New police powers

Written by Tim Worstall
Saturday, 25 August 2007
Alerted by Gary Marshall I find that the police now have new powers, as of Tuesday. Under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 they are now able to ban anyone from anywhere. Really: if you "represent a risk of disorder" you can be issued with a notice by any uniformed constable, the terms of which are that you must leave, possibly by a prescribed route, and not return to the area for up to 48 hours. The penalty for disobeying this is a fine of up to £ 2,500. Now we know what is meant by this: those who either fired up on alcohol (for it refers to alcohol related disorder) or the worse for wear are to be got out of an area until they calm down or sober up. But it's an absurdly broad provision (and I can see no reference to any system of being able to appeal against such a direction) for the test is "likely...to cause or contribute to" such alcohol related disorder. So you're banned from an area simply because, in the opinion of one policeman, you might, ooh, just as an example, be found to be black near where the BNP is having a drink? Of course, that's not what was intended, nor what will happen at first: but who is willing to bet their continued liberty to walk down the street, innocent of any offence, on that always being true? It's actually even wider than that : (8) In this section “public place” means— (a) a highway; or (b) any place to which at the material time the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission; and for this purpose “place” includes a place on a means of transport. So when you have the neighbourhood barbie, or the Christmas drinks for the people in your street, the police now have the power to ban anyone they like from your garden or house. Even if you have given them express permission to enter. How did we get here? Bookmark Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment This content has been locked. You can no longer post any comment. Powered by Azrul's Jom Comment for Joomla!