header-logo header-logo

Book review: Charged: How the police try to suppress protest

12 May 2023 / Jon Robins
Issue: 8024 / Categories: Features , Criminal , Public
printer mail-detail
“The policing of protest has been conducted in a routinely violent way for more than four decades”
  • Authors: Matt Foot and Morag Livingstone
  • Publisher: Verso
  • ISBN: 9781839762499
  • RRP: £18.99


The government will always defend the right to protest,’ said Priti Patel to the virtual Conservative party conference in 2020. ‘That right is a fundamental pillar of our democracy, but the hooliganism and thuggery we have seen is not. It is indefensible.’ In other words, the previous home secretary would defend the right so long as it didn’t hold up the traffic or upset the law-abiding majority.

Her Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, described by Liberal Democrat peer and deputy assistant commissioner of the Met Police Brian Paddick as ‘draconian and anti-democratic’, is now on the statue books, enabling the police to impose start and finish times for protests, as well as maximum noise levels.

Policing by consent a myth?

Never has our supposedly cherished right to protest been under such attack. A timely book—Charged: How the police try to suppress

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ career profile: Liz McGrath KC

NLJ career profile: Liz McGrath KC

A good book, a glass of chilled Albarino, and being creative for pleasure help Liz McGrath balance the rigours of complex bundles and being Head of Chambers

Burges Salmon—Matthew Hancock-Jones

Burges Salmon—Matthew Hancock-Jones

Firm welcomes director in its financial services financial regulatory team

New Square Chambers—Alexander Farara

New Square Chambers—Alexander Farara

Chambers welcomes new member

NEWS

Law school partners with charity to give free assistance to litigants in need

Magic circle firms, in-house legal departments and litigation firms alike are embracing more flexible ways to manage surges of workloads, the success of Flex Legal has shown

Magic circle firms, in-house legal departments and litigation firms alike are embracing more flexible ways to manage surges of workloads, the success of Flex Legal has shown

Walkers and runners will take in some of London’s finest views at the 16th annual charity event

Law school partners with charity to give free assistance to litigants in need

back-to-top-scroll