George Thomas successfully defends Metropolitan Police’s plans for EDL march and counter-demonstration
9th September 2013
George Thomas successfully represented the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in judicial review proceedings challenging the decision to impose conditions on the proposed EDL march in Tower Hamlets on 7th September 2013. The decision was challenged simultaneously by the EDL, who argued that the conditions amounted to the police enforcing a “no-go zone” in Tower Hamlets, and the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, on the basis that it was irrational to impose conditions rather than an outright ban under s.13 of the Public Order Act 1986.
The Mayor’s challenge was withdrawn on the morning of the hearing. The EDL’s application for permission to seek judicial review was refused. King J found there was no evidence that the conditions the police were seeking to impose constituted a disproportionate interference in the EDL’s Article 10 and 11 rights. Both parties were ordered to pay the Commissioner’s costs of defending the proceedings.
The court proceedings are briefly reported at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23990854.
On Saturday the march proceeded without serious disorder, although 14 EDL members were arrested, and a large number of counter-protestors were arrested for failing to comply with conditions imposed under s.12 of the Public Order Act 1986.
George was instructed by Sarah Winfield from the Metropolitan Police Directorate of Legal Services.
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