Cabby John 1 wrote:
Over the years we have wanted as in London, and Leicester, to have a cab/car demonstration through the City. Unfortunately the police have limited us to something like a maximum of 20 vehicles, and escorted them through the City! As you can imagine a total waste of time from our point of view.
I got to thinking; "Human Rights".
Anyway I came across "Article 11" of the" Human Rights Act" and it seems to give each and everyone of us the right to peacefully demonstrate.
My question is this; Have the police exceeded their powers by stopping us as an "Association/Individuals" from exercising our "Human Rights"? To me it appears that they have denied us the aforementioned........Or have I read it wrong?
Freedom of association: Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. This is a right closely linked to the right to freedom of expression.
It provides a means for public expression and is one of the foundations of a democratic society.
The right applies to protest marches and demonstrations, press conferences, public and private meetings, counter-demonstrations, ‘sit-ins’, motionless protests etc.
The right only applies to peaceful gatherings and does not protect intentionally violent protest.
There may be interference with the right to protest if the authorities prevent a demonstration from going ahead; halt a demonstration; take steps in advance of a demonstration in order to disrupt it; and store personal information on people because of their involvement in a demonstration.
The right to peaceful assembly cannot be interfered with merely because there is disagreement with the views of the protesters or because it is likely to be inconvenient and cause a nuisance or there might be tension and heated exchange between opposing groups.
There is a positive obligation on the State to take reasonable steps to facilitate the right to freedom of assembly, and to protect participants in peaceful demonstrations from disruption by others.
https://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk ... ssociation