Observing A Disorder Is Now A Crime

[webbo3]

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/judge-warns-people-observing-participating-132606752.html?

 

https://x.com/Towler/status/1822026542605549655

[Old_Geezer]

Looks like the law proving itself to be an ass. Who knew ?

[douglas9401]

Perverse.

[Peter Pedant]

Looks like the law proving itself to be an ass. Who knew ?

I knew. 'I only went to look' is not a defence. ( doctrine of common doo-dah ( purpose).

2011 when Manchester burnt, a driver ( silly gairl!) said she had only taken three frenz down to see the riot - and was sent to chokey.

[Old_Geezer]

So if I'm walking down the street and witness a crime, I'm guilty too ?

[Old_Geezer]

Honest guv, I didn't see nutting, me.

[Peter Pedant]

A doctor ( no not the one who got into a fight over Kuennsberg) was in ahotel room whilst his pals smashed up a bar - and was told the doctrine of common purpose applied to HIM under spanish law  !

convicted. so had to report himself to the GMC who were VERY interested. They took the view ( sozza this  is turning into a bit of tortured case of European Law) that a "certificate of conviction" anywhere in Europe was an unassailable fact that cd not be er assailed.

Held: not sure - the unassailable fact was assailed but only on that day

[Peter Pedant]

So if I'm walking down the street and witness a crime, I'm guilty too ? - yes mairder!! guilty guilty guilty - take him down

this is getting a bit like Law ( introduction Lady Bird) for twelve year olds. 

So if I'm walking down the street  , I'm guilty too ? well yes if the others down the street are thowing petrol bombs and turning over buses and police cars

 

[Gromit]

No. 
You didn't even bother to read the first sentence.

// A judge in Belfast has warned those caught observing or taking part in public disorder will be refused bail //

If you are in the middle of the riot, you are part of the problem, and you deserve to fall foul of the law.

I don't know why ABs fare right extremists don't understand that.

[jourdain2]

Following that logic, if police appeal for witnesses to a crime - will they charge the witness?  I think the '3 Wise Monkeys' rule would have to be observed.

[Gromit]

If you find yourself in the middle of a riot (!!) my best advice to any ABers would be to get out of it ASAP.

[jourdain2]

I did, Gromit, - well on the edges of a riot (Bradford) and I am very glad that my car was known and so I got away fast.

[douglas9401]

Appeals for dashcam footage will, from now on, go unheeded.

Can't have it all ways your judgeships.

[Gromit]

McDoug

If your car is registered from Harlow in Essex and your dash cam filming is in Southport  Lancashire, my first question would be, how did you find yourself in the middle of this Farage race riot?

[Deskdiary]

As I said in another thread, I do wish people (Gromit) wouldn't be childish and throw around the 'extremist' word with gay abandon.

 

Nobody has shown any extremism on this thread.

 

It's sad and pathetic to keep on throwing that bomb when there's no evidence of it. 
 

It's probably best if you lay off the booze.

[Buenchico]

To be convicted of the offence of rioting under Section 1 of the Public Order Act 1986, it must be proved that the defendant used unlawful violence whilst they were one of twelve or more persons present together

*who used or threatened unlawful violence

*for a common purpose;

*and that the conduct of them (taken together)

*was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness (had such a person been present at the scene) to fear for their own personal safety.

How can simply 'observing' a situation possibly be regarded as 'using unlawful violence'?  

[Gromit]

400+ arrests and sentencing everyday since.   
They are not getting sent down for watching, they are getting time in prison for participating.    

Yet another thread where ABs far right extremists condone thuggery. ☹️

[jourdain2]

Gromit - I object strongly to being called 'a far-right extremist condoning thuggery' - I have done nothing of the sort and nor would I ever do so.  You are not seeing straight.

[Gromit]

Perfectly.

Observing a crime is not a criminal offence and no one has been imprisoned for it.   
But if you are hundreds of miles from your home and in the middle of a riot, no one is going to believe your are there by accident and casually observing. 

[douglas9401]

He's having an 'episode', Jourdain, assistance has been sent for. 😄

[Gromit]

^ Isn't it past your bedtime. Nurse will be cross.