repeal-SOCPA.info has useful background briefings for the Managing Protest around Parliament public consultation, which closes this Thursday 17th January 2008.
There is a danger that this Labour Government could use this Public Consultation to "harmonise" the laws covering static demonstrations (of which the Designated Area around Parliament Square is a special case, with the Public Order laws which restrict processions and marches on the roads generally i.e. to inflict the wretched SOCPA restrictions everywhere else in England and Wales, or to apply Public Order restrictions to one person static demonstrations everywhere
Sections 132 to 138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 should be repealed and even the Designated / Protected site "criminal trespass" section 128 needs to be modified to exclude public areas within their perimeters e.g. Central Lobby or the Committee Rooms of the Palace of Westminster and Portcullis House, the public tourist areas of WIndsor Castle etc.
The recent amendment to SOCPA section 136 made by the Serious Crime Act 2007 should also be repealed - it seems to be aimed at suppressing websites like this Parliament Protest blog, which may give information about forthcoming protests, which may or may not be legal protests.
The Sessional Orders which rightly protect Parliament from interference through obstruction or intimidation of MPs and Peers, whilst Parliament is in session, should also be restricted, so that they cannot be abused to threaten to ban marches and demonstrations, in say, Trafalgar Square or Whitehall.
It is worth sending in even a short submission, expressing your views. by this Thursday.
See also the previous blog posting : Managing Protest Around Parliament" consulatation on SOCPA ss 132-138 Designated Area around Parliament Square.