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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 1:41 am
Time: 1:41 am
Results for protests
6 results foundAuthor: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary Title: Adapting to Protest Summary: The 1st April 2009 was a unique day for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the policing operation that surrounded the G20 summit was highly effective in significant respects. However, tragic events on the day led to a focus on the police approach to protest, notably the use of containment and the manner in which force was used by police. The death of Ian Tomlinson and other individual complaints are being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). This review, conducted at the request of the Commissioner of the MPS, concerns the policing methods used on the day. There are lessons to be learnt and issues that merit early consideration for the policing of future public order events during the remainder of the summer. The report made a number of immediate recommendations, including that police: Facilitate peaceful protest; Improve dialogue with protest groups where possible; Improve communication with the public; Moderate impact of containment when used; Improve training to equip officers to deal with the full spectrum of protest activity; and Wear clear identification at all times. Details: London: HMIC, 2009. 107p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 115828 Keywords: Crowd ControlPolicingProtestsRiots |
Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary Title: A review of national police units which provide intelligence on criminality associated with protest Summary: In 2010, revelations about the activities of Mark Kennedy, a police officer working undercover for the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), led to the collapse of the trial of six people accused of planning to shut down a large power station in Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire. Later that month, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) announced a review of the systems used by the NPOIU to authorise and control the development of intelligence. This report outlines our findings and recommendations. The NPOIU was created in 1999 as part of the Police Service's response to campaigns and public protest that generate violence and disruption. Located within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), it was funded by the Home Office to reduce criminality and disorder from domestic extremism and to support forces managing strategic public order issues. The unit gathered and coordinated intelligence that enabled the police to protect the public by preventing crime and disruption. HMIC has reviewed: the supervision of undercover officers deployed by the NPOIU; the activities and supervision of Mark Kennedy specifically; the issues of management and supervision that arise from the case of Mark Kennedy, and how these might be strengthened; the ACPO definition of "domestic extremism"; the history, remit and governance of the NPOIU; and links between the NPOIU and the MPS Special Demonstration Squad (SDS). This report considers undercover police tactics when used to develop intelligence, rather than to obtain material specifically for a criminal prosecution. Conclusions and recommendations are made with regard to the level of intrusion into people's lives; the use of these tactics to tackle domestic extremism as well as to inform public order policing; and the extent to which the risks inherent to undercover deployments are justified and controlled. Details: London: HMIC, 2012. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 13, 2012 at http://www.hmic.gov.uk/media/review-of-national-police-units-which-provide-intelligence-on-criminality-associated-with-protest-20120202.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/media/review-of-national-police-units-which-provide-intelligence-on-criminality-associated-with-protest-20120202.pdf Shelf Number: 124501 Keywords: Domestic Terrorism (U.K.)Intelligence GatheringPolice OperationsPolicing (U.K.)ProtestsPublic Order Management (U.K.)Violent Extremism (U.K.) |
Author: Frazier Group, LLC Title: Independent Investigation Occupy Oakland Response October 25, 2011 Summary: On October 10, 2011, a group identifying itself as Occupy Oakland set up an encampment in front of Oakland City Hall in Frank Ogawa Plaza Park (FOP Park). The group erected approximately 147 tents, kitchen and restroom facilities, child care areas, posted dozens of banners, and claimed the park as their own. At that time, the City of Oakland sought to accommodate the group in the exercise of their First Amendment rights of expression. However, as time progressed, there were legitimate concerns - mostly supported by evidence - on behalf of city officials for the health, safety and welfare of people in the FOP Park, city employees, and community members. One official who had detailed knowledge of devolving conditions stated "The totality of circumstances was untenable." In short, these concerns included but were not limited to: Health and Welfare - trash and debris were excessive, human and animal waste was observed in excavated holes and buckets, portable bathrooms were too few and un-serviced, rodents were populating the Park, and food preparation and provision were occurring in unsanitary conditions. Safety - illegal and non-permitted electrical hookups were made and structures indicating permanence were erected. Fire inspectors voiced concerns regarding the presence of propane tanks, open-flame cooking, plus cooking and smoking inside tents. A victim who fell from a structure was carried away from the Park for treatment because occupants would not allow fire/medical personnel access. Police officers who attempted to walk through the Park were confronted and told to leave. Attitudes graduated toward aggression and violence. City employees3 were complaining about harassment and concerns for their personal safety. Media reported that