"Cyclists to defy police in pedal power revolt Hugh Muir Friday October 7, 2005 The Guardian Up to a hundred cyclists will defy a police order and ride their bikes around Westminster to highlight new public order restrictions. Scotland Yard has been warned that the monthly Critical Mass bike ride will go ahead without police permission. After last month's ride, the Met warned cyclists the event will be illegal without six days' notice and permission. In a letter to the police Jenny Jones, a member of the Metropolitan police authority and road safety adviser to the mayor of London, said: "The police should be catching criminals, rather than making up stupid laws.""
In a letter to the police Jenny Jones, a member of the Metropolitan police authority and road safety adviser to the mayor of London, said: "The police should be catching criminals, rather than making up stupid laws.""
I thought it was MP's who made up the "stupid laws" and the police just enforced them but what do I know - she's the politician.
-- Tony
"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't" Anon
In a letter to the police Jenny Jones, a member of the Metropolitan police authority and road safety adviser to the mayor of London, said: "The police should be catching criminals, rather than making up stupid laws.""
If she wrote it then, well said.
Of course stupid laws are made in the rogues gallery at Westminster (amongst other places). However, some sections of the police are equally stupid in calling for these laws and trying to enforce them.
-- David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.
I thought it was MP's who made up the "stupid laws" and the police just enforced them but what do I know - she's the politician.
I suppose in effect they do, because to enforce the laws, they have to interpret them. I'm sure the law about demonstrations around Westminster was passed under the banner of anti-terrorism, but can be conveniantly turned-around for anti-democratic purposes, one man's democrat being another man's terrorist.
I'm sure the law about demonstrations around Westminster was passed under the banner of anti-terrorism, but can be conveniantly turned-around for anti-democratic purposes, one man's democrat being another man's terrorist.
IIRC the BBC reported that it was introduced with the intention of getting rid of the lone long-term protestor bloke who'd been camping outside for ages. The law failed completely as it only banned new protests. This does suggest the BBC made the whole thing up tho.
An anti-terrorism thing is an unlikely motivation, but does provide a really good excuse.
I thought it was MP's who made up the "stupid laws" and the police just enforced them but what do I know - she's the politician.
Quoted message said:
I suppose in effect they do, because to enforce the laws, they have to interpret them. I'm sure the law about demonstrations around Westminster was passed under the banner of anti-terrorism, but can be conveniantly turned-around for anti-democratic purposes, one man's democrat being another man's terrorist.
In the UK it is fairly well compartmentalised. So Parliament makes the laws, the Police collect evidence of contravention, the CPS decides whether that evidence is sufficient to bring a prosecution and the Courts decide whether the laws have been broken and what the penalty should be. In some cases, such as FPN's Parliament has provided a short cut option for the defendant.
-- Tony
"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't" Anon
In a letter to the police Jenny Jones, a member of the Metropolitan police authority and road safety adviser to the mayor of London, said: "The police should be catching criminals, rather than making up stupid laws.""
I thought it was MP's who made up the "stupid laws" and the police just enforced them but what do I know - she's the politician.
Apparently there is some reason to think the police are making up the details of the law in this case, rather than enforcing it as made up by MPs: http://www.velorution.biz/?p=968
In a letter to the police Jenny Jones, a member of the Metropolitan police authority and road safety adviser to the mayor of London, said: "The police should be catching criminals, rather than making up stupid laws.""
I thought it was MP's who made up the "stupid laws" and the police just enforced them but what do I know - she's the politician.
Apparently there is some reason to think the police are making up the details of the law in this case, rather than enforcing it as made up by MPs: http://www.velorution.biz/?p=968
The only people who can make up laws are Parliament and the only people who can say how the law should be interpreted are the Courts. There is no way that the Police can make up laws and succeed in prosecutions. Unless the Courts agree the Police are validly interpreting the law as it exists the case will get thrown out.
-- Tony
"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't" Anon
wafflycat wrote: > In a letter to the police Jenny Jones, a member of the Metropolitan > police authority and road safety adviser to the mayor of London, said: > "The police should be catching criminals, rather than making up stupid > laws."" I thought it was MP's who made up the "stupid laws" and the police just enforced them but what do I know - she's the politician.
Apparently there is some reason to think the police are making up the details of the law in this case, rather than enforcing it as made up by MPs: http://www.velorution.biz/?p=968
The only people who can make up laws are Parliament and the only people who can say how the law should be interpreted are the Courts. There is no way that the Police can make up laws and succeed in prosecutions.
Which rather supports Jenny Jones' suggestion that they shouldn't be doing it....
