R v Holliday and others

26/05/2005

Following the conviction of eight men at Bow St Magistrates Court today for section 5 public order offences relating to an incident at the Houses of Parliament last September the prosecutor Simon Clements, CPS Director for South London said:

"I reviewed all the evidence in this case and concluded that the behaviour of the eight men did amount to an offence under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. I was satisfied that their behaviour could properly be described as 'disorderly' as set out in the Act. I considered that there were witnesses who, in the context of carrying out their duties to stop people going on to the floor of the House during Parliamentary business, were alarmed at the very least by the actions of the defendants.

"I also concluded that the public interest was clearly in favour of prosecution. The offence was premeditated, carried out by a group and committed against people who serve the public, namely the doorkeepers at the Palace of Westminster. It disrupted parliamentary proceedings to the extent that the Deputy Speaker had to suspend the sitting of the House during a debate on a piece of legislation of significant public interest.

"My review of the case was completely independent, based solely on the evidence that the police gathered during their inquiries and on the law as stated in the Public Order Act and set out in case law."

Notes to Editors

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