Let's read...

When I heard of some of these more ludicrous offenses and charges, I remembered that I had been here before in a fictional context. I once did a show called Not the Nine O'Clock News, some years ago, and we did a sketch where Griff Rhys-Jones played Constable Savage, a manifestly racist police officer to whom I, as his station commander, is giving a dressing down for arresting a black man on a whole string of ridiculous, trumped up and ludicrous charges. The charges for which Constable Savage arrested Mr. Winston Kodogo of 55 Mercer Road were these: 'Walking on the cracks in the pavement.' 'Walking in a loud shirt in a built-up area during the hours of darkness' and one of my favorites 'Walking around all over the place.' He was also arrested for 'Urinating in a public convenience' and 'Looking at me' in a funny way. Who would have thought that we would end up with a law that would allow life to imitate art so exactly.

Let's follow Rowan...

When I heard / of some of these / more ludicrous offenses / and charges, / I remembered that I had been here before / in a fictional context. // I once did a show / called Not the Nine O'Clock News, / some years ago, / and we did a sketch where / Griff Rhys-Jones / played Constable Savage, / a manifestly / racist / police officer / to whom I, as his station commander, / is giving a dressing down / for arresting a black man / on a whole string of ridiculous, / trumped up / and ludicrous charges. // The charges for which Constable Savage arrested Mr. Winston Kodogo of 55 Mercer Road were these: / 'Walking / on the cracks / in the pavement.' // 'Walking / in a loud shirt / in a built-up area / during the hours of darkness' / and one of my favorites / 'Walking around / all over the place.' // He was also arrested for 'Urinating / in a public convenience' / and / 'Looking at me' / in a funny way. // Who would have thought / that we would end up with a law that would allow life / to imitate art / so exactly. //

Let's read...

I read somewhere, a defender of the status quo claiming that the fact that the gay horse case was dropped after the arrested man refused to pay the fine and that the Scientology case was also dropped at some point during the court process was proof that the law was working well, ignoring the fact that the only reason these cases were dropped was because of the publicity that they had attracted. The Police sensed that ridicule was just around the corner and withdrew their actions. But what about the thousands of other cases that did not enjoy the oxygen of publicity? That weren't quite ludicrous enough to attract media attention? Even for those actions that were withdrawn, people were arrested, questioned, taken to court and then released. That isn't a law working properly: that is censoriousness of the most intimidating kind, guaranteed to have, as Lord Dear says, a 'chilling effect' on free expression and free protest. Parliament's Joint committee on Human Rights summarized, as you may know, this whole issue very well by saying 'While arresting a protestor for using threatening or abusive speech may, depending on the circumstances, be a proportionate response, we do not think that language or behavior that is merely insulting should ever be criminalized in this way.'

Let's follow Rowan...

I read somewhere, / a defender of the status quo claiming that the fact / that the gay horse case / was dropped / after / the arrested man refused to pay the fine / and that the Scientology case / was also dropped / at some point / during the court process / was proof / that the law / was working well, / ignoring / the fact / that the only reason / these cases were dropped / was because of the publicity / that they had attracted. // The Police sensed / that ridicule / was just around the corner / and withdrew / their actions. // But what about / the thousands / of other cases / that did not / enjoy the oxygen / of publicity? // That weren't quite ludicrous enough / to attract media attention? // Even for those actions / that were withdrawn, / people were arrested, / questioned, / taken to court / and then released. // That isn't a law / working properly: / that is censoriousness / of the most intimidating kind, / guaranteed to have, / as Lord Dear says, / a 'chilling effect' / on free expression / and free protest. // Parliament's / Joint committee on Human Rights / summarized, as you may know, this whole issue very well / by saying / 'While arresting a protestor for using threatening / or abusive speech may, / depending on the circumstances, / be a proportionate response, / we do not think / that language or behavior / that is merely insulting / should ever be criminalized in this way.' //