Free speech 'under threat from council action team'

nlnews@archant.co.uk
29 March 2006

POLITICAL campaigners feel their right to free speech is being threatened by Haringey Council's "heavy enforcement team".

Earlier this month two campaign groups - against ID cards and the Iraq war - claim to have been ordered to move on, or close their stalls, while handing out leaflets in Wood Green High Road.

Nigel Scott, 55, of Wood Green, who is a member of Haringey Against ID Cards, said: "They came along and said you cannot be here - you are not in the designated area. Previously they shut down people handing out anti-war leaflets.

"It was a public pavement near the library and no one was causing a problem."

Mr Scott added: "The implication is that if you hand out particular leaflets it's anti-social behaviour and it should be stopped.

"We are concerned that it is a very disturbing trend when you say you cannot hand out leaflets on particular issues.

"It's a perfectly legal activity. We were not using a megaphone or anything."

Campaigners feel the council's designated free speech area - outside Wood Green Library - is insufficient.

Mr Scott said: "So are we now supposed to believe that exercising the traditional right to free speech in Haringey suddenly only applies within a small 'free speech' area on the library concourse and only at the discretion of council officers?"

Simon Hester, chairman of Haringey Justice for Palestinians, claimed he knew of two other occasions when similar episodes had taken place.

He said: "On one occasion we were informed that we were not allowed to hand out leaflets in Wood Green High Road. They also harassed a stall that was campaigning for freedom of Guantanamo Bay prisoners."

The council's heavy enforcement team was set up to deal with the most "difficult, high profile and significant environmental crimes and criminals".

Councillor Jonathan Bloch (Liberal Democrat), of Muswell Hill ward, said: "I think it's almost Orwellian, the name. The council has no role in dispersing freedom of speech just because it is embarrassing to their Labour masters.

"A clear directive needs to go from the leader of the council and the executive director of the council basically saying they are not to go near protesters.

"If there are any public order implications it should be dealt with by the police. It's absolutely outrageous."

A council spokesman said: "There is a designated area which is well used by a large number of organisations. On that particular occasion the group was setting up outside the designated area and were advised that was against the rules. It is a very busy shopping street and you cannot have a free for all.