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December 17, 2007Anti-Christmas carols: we have a verdict from the police
Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 makes it illegal to demonstrate anywhere near Parliament without official police permission. Under this act, it is an offence to organise or take part in a demonstration within the 'designated area' (up to 1 km around Parliament) if authorisation has not been applied for and granted by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Unless of course you believe in Santa Claus, in which case an exception will probably be made.
In 2005, I organised and staged a pro-Christmas demonstration in the form of a carol service in Parliament Square.
Traditional songs were sung in support of varying aspects of Christmas, a minute's silence was held, and money was collected for Medical Aid for Iraqi Children.
No singers were arrested. In fact, Police said they treated it as a carol service, not a demonstration:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4545704.stm
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article334675.ece
The event was repeated in 2006 and again the Police chose not to classify the event as a demonstration.
It also needs to be noted that - in cases where permission is applied for and Police do not regard a proposed event to be a demonstration - they will issue a statement to the applicant saying so instead of approving the application.
Following an epiphany inside the main lobby of Parliament, this year I decided that the time had come to take a stand against Christmas.
On 12 December 2007, I submitted an application to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner for a carol service that would be exactly the same as previous events, with one primary difference; carols would be sung condemning varying aspects of Christmas, instead of supporting them.
On 17 December 2007, notice was given that this application was approved.
In other words, staging an event in support of Christmas is legal within a designated area without police permission, and staging an event against Christmas is not.
The implications of this should be clear. Press releases just went out. Cheers all.
UPDATE - The full press release appears below the fold. For those who haven't worked out the obvious implications yet (well done, Parliament Protest) the police are guilty of religious discrimination.
18.02.2007
PRESS RELEASE
Anti-Christmas demonstrators claim discrimination
SUMMARY
You don't need police permission to sing carols in support of Christmas near Parliament, but you do need police permission to sing carols against it.
WEBSITE
http://www.bloggerheads.com/carols/
DETAILS
Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 makes it illegal to demonstrate anywhere near Parliament without official police permission. Under this act, it is an offence to organise or take part in a demonstration within the 'designated area' (up to 1 km around Parliament) if authorisation has not been applied for and granted by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Unless of course you believe in Santa Claus, in which case an exception will probably be made.
In 2005, Tim Ireland organised and staged a pro-Christmas demonstration in the form of a carol service in Parliament Square.
Traditional songs were sung in support of varying aspects of Christmas, a minute's silence was held, and money was collected for Medical Aid for Iraqi Children.
No singers were arrested. In fact, Police said they treated it as a carol service, not a demonstration:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4545704.stm
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article334675.ece
The event was repeated in 2006 and again the Police chose not to classify the event as a demonstration.
It also needs to be noted that - in cases where permission is applied for and Police do not regard a proposed event to be a demonstration - they will issue a statement to the applicant saying so instead of approving the application.
Following an epiphany inside the main lobby of Parliament, Tim Ireland decided that the time had come to take a stand against Christmas.
On 12 December 2007, he submitted an application to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner for a carol service that would be exactly the same as previous events, with one primary difference; carols would be sung condemning varying aspects of Christmas, instead of supporting them.
On 17 December 2007, notice was given that this application was approved.
In other words, staging an event in support of Christmas is legal within a designated area without police permission, and staging an event against Christmas is not.
This is a clear case of discrimination, likely to be in contravention of the Human Rights Act and the Equality Act.
Tim Ireland said; "Speaking as one of many who have seen the argument from both sides of the pole, I find it appalling that someone who does believe in Santa Claus should be given preferential treatment over someone who does not. In fact, I'd like to take this opportunity to ask Gordon Brown what the official government policy is on Santa Claus; is it their position that he exists, that he doesn't exist, or that this is a matter that should be the business of the individual and not the state?"
Sadly, Santa Claus is only the tip of the iceberg. Some people who reject Christmas do so because they do not believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and see no reason to celebrate that birthday. Others will object to Christmas because they reject the notion of an all-powerful deity altogether.
There are also many devout Christians who reject Christmas on the basis of commercial, secular or pagan influences:
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-religiontoday1214dec14,0,2910292.story
There are even some pagans who object to Christmas on the grounds that many aspects of their winter festivities have been 'hijacked' by the Christian church:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/for_christmas/_new_year/pagan_christmas/37276.stm
All of these people suffer from discrimination, not only at the hands of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, but also from certain tabloid newspapers that are positively rabid in their defence of Christmas.
