Josie Appleton

Briefings • Football Fans Not Criminals

57 travel-restricting ‘bubble’ football matches

In the Manifesto Club report, Criminalising Football Fans, Peter Lloyd documented the heavy-handed use of travel restrictions for football fans, known as ‘bubble matches’. At these matches away-fans are banned from travelling by car or public transport, and can only travel by licensed coaches from specified pick-up points. This is a major inconvenience, and gross interference on the freedom of movement of the majority of law-abiding fans. In April 2012, Peter Lloyd found that there had been 48 ‘bubble’ matches. He now reports there have been seven ‘bubble’ matches since the publication of the report, and two matches are scheduled in the…

Free movement - visiting artists

Tell House of Lords about problems for international students

We’ve written before about the problem of final-year architecture students under threat of deportation. The House of Lords’ Science and Technology Committee has issued a call for evidence, on the effect of immigration rules on international students. The deadline is 20 February. Do contact them with any case studies. We are looking for other architecture students in the same position as Roxanne Walters – under threat of deportation in their final year. If this is you, do get in touch. Tweet

Blog • Freedom hotline

Security scare over a walking stick

This YouTube video shows a standoff between a British citizen and a police officer. The officer is concerned that the citizen’s walking stick is actually a ‘drinking stick’, filled with alcohol, and demands to search it. The citizen responds that he does not want it to be searched, explaining that if you unscrew the pin it will take ages to get back together. Cue surreal conversation. ‘It’s a walking stick’. Officer: ‘It’s not a drinking stick then?’ ‘I don’t drink’. Officer: ‘It’s unusual to see people walking along with objects like this. Sometimes they have a little dagger in it’. ‘I can…

Briefings • Photo bans

A Bill of Rights for Free Photography in the City

Photographers in the City of London face constant hassle from private security guards (see a film and blogpost on this here). The Manifesto Club’s Peter Lloyd approached City authorities, asking whether they planned to do anything about these over-officious private security guards. With the help of councilman Alex Deane, the City has responded by issuing a booklet for private security guards about the regulation of photography. This booklet emphasises that security personnel ‘do not have the right to stop individuals photographing or filming in a public place’. It also states that security personnel should ‘refrain from acting in an intimidating manner’; that…

Blog • Freedom hotline

Against the criminalisation of spitting

After Enfield Council passed a byelaw banning spitting, other local authorities have been queuing up to do the same. So far, Croydon, Doncaster, and Havering have said that they’ll seek to outlaw the habit. Hillingdon Council, meanwhile, has defined spitting as ‘litter’ and is fining offenders under littering powers. Spitting is often rude – occasionally, in cases of exercise or illness, it is necessary. But should it be criminal? The historic ban on spitting was related to the clear public health hazard of TB, which no longer exists. The objection against spitting is that it is ‘anti-social’. Which no doubt it is,…

Blog • ID checks

ID checks in Hackney bars for the Olympics

Hackney Council is advising clubs and bars to instill ID checks, in the run-up to the Olympics. Manifesto Club steering committee member Manick Govinda reports: “Last night Hoxton Bar and Kitchen refused to let me and a friend in because we didn’t have official ID documents. Apparently it is on the advice of Hackney Council, in the run-up to the Olympics, with the aim to keep out troublemakers. The bouncer was very nice and thought it was daft.” Josie Appleton comments: “The Olympics has become an easy justification for any authoritarian measure officials fancy carrying out. In July we are welcoming the…

Blog • Leafleting bans

Kilburn bans leafleting in time for the Olympics

Kilburn is following other councils in banning leafleting in time for the Olympics. Under these powers, people must buy a council licence if they want to hand out leaflets in public spaces. In other places where these rules have been enacted, they have had a disastrous effect on local groups, particularly grassroots arts organisations, who cannot afford the licence fee. Leafleting bans also represent an erosion of fundamental freedoms in public spaces. They mean that we can engage with each other only when we have official permission, and a badge on our shoulder. Read on: http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/brent_council_rubber_stamps_plans_to_licence_leafleting_in_the_borough_1_1358758 Manifesto Club Campaign Against Leafleting Bans:…

Blog • On-the-spot fines

Parking fine whilst giving blood

I just received this email from a lady whose husband was fined whilst giving blood. This was the first day of the introduction of parking fines on a Sunday, and he unknowingly fell foul of the rules while doing his good deed. “I was shocked that Derby City Council wouldn’t cancel my husband’s parking fine while he was in a centre donating blood. Even though the National Blood Service issued me with written proof to send to the council they wouldn’t refund the penalty. It was on the first day that parking fees were introduced on a Sunday. My husband has always…

Blog • On-the-spot fines

Acquittal of woman for cigarette butt fine

In a promising verdict, a court has acquitted a mother on the charge of dropping a cigarette butt. The fine was given out by the private company, XFOR, which is paid on commission by the council to fine people for littering offences. This pay-as-they-punish justice is liable to create over-hasty and erratic punishment. So this aquittal is promising and a sign that the courts can act as a check on unjust fines. As the mother put it, “They should get proof before they go accusing people.” Read on: http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/gwentnews/9714867.Ebbw_Vale_mum___s_relief_at_fag_end_verdict/?ref=nt

Free movement - visiting artists

Malaysian dancer deported from Heathrow – testimonial

Visual and physical theatre artist Anna Masing invited her friend, a dancer from Malaysia, to collaborate and participate in a performance which would contribute to Masing’s PhD study. The dancer Maryline Semba Mani was detained, treated with suspicion of being an “exotic dancer” and deported back to Malaysia. She was not being paid a fee for this engagement, as the relationship was based on a close friendship with Masing. She was not informed by the UK consulate about the new Permitted Paid Engagement visitor route. In fact, the consulate couldn’t see a problem about her coming to the UK as a tourist…