Category Archives: Diary

POLICING Offences under current emergency legislation were only one of the reasons the Metropolitan Police relied upon to arrest 86 people across the Black Lives Matter demonstrations over the weekend, although it remains unclear why a small number were detained for participating in gatherings of more than six people when there were thousands who wereContinue reading “8 – 9 June Update”

POLICING Large Black Live Matters demonstrations around the country, challenging the lockdown rules’ ban on large gatherings. There was a significant difference in approach by the police in different areas, with on Avon and Somerset Police deciding not to intervene when the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was toppled and thrown into the harbour,Continue reading “5 – 7 June Update”

POLICING Solicitors from Hodge Jones and Allen have written to the Metropolitan Police, on behalf of Netpol, London Black Live Matters, UK Student Climate Network and Extinction Rebellion, to express their concerns about the policing of protests under the coronavirus regulations. The letter argues that in particular, the use of Regulation 7 fails to provideContinue reading “3 – 4 June Update”

POLICING Disproportionate numbers of ethnic minority groups in London were fined for alleged breaches of lockdown, figures of the Metropolitan Police show: 48.6% were issued to Black & Asian individuals. Between March 27 and May 14, 26% of fines (253) were issued to black people, who make up 12% of the capital’s population. Asian peopleContinue reading “1 – 2 June Update”

POLICING In defiance of restrictions on protests, this weekend saw people gather in London and Cardiff in solidarity over the death of George Floyd in police custody in the US. In London, it was reported that most of the people arrested were for breaches of regulation 7 of the coronavirus regulations. It is unclear howContinue reading “30 – 31 May Update”

Dominic Cummings may have broken lockdown rules when he made a 50-mile journey to Barnard Castle, an investigation by Durham Police has concluded, adding that it would not be taking any further action. It’s worth remembering that Durham Police has issued a number of fines to others for travelling during the lockdown. On the questionContinue reading “28 – 29 May Update”

POLICING The anger over the actions of the Prime Minister’s chief advisor Dominic Cummings has not subsided. West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, has claimed to have received intelligence that people are using Cumming’s controversial actions as an excuse for alleged breaches of lockdown regulations. The BBC has managed to obtain details fromContinue reading “26-27 May Update”

POLICING The bank holiday weekend has been dominated by the news that Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister’s chief advisor, took at least one 270-mile round trip from London to his parents’ home in Durham while suspected of having the coronavirus, in contravention of strict rules in operation at the time that said no travel wasContinue reading “23-25 May Update”

POLICING Big Brother Watch has written a letter (PDF) to the National Police Chiefs Council to make the case for an urgent review of all 14,000 police fines issued under coronavirus emergency powers. Other signatories include Netpol, Kirsty Brimelow QC, Jules Carey from Bindmans, INQUEST, StopWatch, Fair Trials, Liberty and the Police Action Lawyers Group.Continue reading “21-22 May Update”

POLICING The Metropolitan Police has been criticised for stop and search during the lockdown, with figures showing an increase in the tactic during April. Police say additional resources have been placed into proactive patrols. Ria Chatterjee from ITV spoke to Sayce Holmes-Lewis, a youth worker who was targeted last week. He has since been raisingContinue reading “18 – 20 May Update”