a teacher who had occupied the camp was attacked and choked, and a reporter was attacked by a dog and then confronted and told to leave. There were concerns about an alleged sexual assault within the Park, a homeless individual who was beaten with a board, and obvious use of drugs and alcohol. Individuals in the Park felt threatened when they were confronted by groups and told to not communicate with government officials. One government official who attempted to liaison with members of Occupy during a march was told by the marchers he was lucky they did not beat him or spit on him. During the later afternoon hours, the population of the Park increased to the degree where clustering was problematic, tempers flared, arguments ensued, and people within the Park had to intervene to prevent escalation. An effort to identify leadership of Occupy, and then establish a working, collaborative relationship between Occupy and City officials, was a priority of the City from the very early stages of the movement in the Park. A city representative feels that Occupy never allowed this relationship to develop, and in fact Occupy members ensured that it deteriorated over time. City of Oakland Officials became increasingly concerned about conditions within the encampment, and the OPD was directed to develop an eviction plan. On October 25, 2011 beginning at approximately 5:00 AM, 392 OPD and 202 mutual aid personnel responded to 14th and Broadway Streets. Their purpose was execution of the OPD plan to evict the Occupy movement from both FOP Park and from Snow Park. In the early evening, Occupy Oakland clashed with the Oakland Police Department resulting in controversial uses of force, including an incident involving a protestor who was critically injured by a police officer after allegedly being struck in the head by a specialty impact munition and/or a tear gas canister. The Aftermath of October 25th In the wake of these events, serious concerns were raised by both City Officials and by the community at large concerning use of unnecessary force, overall police performance, and OPD’s ability to manage future events in an acceptable manner. The ability of OPD to effectively and impartially investigate the widely reported allegations of police use of force and other misconduct was also questioned. In response to this need for an impartial review of the events of October 25th, the City of Oakland contracted Frazier Group, LLC on December 19, 2011. We are pleased to present the following report, completed under the terms of this contract. Details: Oakland, CA: Frazier Group, 2012. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 28, 2012 at www2.oaklandnet.com/w/OAK036236 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 125370 Keywords: Crowd ControlDisorderly ConductProtestsPublic DisorderRiots and Disorders (California) |
Author: Gilmore, Joanna Title: Report on the Policing of the Barton Moss Community Protection Camp: November 2013 - April 2014 Summary: In a collaboration between the University of York's Centre for Urban Research (CURB) and LJMU's Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion (CCSE), researchers investigated the policing of Barton Moss Community Protection Camp in Salford, Greater Manchester. From November 2013 to April 2014, the camp promoted a campaign of peaceful protest to raise awareness of the potential environmental dangers of exploratory hydraulic fracturing (fracking) taking place in the area. Protest activities included 'slow walking' in front of vehicles accessing the site and other forms of non-violent direct action, as well as rallies, hosting music events, and family days. Amid conflicting media accounts of violence attributed to both protestors and Greater Manchester Police (GMP), researchers at York and LJMU made a series of visits to the camp, conducted interviews with camp residents and analysed figures from ongoing criminal justice cases of those arrested. The research aimed to provide a rare insight into the experiences of anti-fracking protesters. The report is grounded in the experiences of camp residents and supporters, and the researchers concluded that independence from GMP in this research was essential to their gaining access to the camp and the lawyers involved in the ongoing cases. Documenting concerns about the nature, function and proportionality of the policing operation at the camp, and the deployment of policing methods, the peer-reviewed report provides a range of findings and recommendations. These include: - The protest at Barton Moss was overwhelmingly peaceful and non-violent - The nature and scale of the policing operation was found to be disproportionate to the activities of the camp. Policing tactics had the effect of undermining the rights of those protesting peacefully, meaning GMP failed in their obligation to facilitate peaceful protest as stated by the European Convention on Human Rights. - GMP officers - from planning stages to conclusion - prioritised the commercial interests of the fracking company over the right of local residents and supporters to exercise their right to protest - The communication strategy of GMP focused primarily on justifying the policing operation and questioning the legitimacy of the protest rather than providing the public with clear information about the protest and policing operation. - The overwhelming majority (98 percent) of arrests made at Barton Moss were for non-violent offences. These figures cast doubt on the legitimacy of GMP's characterisation of the protest in public statements made during the policing operation. - Two thirds (66 percent) of arrested protesters have had their cases dropped, dismissed or been found not guilty by the courts. This conviction rate is significantly lower than that occurring within the criminal justice system as a whole. - Police bail powers were routinely abused in order to restrict the right to protest - Overall, the cumulative impact of these processes showcases the routine abuse of police powers at the expense of protesters' civil liberties Details: Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion, Liverpool John Moores University Centre for URBan Research (CURB), University of York, 2016. