Tim Ireland reminds us:
Wearing a poppy could get you arrested - find out more!
Despite multiple attempts by the police to rubbish my legal warning off the record or downplay it in the media, Mark Thomas pressed the matter and the police were forced to admit that if he wore a red nose without permission he could indeed be arrested for an having unauthorised demonstration.And what applies to red noses must equally apply to poppies; otherwise the police will be forced to admit that their role has become unacceptably politicised via poor legislation. Their job is to enforce the law as it stands, not to take great pains to interpret/enforce the law selectively in order to give one interest group priority over another.
My job as a responsible citizen is to inform you that it is currently illegal for you to wear a poppy or promote the 2007 Poppy Appeal in any way within the designated area surrounding Parliament if you do not first seek permission from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Simply wearing a poppy could result in a fine of £1,000.
Organising a Remembrance Day or Poppy Appeal event that takes place within the designated area could result in a fine of £2,500 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks.
No, this is not a joke. Far from it.