Last Exit and First Principles
SIR,—Bruce Douglas-Mann's account of recent prose- cutions for indecency and obscenity (December 30) could also have mentioned the strange case of the Brighton church demonstration.
The people who were arrested for interrupting the official service of the Labour party annual conference last October were originally charged with such offences as riotous behaviour, threatening behaviour, and insulting behaviour. But four weeks later they were also charged with indecent behaviour, and this was in fact the only charge that the Brighton magis- trates found proved, since all the original ones were dismissed.
That seems to establish a rather dangerous pre- cedent in the treatment of political demonstrations, which fits the disturbing pattern described by Mr Douglas-Mann.
Hertfordshire
Previous page
