Protestors

[marko]

Hi,

Do 'protestors' have the right to stop vehicles?

Are they within their rights to surround a vehicle that is/was driving perfectly legally down a stretch of road and stop it from moving? (because of the type fo driver, type of passenger, type of cargo or type of vehicle for example)

I'm assuming you're not allowed to do this, and much as it'd be doing humanity a favour if you were to drive over them I suspect that too is illegal, so:

Assuming they're breakgin the law - what laws are they breaking, and what would the procedure be for performing a citizen's arrest? What would you guys do at the police station when presented with said individual/s and witnesses?

I'm assuming just a formal 'telling off' - but the purpose of the excersise would be to let them know they are breaking the law, they can't get away with it all the time, zmake them known to the police as troublemakers and generally mess them about as much as they're messing the drivers about.

Thanks,

Marko

[wazza]

Only Police officers in Uniform have the right to stop traffic, and traffic wardens oh and lollipop men and women. C3po,s and thats about it.

[Funkster]

But I wouldn't attempt a citizens arrest amongst a group of angry protestors, if you're lucky they'll just point and laugh! ;)

[marko]

So if I were to wander out onto a busy road and proceed to stop the traffic - how would you deal with me? I presume I'd be manhandled off the road and arrested?

What would these protesters be charged with?

How would I go about getting them off/out from under my vehicle and to the police station?

As far as I'm aware citizen's arrests are still valid, but I'd have to be sure that an arrestable offence was being committed so as I didn't get done for assault/wrongful arrest/false imprisonment - whereas you guys can arrest at will/on 'reasonable suspicion' only?

[marko]

But I wouldn't attempt a citizens arrest amongst a group of angry protestors, if you're lucky they'll just point and laugh! ;)

That's not the type of scenario I envisage.;)

Try:

Environmental protestors decide to stop traffic because the vehicle is a 4x4.

Large group of blokes exit said 4x4 and having asked the little oik lying down in the middle of the road to move politely, then use their powers of arrest and "reasonable force" to manhandle the criminal into back of said 4x4 and escort them to the nearest police station.

Whether they're laughing their head off or crying for their mother is of very little concern - they would simply be experiencing the legal consequences of their actions.:rolleyes:

[jamesedga]

What would happen if said group surrounding you refuesed to move and you just simply itched the vechical very slowly forward and pushed them out of your way?

[LB]

Its obstruction of the highway and is an arrestable offence.

[Erica]

It probably wouldn't be a good idea to do it in front of 18Wheeler. ;)

[nilrem]

Or a steam roller :)

[18wheeler]

It probably wouldn't be a good idea to do it in front of 18Wheeler. ;)good point erica:D :D :D :D :D