • Sunday 7th August
    MASS ACT OF DEFIANCE For the Right to Protest
    Assemble 12 noon, Sunday 7 August, Parliament Square
    This law will affect all activists and campaigners. Everyone should bring their own banners, leaflets, placards and campaigns - for peace, human rights, asylum rights, labour rights, animal rights, social justice, international solidarity, the environment etc - to this action to defy the new anti-protest legislation and defend the right to demonstrate near Parliament.

    Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group. For more info.
    e-mail massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm

Please let us know about any other demonstrations and protests or meetings.

MASS ACT OF DEFIANCE
For the Right to Protest

Assemble 12 noon, Sunday 7 August

Parliament Square

The new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) makes all unauthorised protests within a Designated Area, which can be up to 1km of Parliament, illegal after 1 August.

The first targets of the Act are likely to be Brian Haw's 4-year 24-7 peace vigil in Parliament Square and the weekly Anti-war Community Picket of the Global Women Strike (also in the Square), but the law will affect all activists and campaigners.

PLEASE JOIN US ON 7 AUGUST: Bring your banners, leaflets, placards and campaigns for peace, human rights, asylum rights, labour rights, animal rights, social justice, international solidarity, the environment etc... to this action to defy the new anti-protest legislation and defend the right to demonstrate near Parliament.

PLEASE NOTE:
[1] There is a risk of arrest at this action, since it is an unauthorised protest against a law which makes such protests illegal.

Please read the legal briefing below before deciding to attend.

[2] This is a peaceful protest: participants should not harm or dehumanise any human being at this event.

NVDA WORKSHOP & LEGAL BRIEFING
A nonviolent direct action (NVDA) training workshop and legal briefing for the Mass Act will take place on Sunday 31st July:

11.30am to 5pm,
St Martins Community Centre,
43 Carol Street, London NW1
(nearest tube Camden Town).

Please note that there is NO parking near the centre.

If you're planning to come on 7 Aug and have never been arrested before or if you're intrigued but feel you lack the confidence or knowledge to take things further then this is the workshop for you. All welcome!

Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group.

For more info. e-mail massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm

Some questions, and a few dubious answers from the Government, were fortcoming on Thursday 14th July 2005, in the
Grand Committee report to the House of Lords about the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (Designated Area) Order 2005

The Home Office have now published, on an obscure part of their website, a Map of the Designated Area outlined in the Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1537 The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Area) Order 2005 within which Demonstrations, even by a single person in "any public place" are now restricted.

Section_132-7boundary.gif - click on this thumbnail for a larger version of the Map

Click on the Map image for a larger version.

The Guardian has a report that is of relevance to anyone planning a protest or demonstration in Parliament Square or the Designated Area.

Media lose hunt rally legal bid

Staff and agencies
Thursday July 14, 2005

News organisations today failed in their high court bid to overturn an order to hand over pictures of last year's pro-hunt rally in Parliament Square.

Guardian Newspapers, ITV, ITN, Associated Newspapers and Reuters challenged an earlier court order requiring them to hand over cine film, video tape, photographs and negatives of the demonstration.

The order was obtained in March by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is investigating allegations of police violence against demonstrators.

Media organisations were ordered to release all rally footage shot between 1pm and 7pm on September 15, 2004, whether or not it was transmitted or published.

Some organisations complied with the order but others did not."

Below is an example of an actual Application for prior permission to demonstrate within the Designated Area to inspire your own versions.

There is to be a Mass Act of Defiance For The Right To Protest, on Sunday 7th August, starting at 12 noon, in Parliament Square.

A full press release should be available this Friday.

There are calls for Madrid style mass demonstration of people to show solidarity with the victims of the horrible bomb attacks in London last Thursday, and to "stick two fingers up" to terrorism.e.g. another PledgeBank pledge ia gaining rapid support, and has increased its target number of sign ups, after the initial one was met in a single day:

http://www.pledgebank.com/solidarity

"I will at the earliest opportunity, assemble in London in a public demonstration of respect to the victims of the July 7 atrocity, defiance of the murderers who carried it out and solidarity with the people of London but only if 2500 other people will too."

It may be that such a demonstration will not enter the Designated Area, but it would have been traditional to do so, even if the rallying point is Trafalgar Square, or near Kings Cross where the majority of the bomb victims were killed or injured. The London Eye, which is used as the graphic for the pledge above, is within the Designated Area, for no good reason.

