Event Series: Protest Law - Then & Now

Concluding Garden Court’s ‘Protest Law: Then and Now’ series of webinars the four authors of The Protest Handbook (2nd ed. Bloomsbury 2020) will review the most recent case law and the shape of protest law moving into the future, including the draconian and terrifying proposals set out in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021 published on 9th March and the need for urgent action to prevent these becoming law.

Tom Wainwright (Garden Court), Anna Morris (Garden Court North), Owen Greenhall (Garden Court), Lochlinn Parker (ITN Solicitors) and Kevin Blowe (NETPOL) will discuss and analyse the impact of the important protest cases already decided, or due shortly, in 2021:

• R v Thacker (the Stansted 15) on prosecution policy and the defence of necessity;
• DPP v Ziegler on the offence of highway obstruction;
• DPP v Ditchfield on the defence of lawful excuse under the Criminal Damage Act 1971;
• Neale v DPP on obstructing a police officer in the execution of their duty.

As well as reviewing the new anti-protest Bill, they will also examine the effect on protest of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill and the risks to freedom of expression posed by the ongoing attacks on the Human Rights Act 1998.
 

Recording

Speakers

Tom Wainwright, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers 
Tom has appeared in some of the most high-profile cases of recent years including the Hatton Garden burglary, the 'Stansted 15’ protestors and representing the father of Jack Letts in his trial for funding terrorism. Tom has a particular interest and experience in Serious Fraud and Confiscation, Terrorism, Protest Cases and Criminal Appeals. He is regularly instructed as Leading Junior Counsel in serious high-profile cases of significant complexity and legal importance. 

As lead author on The Protest Handbook (2nd ed. Bloomsbury 2020), Tom specialises in upholding protestors' rights under Articles 8, 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and challenging the excessive or unlawful use of force by police officers. Tom's practice in this area includes high-profile cases such as the 'Rotherham 12', the 'Occupy Parliament' demonstrations, R v Caroline Lucas MP and R v Zac King and Alfie Meadows.

Owen Greenhall, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers 
Owen is a specialist in all aspects of the law relating to protest and freedom of expression and has extensive experience of litigation in this area. Owen acts in both criminal trials and civil claims relating to protests, including actions against the police and possession proceedings. Owen is co-author of The Protest Handbook (2nd ed. Bloomsbury 2020). Owen is also co-chair of the Netpol Lawyers Group a group of protest lawyers affiliated to the Network for Police Monitoring.

Anna Morris, Barrister, Garden Court North Chambers 
Anna specialises in inquests and inquiries, civil liberties and human rights and private and public law claims involving public authorities. Anna is recognised as a Leading Junior by Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 in all of her core practice areas. Anna acts for bereaved families and claimants in private and public law proceedings. Anna has a particular expertise in the law relating to policing protests, public order and deaths in custody and is often instructed in large scale, complex multi-agency cases. Anna is the Human Rights Editor of Stones’ Justices’ Manual (Lexis Nexis) and co-author of The Protest Handbook (2nd ed. Bloomsbury 2020).

Anna specialises in claims against the police and public authorities arising from political demonstrations and incursions on the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, violations of Articles 8, 10 and 11 ECHR. Anna has advised and litigated successful claims for individuals who are members of the Occupy Democracy, Critical Mass and Anti-Fracking movements.

Lochlinn Parker, Head of Civil Liberties, ITN Solicitors
Lochlinn has extensive expertise in taking legal action against the police and other detaining authorities, specifically relating to public order and protest. He works with organisations and individuals who are seeking accountability and compensation for wrongdoing, or who want to challenge the decisions of state bodies. He advises campaign groups and NGOs on the law and assists in devising legal strategies to further their aims. He is actively involved with campaigning organisations, including, in relation to the monitoring of police, with Netpol. Lochlinn is a member of the Police Action Lawyers Group, the Inquest Lawyers Group and the Haldane Society. He is a co-author of The Protest Handbook (2nd ed. Bloomsbury 2020).

Kevin Blowe, Network for Police Monitoring 
Kevin Blowe was the Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) coordinator from 2014 and became its Campaigns Coordinator in 2021 when Netpol's staff team expanded. He has been active in community-based police monitoring initiatives since 1990, was the secretary of the United Families and Friends Campaign from 1998 to 2009 and most recently worked for six years with anti-fracking groups to challenge the oppressive policing and surveillance targeting their protests. He is the co-author of "Restricting Rebellion", Netpol's report on the policing of Extinction Rebellion protests in London in 2019.

Event Series 

Part 1 - From Mangrove to Black Lives Matter Protests
5pm-6:30pm, Tuesday 26 January 2021

Part 2 - From Newbury to Extinction Rebellion
5pm-6:30pm, Tuesday 9 February 2021
 

Part 3 - From Stansted 15 to Jamaica 50
5pm-6:30pm, Tuesday 23 February 2021
 

Part 4 - From Then to NOW
5pm-6:30pm, Tuesday 16 March 2021
 

If you have already signed up for Part 1, 2 or 3 you will automatically receive joining details for Part 4.