Someone should probably stage a demonstration about that... but they'll need police permission first.
EVENT SPECIFICS
The anti-Christmas carol service will take place at the base of the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square at 6:30pm on Thursday 20 December 2007
Song sheets and candles will be made available, with donations going to Medical Aid for Iraqi Children
Those attending should dress warm, and bring a bell, whistle, or other form of non-electronic noisemaker for the minute of noise (which will replace the traditional minute of silence).
CAROL EXCERPTS
The following are excerpts from our song-sheet, a full version of which is available for download until the afternoon of 19 Dec in exchange for a £2 donation (again, with all proceeds going to Medical Aid for Iraqi Children):
http://www.bloggerheads.com/carols/
Bah, Humbug!
(to the tune of 'Jingle Bells')
Ebenezer Scrooge
Wasn't all that dumb
Until he met the Ghost
Of Christmas Yet to Come
Then he lost the plot, and woke up with a scream
Then foolishly made life decisions based upon a dream!
Oh, bah-humbug, bah-humbug
Bah-humbug, I say
We are demonstrating here
Protesting Christmas Day
-
God Rest Ye, Jobsworth Gentlemen
A Santa Claus who asks a child
To sit upon his knee
Might likely be a paedophile
Or threat to elf safety
So issue now the order
That he cease and leave them be
O warnings of health and safety
Health and safety
O warnings of health and safety
-
The Twelve Days of *Hic*-mas
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
Four shots of gin
Three cigarettes
Two pints of beer
And a breath test on the M3
-
Santa Claus is Coming to Town!
Oh! You better watch out,
You better not plot,
You better suppress bad thoughts that you've got
Santa Claus is coming to town!
He's making a list,
Misplacing it twice,
And now you can buy that list at a price
Santa Claus is coming to town!
CONTACTS
Please contact Tim Ireland via tim AT bloggerheads DOT com if you have any queries regarding this story.
ENDS
Posted by Manic on December 17, 2007 11:51 PM in the category The War on Stupid
Pings (Trackback)
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Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Anti-Christmas carols: we have a verdict from the police:
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Comments
Priceless :)
Wish I could be there - unfortunately picking up my better half from the airport at silly o'clock the next morning, and a jaunt down to London the night before is asking for trouble. I hope it goes well, and much fun is had by all - the carols look great!
I wonder how they vet these things. Some blokes sitting in the canteen asking 'eh, does this sound like a protest to you Bob?'. Does it matter more what you're doing than why you're doing it? What if I sing christmas carols as an anti-war-on-christmas protest?
Posted by: Jherad at December 18, 2007 9:40 AM
Singing carols to demonstrate against anything other than Christmas would be a different matter altogether. The nearest we'll come is with 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'...
http://www.bloggerheads.com/archives/2007/12/you_better_watch_out.asp
... but there we only draw subtle parallels between that character's love of data collection and the government's - and the focus is clearly on Claus.
It certainly matters what you're demonstrating about (and how much that demonstration and/or your arrest is likely to embarrass the government) as this post proves:
http://www.bloggerheads.com/archives/2006/01/sergeant_tim_nu.asp
There also appears to be some confusion at the Met; they keep using the word 'protest' (thinking generally 'if you are against x') when the relevant section of SOCPA only ever refers to *demonstrations*:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2005/ukpga_20050015_en_12#pt4-pb3
Sorry you won't be able to make it.
Posted by: Manic at December 18, 2007 9:53 AM
Hmmm... interesting...
BTW it looks like I will be able to make it after all
Posted by: D-Notice at December 18, 2007 8:01 PM
It's another Festivus miracle!
:o)
Looking forward to seeing you.
Posted by: Manic at December 18, 2007 8:08 PM
Sorry I missed it.
I have a stinky cold and can't breathe through my nose.
Hope you had fun.
Posted by: Rachel North London at December 21, 2007 1:31 PM
We did have fun, thanks:
http://www.bloggerheads.com/archives/2007/12/decrease_the_su.asp
You were missed. Hope you feel better soon.
Posted by: Manic at December 21, 2007 1:57 PM
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