UK: Free Speech Zone and Patriot Act implemented

[jmatthan]

http://jmpolitics.blogspot.com/2005/09/uk-free-spech-zones-and-patriot-act.html

[dutchdemocrat]

1. It's going to be beaten back

Watch the video.

Brits won't stand for this kind of behaviour. Everyone apologised and the old fella' is now branded a hero and a symbol of free speech.

[neweurope]

2. He was barred from re-entering under the TERRORISM ACT.

That's the news here I think.

on edit: The law is in place. It's being used. The old gentleman was barred from re-entering the room "by police citing section 44 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act."

Never mind the apology to this particular gentleman. After all it was an important party conference and all the media were there, and the gentleman in question was 87 years old. The law is there, it can be used and it is being used. A terrorist law is being used because somebody shouts "nonsense". That chills me to the bone.

What are they going to do when the victim isn't a well known old gentleman - and the media aren't looking?

------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[dutchdemocrat]

3. They barred him

From re-entering the facility after he shouted using the Terrorism Act. Subtle difference. But chilling just the same.

The staff that threw him out handled it completely wrong and if you watch the video - you will see the brouhaha that came out of it all with apologies all around.

In some ways, I think it's actually good that this happened - especially with a WWII vet... attention is focussing on abuse of the law. If it was a ropey haired, dope-smoking kids from Brighton no body would give a shit.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

5. Am I the only one who thinks...

...he should have shouted "Is it cos I is old?!?" as he was being carted away?

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. It looks liek the Terrorism Act is used for "anything we want"

by the police. Here's what they said happened:

Police said: "Following a disturbance two people were escorted out by stewards, having been asked three times to be quiet.

"One man later returned to the access control points where, at the request of the Labour party, he was asked to wait. A member of the party spoke with him and his conference pass was removed."

A spokeswoman added: "The delegate asked the officer why he was being asked to confirm his personal details." She said the officer replied: "I am using powers under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act." She said Mr Wolfgang was not formally stopped or searched and the officer gave him a form because he had spoken to him.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16187074&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=heckler--82--gets-heroes-welcome-name_page.html

But section 44 is only about stopping and searching - nothing about personal details.

Section 43 says a police constable can stop and search someone he reasonably suspects of being a terrorist - fair enough, you may say. But section 44 says that a senior policeman can, for the purposes of prevention of terrorism, designate an area in which anyone can be stopped and searched (as 45.1(b) makes clear). Now, there's no mention of giving personal details in the Act, so the police have misused it anyway (as section 45 makes clear); but also, it's clear the police in Brighton have been told "you can stop anyone here, and just say it's under section 44". There's no restriction on the size of the area; if the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police declares the whole of London as the area, and the Home Secretary agrees, any policeman can stop and search anyone, without a reason, for the next 28 days.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. oohhhh this is gonna get fun in the UK

methinks Straw screwed the poodle on this one