Policing Row Triggers Freedom of Speech Debate

As you'd expect, there have been some anti-monarchy and pro-republic protests in the wake of Queen Elizabeth's death and King Charles' accession. What has been less expected is that some police have been removing a small number of what are clearly peaceful protesters. Whether this is the police making a serious mistake, or an aspect of law that is incompatible with our modern society, it does need a serious discussion about what is acceptable protest and what is not.
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[nekite]

Heavy-handed and oppressive policing from an increasingly fascist state.

[alfredotebasco]

Tories are vampires, every single one of them.

[lellyparker]

If no one had ever booed the Monarchy, we would not live in a Democracy.

[jounik]

Wasn't it nice to have human rights for a while? Well, enough of that kind of nonsense, the owner class needs their serfs obedient.

[johncrwarner]

The “blank piece of paper“ case is the most dangerous to freedom. In Russia people have been arrested and prosecuted for holding up a blank piece of paper and that to me is a sign of an authoritarian regime which is frightened of dissent.

[cgrady]

When the Tories said we were going to make our own laws, why did so many assume these laws would be good for the life and freedoms of the UK? Pity the word Totalitarian was never mentioned.

[davidwarburton-burley]

The response to the queen's death has been very cultish. Expressing disinterest in the matter is enough to trigger an aggressive response in others.

It feels very similar to how some religious people react to finding you're an atheist. All of a sudden you become a threat to their worldview and identity simply because you don't share it.

The wall to wall coverage is tiresome. The endless simping is tiresome. The white washing of very real and legimate criticism of the royal family is tiresome.

Most depressing of all is that real problems affecting millions are now just being ignored.

I can't wait for it to be over. These kind of events just remind me that my wanting to live in a fair and equal society puts me in the minority.

[MelkorPT]

I love people who say things like "they are entitled to free speech but now is not the time".
So they AREN'T entitled, there is a person who decides when it is an appropriate time or not and when they have to shut up or not. When _can_ you let Prince Andrew have a piece of your mind? When you run into him at the next grouse-shoot?
PS: I can't believe he got custody of the corgis, they're all under 18. Disgusting!

[hmxr]

People should have the right to protest their standard of living decline.

[Jay...]

Heavy handed policing from an increasingly authoritarian government.

[misterbacon]

Welcome to Brexitland! A 'free' Britain fairy tail...😒

[tomthomassony]

As a copper with more years service than I care to remember, I must explain the behaviour of my colleagues. In a nutshell, the majority of police officers today are plain thick and simply don’t know, or haven’t be taught, the Law. Poor pay over the last 25 years has severely hit the standard of recruit.

Today Police Officers perform their duties to the lowest (populist) denominator. If you could see some of the prosecution files that cross my desk you would cringe with embarrassment.

[michaelgoode]

This country has fallen between the cracks. Her Majesty's passing whilst a sad and solemn occasion should also be a launchpad for a rejuvenating process dragging the UK into the C21 and signalling a brighter, younger, more open-minded future.

Instead we have another elderly monarch overtly reinforcing the outdated and backward nationalist attitude of our ageing overlords. The younger and more diverse generations of British people in particular remain stubbornly outside of the spheres of societal thinking and influence in almost a sinister eugenics-driven kind of way. A new "old" head of state will not represent a new chapter but just a continuation of the ongoing decay in my opinion.

I bear no ill will to any of the royals: they cannot avoid the accident of their birth but please Sir, step aside and allow the country to embrace a more youthful and vibrant future with the next generation. It would be for the best for the UK in my humble opinion.

[snowman]

Charles just inherited an estimated £300 billion + yet does not pay a penny in inheritance tax? Just another reason for not my king!

[tianyi]

Even calling an act a "protest" is wrong. There is no difference between someone holding up a sign that says "End the Monarchy" or someone holding up a sign that says "God save the King" or shouting out "Who elected you?" or "God save the king." Simply two people expressing their opinions. If it is proper for someone to shout out 'God save the king' then it is proper for someone to shout out 'End the monarchy now.' The government has no right favoring one opinion over the other.

[UPTHETOWN]

If we're making 'giving offence' illegal, we'd better have plenty of space in our prisons. Most of the tory party should be doing time + N Farage, P Morgan etc.etc.etc.

[thehulk]

My old dad fought all his life to make this country better and fair, he believed in the right of people protest and goverments should rule for all people not just a few.I believe the people of this country have let him and thousands like him and her down.And i despair to think what he would make of this country now.

[NickAskew]

I wonder if Joe Lycett were to stand outside Buckingham Palace with a big sign saying "I'm very pro monarchy" whether they'd drag him off too.

[pierrelindgren]

Not quite at the level of Russian police arresting people with a blank placard, but getting closer.

[Emankind]

Ah. Free Speech. Always a sacred totem of Democracy until you don’t agree.