Lawyers for XR say the ban is a 'disproportionate and unprecedented curtailment of the right to free speech and free assembly'.
Lawyers for Extinction Rebellion (XR) have submitted are requesting a judicial review to challenge the Metropolitan Police’s decision to ban XR protests in London.
Politicians and campaigners including Caroline Lucas MP, Labour’s Clive Lewis MP, Baroness Jenny Jones, David Drew MP (Labour), Ellie Chowns MEP (Green), writer George Monbiot, and XR activist Adam Allnut will bring an action on behalf of Extinction Rebellion to challenge the police’s blanket ban on Extinction Rebellion protests. The Met order – issues on Monday – covers the whole of London for the rest of the week.
Lawyers for XR say the ban is a ‘disproportionate and unprecedented curtailment of the right to free speech and free assembly’.
The Public Order Act 1986 states that “[police] may impose conditions as appear necessary to prevent serious disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to life of the community”. It appears that the Met’s ban is grounded on the ‘serious disruption’ point.
But lawyers for Extinction Rebellion argue that the all-London ban is so broad that it threatens freedom of expression and assembly: “Any [protest rules]…imposed must be clear, precise and capable of being understood and applied by those to whom it is directed. They should leave no doubt as to what assemblies are no longer permissible & what are.”
They add: “[The ban] purports to apply to all assemblies ‘linked to’ the Extinction Rebellion ‘Autumn Uprising’, without clarifying what constitutes such a ‘link'”.
XR say the Met’s current protest ban means it is currently illegal for two Extinction Rebellion protesters to stand next to each other in the whole of London. “The condition imposed is wholly uncertain and irrational,” they note.
A full judicial review application seen by Left Foot Forward draws on a European Court ruling, which noted that: “Any measures interfering with freedom of assembly…other than in cases of incitement to violence or rejection of democratic principles…do a disservice to democracy and often even endanger it.”
The application argues that the Met ‘could and should have imposed lesser measures’ – short of a blanket ban – on the movement.
Phillippa Kaufmann QC (Matrix chambers) and Jude Bunting (Doughty Street Chambers) are understood to be representing Extinction Rebellion in the High Court.
Extinction Rebellion hopes that the High Court will quash the decision to implement the blanket ban tomorrow, stopping the criminalisation of protest against the climate and ecological emergency.
Labour’s Shadow Policing and Crime minister Louise Haigh called the ban “an attack on civil liberties”.
The applicants for the judicial review will find out later today whether a High Court judge will hold a hearing to consider it.
Josiah Mortimer is Editor of Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter.
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3 Responses to “Court documents submitted to challenge ‘blanket ban’ on Extinction Rebellion protests”
Court documents submitted to challenge ‘blanket ban’ on Extinction Rebellion protests - Politics Highlight - News from the Left and Right
[…] 16 October 2019Politics Highlight (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Lawyers for XR say the ban is a ‘disproportionate and unprecedented curtailment of the right to free speech and free assembly’. Author: Josiah Mortimer | Source […]
Dennis
I gasped when I heard a police officer on TV announcing the ban.
Together with Johnson previously disagreeing with a Supreme Court decision in parliament, I woder if we are heading for fascism and the firm smack of authority to curb dissent.
Tube and DLR disrupted by XR protests ahead of hearing | Left Foot Forward
[…] Baroness Jenny Jones, Caroline Lucas MP, Clive Lewis MP, David Drew MP, Ellie Chowns MEP, George Monbiot, and Adam Allnut are bringing the action on behalf of Extinction Rebellion. […]