It is important to note that even people demonstrating in support of the Government and and the Police and Emergency Services etc. are also coverd by the Designated Area restrictions around Parliament Square, and the need for prior written notification has already had a chilling effect on spontaneous, peaceful, democratic demonstrations.

Most of the good people who are signing up to this pledge are not aware of the restrictions on demonstrations in the Designated Area, or the fact that the law applies to them as individuals and also as a group.

It is not just anti Government policy demonstrations which are affected by the disproportionate and draconian Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 legislation, everyone is affected, and this law must be changed.

Another open public meeting to discuss and plan peaceful resistance
to the restriction on demonstrations, lobbying of Members of Parliament (even by a single individual), without prior written permission and with arbitrary conditions imposed etc. "in the vicinity of Parliament", will be held next week:

"Organising Opposition to New Restrictions on Protest around Parliament

Public meeting,

7pm to 9.30pm, Wednesday 13th July,

Diorama Arts Centre (room D4), 3-7 Euston Centre, Regents Place, , just near the Euston Tower.

Nearest tubes: Warren Street, Euston Square.

Directions:
http://www.diorama-arts.org.uk/findus.htm

The meeting will discuss practical ways to oppose the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act which came into force on 1 July and to prevent the eviction of peace protestor Brian Haw who can be arrested under the new legislation from 2 August.

All welcome.

Thursday's terrible events in London are likely to have an impact on what we do so this new context will also be discussed.

For more info on the SOCP Act see http://www.parliamentprotest.org.uk/

Pledgebank is an idea to stimulate collective action, by showing people that they are not the first and only people to commit themselves to some worthy cause.

The pledge set up by Robin Grant from the perfect.co.uk blog is:

"I will apply for authorisation to demonstrate in the vicinity of Parliament every day for a month from 1st August 2005 but only if 50 other responsible citizens will too."

This particular pledge closes on 31st July, and has 30 out of the 50 signatories already.

To sign this pledge, either fill in the details at

http://www.pledgebank.com/ParliamentSquare

or send a mobile phone text message "pledge parliamentsquare" to 60022
(standard charges apply)

You can also print out posters and fliers advertising this pledge from

http://www.pledgebank.com/ParliamentSquare/flyers

The Stop the War Coalition is calling for some form of demonstration in Parliament Square on 1st August, starting at 2pm, in order to protest against the restrictions on demonstrations which come fully into force on that day.

It is not yet clear if prior written permission will be sought for this demonstration by the Stop the War Coalition:

Designated Area

| 1 Comment

The current Designated Area is set out in The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Area) Order 2005

"The provisions relating to the procedure for giving notice of a demonstration and obtaining an authorisation come into force on 1st July 2005. The remaining provisions will come into force on 1st August 2005."

Parliament Protest Web Button

Either save this image and link to us, or copy the HTML code below into your web page or template:

Peaceful resistance to the curtailment of our rights to Free Assembly and Free Speech in the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square and beyond

Click here for a larger version of this web campaign button graphic.

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Recent Comments

  • Stuart Holmes: With ref. To comment: SOCPA ss 132-138 law is still read more
  • Terence Buttle: From the tone of the reply I suspect that Keith read more
  • Peaceful Demonstrator: You can check to see that the Constitutional Reform and read more
  • Peaceful Demonstrator: SOCPA ss 132-138 law is still being used arbitrarily, as read more
  • aj: Brian Haw your a British legend and Britain needs more read more
  • Emma: I live in hope that your protest stops falling on read more
  • robbie hardy: Brian - Your the Hero who couldn't turn away... Your read more
  • thanks so much for being at the spot: I just read your peace on Brian Haw. I live read more
  • Keith: Is this the Alan Buttle now banned from demonstrating because read more
  • Terence Claude Buttle: Your photograph of Brian Haw has prompted me to use read more

Hints and Tips for Whistleblowers and Protest Organisers

The hints and tips below are just as important to anybody organising a peaceful Protest near to Parliament Square, as they are to other people who might come under UK Government or Multinational Corpotation:

Please take the appropriate precautions if you are planning to blow the whistle on shadowy and powerful people in Government or commerce, and their dubious policies. The mainstream media and bloggers also need to take simple precautions to help preserve the anonymity of their sources e.g. see Spy Blog's Hints and Tips for Whistleblowers - or use this easier to remember link: http://ht4w.co.uk

BlogSafer - wiki with multilingual guides to anonymous blogging

Digital Security & Privacy for Human Rights Defenders manual, by Irish NGO Frontline Defenders.

Everyone’s Guide to By-Passing Internet Censorship for Citizens Worldwide (.pdf - 31 pages), by the Citizenlab at the University of Toronto.

Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents - March 2008 version - (2.2 Mb - 80 pages .pdf) by Reporters Without Borders

Reporters Guide to Covering the Beijing Olympics by Human Rights Watch.

A Practical Security Handbook for Activists and Campaigns (v 2.6) (.doc - 62 pages), by experienced UK direct action political activists

Anonymous Blogging with Wordpress & Tor - useful step by step guide with software configuration screenshots by Ethan Zuckerman at Global Voices Advocacy. (updated March 10th 2009 with the latest Tor / Vidalia bundle details)

Convention on Modern Liberty - 28th Feb 2009

Convention on Modern Liberty - 28th Feb 2009
Convention on Modern Liberty - 28th Feb 2009

The Convention is being held in the Logan Hall and adjoining rooms at the Institute of Education in Bloomsbury, central London.

Address:

The Institute of Education
20 Bedford Way
London
WC1H 0AL

There are video linked screenings or other parallel meetings being held across the UK in Belfast. Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff and Manchester.

Convention on Modern Liberty blog

Campaign Button Links

NO2ID  Campaign
NO2ID - opposition to the Home Office's Compulsory Biometric ID Card and National Identity Register centralised database.

UK Public CCTV Surveillance Regulation Campaign
UK Public CCTV Surveillance Regulation Campaign

link to www.peopleincommon.org

People in Common - weekly Picnics etc. in Parliament Square, every Sunday at about 1pm.

Save Parliament: Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill (and other issues)
Save Parliament - Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill (and other issues)

cfoi_150.jpg
Campaign for the Freedom of Information

Please help us to find this man! He was arrested(?) in Parliament Square on 1st August 2005

This man was one of the very first people arrested in Parliament Square on 1st August 2005, but he has apparently disappeared.

link to SilentProtest.org.uk
Silent Protest - a web photo gallery "encouraging people to stage a virtual, government un-sanctioned protest. All you need to do is get a picture of yourself, or your friends, within the protest free zone. Assume the pose (hand over mouth), aim and click."

repeal-SOCPA-info_150.gif
. repeal-SOCPA.info - useful background briefings for the Managing Protest around Parliament public consultation, and model letters to MPs etc.

About this blog

This web blog has been set up as an information resource and discussion area (please be polite in the comments) to help organise resistance to the restrictions on peaceful democratic demonstrations and protests, which have been enacted by law, in a wide Designated Area around Parliament Square in London.

It appears that in order to remove the peace protestor Brian Haw, who had been demonstrating continuously in Parliament Square, day and night, for over 10 years,(literally until his death in June 2011), the NuLabour Government overreacted, and granted themselves draconian and arbitrary powers, which affected the rights of all individual British citizens to lobby their Members of Parliament, or to walk in a vast Designated Area wearing a "political slogan" T-shirt, badge, rubber wristband etc. without first seeking prior written permission from the Police.

This is an affront to democracy and is not justified even on any spurious "climate of fear" alleged "security" grounds.

N.B. SOCPA ss128-132 is now repealed and replaced with less restictive laws, but there are still some peculiar restrictions and bylaws on protests around Parliament Square.

Email Contact

Please feel free to email us your news, views or suggestions about this blog, and about the issues it highlights.

info @ParliamentProtest [dot] org [dot].uk

For those of you who want to send us information in confidence, here is our PGP Public Encryption Key

Syndicate this site (XML):

Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 was rushed through, "on the nod", with minimal debate, during the undemocratic "wash up" process at the end of the last Parliament when the General Election had been called.

The bulk of the Act deals with the setting up of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, but there are also sections such as:

Section 110 Powers of Arrest

From 1st January 2006 this section makes any offence, no matter how minor, into an arrestable offence. Arrests by the police these days can mean taking 10 fingerprints and two palm prints, a DNA tissue sample and processing it into a digital "DNA fingerprint", forcing you to remove any facial coverings, (even those worn for religous purposes) to take photographs of your face etc. All of these items of personal data can then be retained forever, even if you are not charged, or any charges against you are dropped, or if you go to court and are found not guilty.

These new powers are regulated by the new statutory Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Code of Practice G (.pdf)

Section 128 Trespass on a Designated Site - e.g. Crown Property or National Security

Sections 132 to 138 Demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament - the controversial restrictions in detail.

The Public Whip website has details of how the Members of the House of Commons voted on these controversial clauses.

