Protecting Speakers Corner
Following the increase in violence at Speakers Corner over the last year, a meeting was called by the Police to discuss its future and how its rich heritage of free and unfettered free speech can be protected for the future.
Speakers Corner has been the centre of public oratory, debates and free speech since the mid 1800’s, with historic figures such as Karl Marx, Lenin, George Orwell, Marcus Garvey and Lord Soper all having attended and spoken. For 250 years, on a Sunday, crowds have gathered to listen to enthusiasts expounding their views, with freedom for anyone to turn up unannounced and speak on any subject.
In recent years this has been jeopardised by an increasing frequency of actual and threatened physical violence. Quite regularly people have been spat at, pushed off ladders, punched, kicked and chased out of the park. Osman warnings have been issued by the Police where credible threats exist against at least two individuals’ lives.
For the first time ever in its history, a group of regulars from Speakers Corner have come together in one room with representatives from both the Metropolitan Police and The Royal Parks. On the dark Autumn evening of Thursday 15th November 2018, 18 regulars made their way to The Old Police House in the centre of Hyde Park. The regulars’ lengths of service at Speakers Corner varied from an incredible 60 years to relative new comers. The gathering included Christians, Muslims, Jews, Atheists, Men’s Rights Activists, Marxists and members of G.A.N.G. (Guiding A New Generation). The meeting was chaired by PC Steve Barnes who has been with the Police force for over 20 years and has been the dedicated officer for Speakers Corner for the last three years. He described these last three years as both the most challenging and rewarding of his lengthy career with the Police.
The Police acknowledged that 2018 has been a testing time in the long history of Speakers Corner. The issues of increasing violence have been accompanied by the arrival of characters such as Tan, the increasing issue of collective Muslim prayer, specific moments attracting large numbers of visitors and the increasing use of social media focussing on the Corner and its attendees.
Though he caused challenges, Tan really made his mark at the Corner during 2018 and actually demonstrated exactly what Speakers Corner has always been about — the home of unadulterated free speech, no matter how crazy, shocking or offensive. The Police confirmed that throughout Tan’s time at the Corner, they only received five complaints, three being from people overseas who had observed Tan in videos published on YouTube and one regarding a physical attack on Tan by others at the Corner.
The issue of collective prayer by Muslims has also become an increasing issue during 2018. PC Barnes and The Royal Parks representative confirmed that the position regarding this Park policy has now been legally clarified. The long standing policy of The Royal Parks is that no collective worship is allowed by people of any faith (as detailed on the TRP website) and this is enforced under the illegal assembly regulations. The regulations are part of statute and therefore decided in Parliament, any attempt to change them requiring a Parliamentary Act. PC Barnes stated that it has been a challenging matter to police and the Police have sort to use a common sense approach. Anyone may pray on their own wherever they wish. However, if they wish to pray collectively, i.e. two or more people together, they are requested to do this outside of the Park. PC Barnes thanked the Muslim community at Speakers Corner for abiding with this request. It was acknowledged that a minority were on occasion seeking to ignore these requests and typically did this as a form of protest. PC Barnes stated that any such repeat offenders would be dealt with by way of warnings and potentially exclusion orders from the Park.
Concerns were expressed in the meeting regarding the increasing violence and intimidation at the Corner. PC Barnes detailed that between 1st January and 13th October 2018, a total of 40 crimes have been reported from the area of Speakers Corner, made up of:
- 20 no further action taken
- 9 common assaults
- 8 racially aggravated assaults
- 3 Actual Bodily Harm (2 to police officers)
- 2 online threats
- 1 theft
During this period, eight arrests have been made and eight community orders issued. Three cases have gone to court and resulted in convictions. PC Barnes informed the meeting that the Police are now actively issuing Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs). These are voluntary written agreements between a person and the Police, whereby the person agrees not to be involved with certain specified anti-social acts or unacceptable behaviour. The contract normally lasts for six months. It is not legally binding but, if breached, can be used as evidence if enforcement action needs to be taken through the courts. The Police actively monitor the behaviour of anyone issued with an ABC and breaches of an ABC lead to enforcement action through the courts, such as exclusion orders from the Park. For more serious matters, exclusion orders can be issued without proceeding through an ABC. The Police confirmed that four individuals are currently on exclusion orders from Speakers Corner.
Concerns were also discussed regarding a number of known extremist Muslim radicals who are currently visiting the Corner and making their presence known. The Police confirmed that extremist radical Muslims who are being released from prison, such as Anjem Choudary, are being released under strict licence conditions, including not visiting Speakers Corner. Others who are visiting the Corner are believed to be under close surveillance, though the Police could not confirm this.
There is an increasing frequency of men visiting Speakers Corner wearing face masks and coverings, which can be quite intimidating and arouse suspicions of intended violence. The Police stated they have no legal power to deal with this and request their removal, unless there is a risk of serious public disorder in which case a Section 60AA would be issued when they can then ensure face coverings are removed.
Many of the current problems at the Corner are further whipped up and escalated by filming and social media activity. Though this does bring Speakers Corner to a much wider audience around the world, it is also now having quite a negative impact. Arguments that start in the Park are continued and enflamed throughout the week in videos, livestreams and chats. These arguments are often personal in nature rather than discussing actual view points or intellectual perspectives. Some of these have become very threatening and intimidatory in nature and are being investigated by the Police.
Muslims at the meeting asked the Police whether it was illegal for individuals to insult their prophet, with statements such as “F*ck Mohammed”. The Police confirmed that in itself this was a legal aspect of freedom of speech. PC Barnes cited the famous case of Redmond-Bate v the Director of Public Prosecutions. This landmark case concluded that:
Freedom of speech includes not only the inoffensive but the irritating, the contentious, the eccentric, the heretical, the unwelcome and the provocative, provided it does not tend to provoke violence.
Freedom only to speak inoffensively is not worth having.
Those that come to Speakers Corner can be reasonably expected to be aware that this is the home of free speech where many views are regularly expressed, challenged, ridiculed and disrespected. As shown by the Redmond-Bate v DPP case, there is no legal entitlement not to be offended, however offensive you may feel someone has been. There is of course an entitlement to walk away from any moment within which you feel yourself becoming offended.
The following future measures were detailed by the Police:
- Boxes or plinths will be installed in the outer area of Speakers Corner nearest to Marble Arch. It is hoped that these will encourage more people to come and speak at the Corner, broadening its diversity and encouraging the traditional practice of speakers speaking to an audience, rather than arguments just occurring within crowds on the ground. They will also hopefully encourage more younger people to step up and speak.
- Circles will be painted on the ground around these plinths to encourage personal space around the speaker and discourage intimidation and the use of violence.
- People are encouraged to use the outer area of Speakers Corner nearest to the Marble Arch corner of Hyde Park. This area can facilitate more peaceful and fruitful speeches and discussions in a more family friendly environment.
- The Police will continue to issue Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and enforcement action including exclusion orders to those that misbehave at the Corner through threats, intimidation or violence.
- Filming and cameras will not be banned at the Corner, however, those that cause problems through permitting abuse and threats on their channels and chats will be treated in the same way as those causing problems within the Corner itself and may ultimately be excluded from the Corner.
- Regulars at the Corner were asked to help protect the integrity of the Corner by encouraging healthy debate, encouraging a broader range of speakers and attendees, behaving sensibly and spreading this message to others.
- Regular meetings will be held during the year between the Police, regulars and those concerned about protecting the Corner, to discuss these concerns and possible solutions, ensuring all main groups who attend the Corner are represented.
We wait to see progress in these actions and what 2019 will bring to Speakers Corner!
