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Human Rights

The courts are obliged to take into account articles 10 and 11 of the ECHR in all cases before them, under the Human Rights Act 1998. In this instance, we are talking about procedure rules and there remains a role for without- notice injunctions. Ultimately the courts, which are used to all aspects of granting injunctions, will decide on injunctions. If the Joint Committee has further evidence in relation to this issue, we would welcome the chance to look at it. However, as things stand, we have no plans to change our position. The hon. Gentleman also raised the issue of the use of technology. There is a real benefit to using technology, but we must not forget the basics and in this country the basics of policing are human—our police officers on the streets. Good communication is the key, in terms of face-to-face community-style policing, and that is how we in this country choose to police protests. We do not stand at a distance using water cannons, as police in other countries do, and we should not have communication as a specialist role; I believe that it needs to be embedded, as it already is, in the training of all police officers. The hon. Gentleman also raised the issue of independent mediators. We agree with HMIC that it is preferable for the police to remain the primary arbiter in relation to decisions about protests, on the basis that they will take impartial decisions and are accountable under the law for the exercise of their discretion.