£1M Plus - The Cost To The Taxpayer Of One Man’S Right To Freedom Of Speech

[naomi24]

The Met 'spent £1 million' policing rallies led by Islamist hate preacher Anjem Choudary.

Choudary said: “The police come down for the protection of the far-Right groups, it’s clearly not for our protection. If they are shouting obscenities, then you can guess what would happen without police protection.”

What can he mean?

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/the-met-spent-1million-policing-rallies-led-by-islamist-hate-preacher-anjem-choudary-10291179.html

[Old_Geezer]

He has a right to free speech within limits. That costs nothing.
He has a right not to be assaulted and no one riots or whatever. That costs.

If there is an issue it must surely be whether what he says is outside the accepted area of free speech.

[naomi24]

OG, but according to him the police are not there to protect him – they’re there to protect his opponents.

[mikey4444]

I think Choudary is truly awful and wrong on this subject but as along as he stays a millimetre on the right side of the law, then he should be protected from screaming mobs.

I just wish he would make a mistake and then we can nab him. But he is too clever for that, mores the pity.

[naomi24]

His views are further right than those of the people who turn out to oppose him – no doubt about that. Shame it’s not generally recognised.

[Old_Geezer]

Aye according to him; but I read it that he is being protected from the Defence League and Britain First type groups. In any case the police are there to ensure everyone remains the right side of the law, no matter which side is liable to go too far.

But it does underlie that if his opponent need protection then that implies he is 'enticing to riot' and thus not acting legally. If he is willing to admit that then he should turn himself in at the nearest cop-shop.

[naomi24]

//I read it that he is being protected from the Defence League and Britain First type groups.//

That's what we automatically assume - but from what he says it's the other way around.

[mikey4444]

Naomi...he is away with the fairies on this issue.

[venator]

How many countries would tolerate a man preaching hate against it?

If he preached Christian anti State views in the Muslim states he admires, he would be beheaded in the public square

[redvanman]

It would have been cheaper to deport him the evil excuse for a human being

[naomi24]

We can't deport him. He was born here.

[Gromit]

2013:
// A Freedom of Information request has also revealed that the total cost of policing the English Defence League in the UK has hit the £10 million mark.

Beds Police recorded the highest cost of £2,447,172, followed by West Yorkshire Police at £1,911,088. This included the cost of officers’ overtime and borrowing officers from other forces. //

Yep, letting idiots spout nonsense costs the country loads. Keeping idiots like Assange quiet costs even more.

[Svejk]

Apparently, Naomi, he wanted to go but we stopped him. Mind you, that could be his story.

[Gromit]

Silencing Choudray might be even more expensive...

// Scotland Yard has spent about £10m providing a 24-hour guard at the Ecuadorean embassy in London since Wikileaks founder Julian Assange claimed asylum there, figures show. //

[retrocop]

Svejk
That piece of ----- couldn't lie straight in bed. If he really believes the police are not there to protect him spouting his pernicious rants then he would of stopped breathing long ago methinks.

[naomi24]

Is that in one year as this is, Gromit? Got a link?

Perhaps the police should start charging the organisers for their services at these events.

[naomi24]

Svejk, how could we stop him? He's British and he's a free man.

[Svejk]

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/radical-cleric-anjem-choudary-wants-to-leave-uk-and-live-under-isis-9848017.html

[retrocop]

Svejk
So he has run foul of the law.I was unaware he had been arrested and now on bail.
Lets hope the evidence is not flawed.

[Svejk]

That link is from last year. I couldn't say whether he's still banned from travelling. Or whether he really would go if given the opportunity.

[naomi24]

Apparently the ban on foreign travel will remain in force.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11246855/Anjem-Choudary-bail-restrictions-relaxed-by-judge.html

Sometimes the law really is an ass.