Image courtesy of Stefan Weil – support his work here This article is about general arrest powers at protests, not covid arrests. The covid regulations change regularly, and can be different in different areas. See Liberty’s article for more information on Step 1 rules which, as of 29 March 2021, apply to every area inContinue reading “Don’t Panic: What to expect if you are arrested at a protest”
Category Archives: Blog
Institutional Racism: what racial discrimination by the police looks like, and what to do about it
Image courtesy of Misan Harriman – 2020 Racial discrimination can be difficult to pin down as an individual. How do you know if a police officer is discriminating against you when they act in a certain way? You might be unsure whether they act this way towards everyone. If you do raise it, the officer might explicitlyContinue reading “Institutional Racism: what racial discrimination by the police looks like, and what to do about it”
Take notice: What are FPNs and how should you react to them?
Fixed penalty notices (FPNs) have become a common tool of the police during the coronavirus lockdown. As of the 21st September, 18,912 FPNs had been given out in England and Wales since the start of the lockdown (26th March). That’s roughly 106 a day. Unsurprisingly, records show that the police handed out FPNs to BAMEContinue reading “Take notice: What are FPNs and how should you react to them?”
Nothing new to say, and that’s the problem
At 1am on Wednesday 11 November, the Joint Committee on Human Rights tweeted out their newest report, entitled Black people, racism and human rights. Anyone expecting a new insightful take on the subject will be disappointed. But that was very much the point. The main conclusion of the report is exactly what Black organisations haveContinue reading “Nothing new to say, and that’s the problem”
Policing the police; what can you do when the police act unlawfully?
Image courtesy of Stefan Weil – support his work here The BPLS Legal Observers work hard to document police conduct at marches. However, the police often misuse their powers in all sorts of contexts and we can’t always be there. Here are some tips on how to hold the police to account. Whether you’re inContinue reading “Policing the police; what can you do when the police act unlawfully?”
Discrimination by design: The ramifications of of Facial Recognition Technology
Facial recognition is all around us. Many instinctively rely on logging in to their iPhones by glancing at the camera rather than trying to remember their pin, and some of us remain accustomed to walking through airport security without having to get our passports out. But the sinister ramifications of this technology are becoming moreContinue reading “Discrimination by design: The ramifications of of Facial Recognition Technology”
Understanding the Coronavirus Regulations while protesting
Image courtesy of Stefan Weil – support his work here The protest exemption has been re-instated in Steps 1 and 2 of the new Coronavirus Regulations. Read our advice about what to do if you are arrested here. The Coronavirus laws have caused confusion amongst the public, the police, and politicians alike. In March 2020,Continue reading “Understanding the Coronavirus Regulations while protesting”
Protesting Professionally: know your employment rights while you march
Image of a BLM protest courtesy of Stefan Weil – support his work here Peaceful protest is a vital part of political engagement in the UK. From the suffragists 50,000-woman march in 1913 to extinction rebellion street occupations in 2019, law-abiding citizens have shown their support for political ideals by peacefully congregating for centuries. InContinue reading “Protesting Professionally: know your employment rights while you march”
Under pressure? Everything you need to know about kettling
At almost 2am on the morning of 8th June, a police officer finally stepped aside to let Monique start the long walk home. She had been held by the police in the street for 6 hours. She had not been arrested, had not committed a crime, or even been accused of one. Monique was aContinue reading “Under pressure? Everything you need to know about kettling”
Stop-and-search: The ‘Sus laws’ live on
Photo by Dom J on Pexels.com In 1970s Brixton, black men and women felt victimised by the police. They were frequently stopped and searched in the street if an officer decided that they looked ‘suspicious’. This definition was kept vague under the ‘Sus laws’, and the police abused this power regularly. 40 years later, weContinue reading “Stop-and-search: The ‘Sus laws’ live on”