Brian Haw

Veteran peace protestor Brian Haw was physically camped out in Parliament Square since 2nd June 2001 until his death in June 2011

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 sections 132 to 138 Designatd Area law seem to have been written to try to specifically suppress his protests, although, through sheer incompetence, the Government found that Brian Haw himself was initially exempt from some of it, since his protest started before the stupidly worded repressive legislation came into force, although a later High Court Appeal, at public exepnse, did apply the law to him.

See Parliament Square website for news and support details.

Write to politicians

Write To Them - identify and contact your local councillors, Members of Parliament, devolved Assembly members and Members of the European Parliament

You can also write to the Home Secretary David Blunkett Charles Clarke John Reid Jacqui Smith Alan Johnson Theresa May

You can send an email public.enquiries@ homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or a letter to:

Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP
Home Secretary
c/o Direct Communications Unit
Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF

Home Office Contact Us page

Designated Area

The current Designated Area is set out in:

Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1537 The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Area) Order 2005

Read more about the Designated Area in our category archive.

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 section 132 to 138 have been repealed by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 Part 3 on the Statute Book, but not yet Commenced by Order). This replaces the Designated Area with a much smaller Controlled Area - just Parliament Square Gardens and the surrounding pavements.

Mass Lone Demonstrations

Comedian Mark Thomas's website has details of Mass Lone Demonstrations which legally show up the absurdity of this law, and the bureaucracy involved in enforcing it. These multiple independent one person demonstrations take place on the third Wednesday of the month, from 5pm - 7.30pm within the Designated Area (often in Parliament Square, but not exclusively so)

Meet on the second Wednesday of each month outside Charing Cross police station (located at Agar Street, London, WC2N 4JP - see the map) any time between: 5.30 pm -7.30pm to hand in your Metropolitan Police SOCPA forms (download the optional Word or PDF forms from the Metroplitan Police) or your own personal Written Applications for Prior Permission.

Regular Protests in Parliament Square

Parliament Square - supporting the long running, 24/7, peace protest by Brian Haw in Parliament Square

Global Women's Strike who held "open mike" loudspeaker protests every Wednesday for over two and a half years, which are now banned.

London Critical Mass - group bicycle ride on the last Friday of every month, for the last 10 years, which often strays into the Designated Area.

The People's Commons Meeting / Tea Party / Picnic-Protest is now meeting every Sunday afternoon starting at 1 for 1.30pm on the Green in Parliament Square. wiki - new website PeopleInCommon.org

Website Links

Home Office - "Not fit for purpose. It is inadequate in terms of its scope, it is inadequate in terms of its information technology, leadership, management, systems and processes" - Home Secretary John Reid. 23rd May 2006.

Metropolitan Police Service

Metropolitan Police Authority - meant democratically to supervise the Metropolitan Police Service

Independent Police Complaints Commission

United Kingdom Parliament - Palace of Westminster, House of Lords, House of Commons etc.

Booking Parliament Square - Greater London Authority booking forms, terms and conditions for filming and photography for Parliament Square - "The GLA does not grant permission for demonstration, rallies and public meetings on Parliament Square Gardens".

They Work For You - a more user friendly version of the House of Commons Hansard

Pledgebank pledge:

"I will form part of a human chain around the Westminster no protest zone but only if 6,000 other people will join in."

Repeal-SOCPA-Info has useful briefing material for the Public Consultation into the laws restricting demonstrations, marches and assemblies, sample letters to MPs etc..

Blog Links

Spy Blog - Privacy and Security and Civil liberties campaigning

Mayor of London Blog - unnofficial comments on the Mayor of London and Greater London Assembly

Fuel Crisis Blog - Petrol at £1 per litre ! Protest !

Bloggerheads graphics of the 1km zone and the actual Designated Area

Charity Sweet - who has been harrassed for reading a copy of the Independent newspaper outside Downing Street etc.

BBC Travel Jam Cams

BBC Radio London has some links to Traffic Monitoring CCTV cameras, which they publish every 5 or 10 minutes, not usually in real time.

Whenever there is an "incident" or a march or demonstration, these online images are deliverately censored i.e. "not available for operational reasons", This is despite the images being of too low a resolution to identify anybody, and, the effect of not diverting traffic away from the incident, which should be the whole point of the online Traffic Cam images in the first place.

Whitehall / Parliament Square - this camera view sometimes shows Brian Haw's peace camp, and the "temporary" GLA fence around Parliament Square Gardens (removed >then rebuilt)

Northumberland Avenue / Victoria Embankment

Trafalgar Square (on the edge of the Designated Area)