Draft legislation published by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on the 20th April 2010 ostensibly to deal with the issue of contentious parades, will outlaw all public demonstrations, protests etc that have not given the police 37 days notice. So, trade unions, women’s groups, anti-racist groups, community organisations, political activists – any campaigners – can forget about calling emergency protests if this law goes through.
The notes attached to the Bill give as an example that “if a group wanted to protest against the closure of a local sports facility….the group’s activity would fall under the definition of a public meeting and would therefore be subject to the notification procedures for a public assembly”.
If the Bill becomes law, ALL gatherings involving 50 or more people, and which take place in any “public space” will be required to give 37 days prior notice. “Public space” is defined as “any road or footway or any other place, apart from a building to which the public or a section of the public has access”. This definition would include the grounds or entrances to workplaces, schools, hospitals, government and council offices etc.
It is no accident that this law is proposed now – major cuts in public spending are already underway. This will mean the loss of thousands of jobs, the closure of schools, hospital wards and day centres, cuts to the community and voluntary sector and to all kinds of services and the introduction of water charges. There will be a vital need to resist the cuts.
It seems pretty clear that this law is being brought in precisely in order to restrict the ability of trade unionists, community groups and campaigns to organise effective and spontaneous public demonstrations at very short notice. In giving notice of protests, the organisers would have to specify which trade unions or community groups would be taking part. Failure to do so could result in jail terms of up to six months for the organisers and any participants.
This law must be stopped and our right to protest protected. If it was passed, it would mean that the protests against the assault on Gaza in Jan 2009 could not have happened, that the protests against racist attacks, in support of the Visteon workers, would not have been legal. Once the election is over, People before Profit will be initiating a campaign to ensure that this Bill does not take away our civil liberties. In the meantime, you can download the draft document at http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/public-assemblies-parades-and-protests-in-northern-ireland-2.pdf