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2016 at: https://curbyork.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/bm_final_170216_email.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://curbyork.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/bm_final_170216_email.pdf Shelf Number: 138244 Keywords: Crowd ControlOffenses Against the EnvironmentProtestsPublic DisorderPublic Order Management |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: Deepening the Culture of Fear: The Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Malayasia Summary: Malaysia's use of criminal laws to arrest, question, and prosecute individuals for peaceful speech and assembly has deepened in the year since Human Rights Watch published Creating a Culture of Fear: The Criminalization of Expression in Malaysia in October 2015. The Malaysian authorities have moved forward with the prosecutions of many of those featured in that report, and continue to use the overly broad and vaguely worded criminal laws identified there to harass, arrest, and prosecute those critical of the government or of members of Malaysia's royal families. The Sedition Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) remain the laws most frequently used against critical speech in Malaysia. Those criticizing the administration of Prime Minister Najib Razak or commenting on the government's handling of a major corruption scandal have been particular targets. The long-running corruption scandal involving the government-owned investment fund 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) has prompted calls from politicians, civil society activists, and commentators for Prime Minster Najib to resign from office. Rather than treating such statements as part of normal give-and-take in a democratic society, the Malaysian authorities have treated such speech as criminal, investigating those involved for sedition, "activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy," and violations of the Communications and Multimedia Act. Similarly, the government has pursued those making comments on social media deemed "insulting" to Najib or members of royal families with criminal investigations and charges under the Sedition Act, the Communications and Multimedia Act, and provisions of the penal code. The government has also continued to prosecute individuals for exercising their right to peaceful assembly under Malaysia's overly restrictive Peaceful Assembly Act, and has used the Official Secrets Act to shield reports on the 1MDB scandal from public view. Rather than amending the laws to bring them into line with international legal standards, as recommended in Human Rights Watch's 2015 report, the Malaysian government has moved in the opposite direction by suggesting it would strengthen some of the rights-offending laws, particularly those that can be used against speech on social media. Human Rights Watch reiterates its call for the Malaysian government to cease using criminal laws against peaceful speech and assembly, and to bring its laws and policies into line with international human rights law and standards for the protection of freedom of expression and assembly. Details: New York: HRW, 2016. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2016 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/malaysia1016_web_0.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Malaysia URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/malaysia1016_web_0.pdf Shelf Number: 145088 Keywords: Freedom of ExpressionFreedom of SpeechHuman Rights AbusesProtests |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: Two Authorities, One Way, Zero Dissent: Arbitrary Arrest and Torture Under the Palestinian Authority and Hamas Summary: In the 25 years since the Oslo Accords gave Palestinians a degree of self-rule over parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their right to peacefully protest and criticize their own authorities has been met with routine repression. Both the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza have carried out scores of arbitrary arrests in recent years of journalists, demonstrators, student activists, and social media commentators, often targeting supporters of one another as the Fatah-Hamas feud deepened. Relying primarily on overly broad laws that criminalize activity such as insulting "higher authorities," causing "sectarian strife," or "harming revolutionary unity," both authorities use detention to punish dissidents and to deter them and others from further activism. Security forces in both the West Bank and Gaza routinely use torture, including by forcing detainees into painful stress positions for hours at a time, including with men who never face trial or serve sentences and are released in a matter of days. This report, based on an investigation of 86 cases of alleged abuse, documents how these systematic abuses are in contravention to legal obligations imposed through Palestine's accession to major international human rights treaties since 2014. Effective impunity for serious abuse is the norm, even though the security apparatuses have in place mechanisms to receive citizen complaints of abuse and investigate them. Human Rights Watch urges the respective foreign powers that provide support to PA and Hamas security forces to suspend assistance to those agencies implicated in widespread arbitrary arrests and torture until authorities curb those practices and hold perpetrators accountable. Details: New York: HRW, 2018. 159p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed Dec. 6, 2018 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/palestine1018_web4.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Palestine URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/palestine1018_web4.pdf Shelf Number: 153931 Keywords: Arrests Human Rights Abuses ProtestsTorture |