Geoff Pearson

As hundreds committed the offence of putting ink to cardb... Nurses, doctors, retired people and architects among 466 protesters arrested as terrorism suspects

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
This must be one of the stupidest, most counterproductive as well as immoral pieces of legislation ever. Pulling in manifestly peace loving protesters under the terrorist label was absurd. If the government wanted to get tougher there were plenty of other powers

I say unfolding, because (a) these protests will continue and forces will be disinclined to change tactics and (b) there will be multiple human rights challenges in the courts with a good chance of success.

The damage that the proscription of Palestine Action (and undoubtedly some of the policing of this law) is doing to police legitimacy in this country is an unfolding nightmare.

France's leading international law scholars, 160 in all, agree on 8 points, all of them important.

Most dramatically:

"today, we agree at the very least that the genocidal intent of the Israeli government has crystallized"

t.co/28e2T1xoEy

It's not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases/operations but I'd expect a competent commander deciding whether to arrest or not to consider (a) interference with freedom of expression (eg a sign/chant) and (b) freedom of assembly (ie their continued engagement in that march) separately.

This is embedded in public order training, College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice, Protest Operational Advice, and a host of human rights case law that underpins this. The POPS commanders and advisors *should* have both the tools and the expertise to make the right calls.

They are obliged to apply a human rights based approach. So they should only arrest where they have the lawful power, and it is for a legitimate ECHR objective, and where it is likely to achieve that objective, and where it is necessary (ie no other realistic option is available).

‘Gross abuse of state power’: defiance grows over UK ban on Palestine protest group More than 200 have been arrested for alleged support of Palestine Action – and hundreds more are expected to protest on Saturday

Some of these reports are nuts. I appreciate the police have been put in a very difficult position by the Home Sec, but the routine use of arrest, handcuffs & swabs is an area where discretion is available (and probably necessary for lawful use of these powers).
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Superb.

I've not heard anything about this tactic so would prefer not to comment until I am better informed. But you're right, the way it is reported in The Telegraph raises many questions.

Police Street Powers and Criminal Justice This open access book analyses the utilisation, regulation and legitimacy of police powers. Drawing upon six-years of ethnographic research in two police forces…

We wrote about how legislation cascades down and across the police service and the difference influences dictating how street powers and law are understood and applied in practice. It all leaves very little space for any consideration of parliamentary intent.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/police-st...

It is very expensive to train all response/patrol officers in the substance and application of new laws. In public order operations, knowledge of law and powers should be better given chain of command, commander accreditation, and presence of POPSAs.

1 in 4 of all UK Nobel Prize winners were born overseas.

A year since the wave of riots in which hotels housing asylum-seekers were attacked. Our study examined events in three locations, finding only limited evidence of intentions to protest.
@qeios.bsky.social

Funded by @ukri.org
@behaviourresuk.bsky.social

www.qeios.com/read/17ASAP

Needless to say, snakes were still fed, stewards piled in to try and break them up, words were exchanged, and eventually the police turned up and arrested someone. Welcome to Old Trafford's designated "party stand".

Good luck proving the Mens Rea requirement here.

Alcohol trial to be expanded across women's football matches next season A trial that allows supporters to drink alcohol in the stands will be expanded across women's football next season.

Ooooh the Doomsday Clock has just been shifted a minute closer to midnight.... www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

OSR statement on crime statistics Over the past week there has been considerable discussion in the media about rates of crime and the reliability of crime data in England and Wales. Given the societal importance of crime, it is vital ...

UK Statistics Authority coming out swinging re crime stats

osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/news/osr-sta...

h/T Ed Dunn on linkedin

Reform: Crime is through the roof, it's not safe to go on the bus or walk the streets anymore.

Academics: Actually most violent crime is much lower than it used to be.

Reform: You try telling that to Mavis down the road. She's terrified she'll be stabbed next time she takes the 134 to QualitySave.

And don't get me started on "for the avoidance of doubt".

UK university job cuts put at 20,000 after full impact ‘hidden’ Number of roles affected could be almost double previous estimates when voluntary schemes and hiring freezes factored in, say researchers

The number of job cuts that have been made in UK higher education could be much higher than previously thought, with more than 20,000 roles potentially affected, according to new research. @julietterowsell.bsky.social reports
#AcademicSky #jobcuts

N8 PRP Announces Prof Layla Skinns as Interim Academic Director

N8 PRP is delighted to announce @proflaylaskinns.bsky.social
has been appointed as Interim Academic Director.

Layla will lead N8 PRP with Policing Director Ben Ewart @gmpolice.bsky.social for 12 months whilst @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social is on research leave.

www.n8prp.org.uk/2025/07/21/n...

FREE! Pioneering Women: The Manchester Corinthians Join author Gary James in a celebration of the Manchester Corinthians, a women’s football club that toured the world during the 1950s to 1980s. Established in 1948-49 these pioneering women play

The event is free but tickets should be booked in advance here: hebdenbridgepicturehouse.co.uk/movies/free-...

At least 90 arrested across UK at protests related to Palestine Action Police in London detain dozens of people and confiscate placards under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000

Wholly predictable this would happen and now likely to be a headline story all summer, further damaging police legitimacy. You have to wonder who, if anyone, advised the Home Secretary about the decision to proscribe Palestine Action. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

In my view neither set of stats are reliable on their own (although in time the reported incidents will be of much more value in measuring levels of criminality), so it's really important that they are not relied upon individually. Nevermind cherry picking the worst news for your headline each year.

Last year's football disorder stats showed an increase in arrests but a similar reduction in reported incidents. This year's stats showed a reduction in arrests but an increase in reported incidents. Check out the BBC reports. I guess "football related disorder broadly stable" doesn't get clicks.

Police report 18% rise in disorder at football matches during 2024-25 season Latest Home Office figures show the number of football matches in England and Wales with reported incidents of disorder increased by 18% during the 2024-25 season.

You have to get to the fourth para before this article even mentions that football arrests are DOWN by 11%.

Another stat:

- 4.2 arrests per 100,000 at football.
- 14.8 arrests per 100,000 at Glastonbury.

Where's the BBC article on that?

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

He's no whipper-snapper, like William Hartnell.

The Club World Cup was a failed vanity project - and the numbers prove it Fifa president Gianni Infantino is fooling no one with his extraordinary statements

Gianni Infantino declared the Club World Cup "the most successful club competition in the world".

The final had 2.3m peak viewers on Channel 5.

Arsenal v Man Utd in the FA Cup Third Round had a peak of 7.4m & another 4.3m watched on BBC iPlayer.

Comment @theipaper.com

It's completely passed me by. Not seen a second, not even highlights, & been mostly unaware of any scores. Bearing in mind one of the competing teams is from the city I live in, that shows an impressive disdain from English football fans. Today was just about the 3rd test, Wimbledon, and the Euros.