Tents banned for Olympics over ‘Occupy’ fears

Tents banned for Olympics over ‘Occupy’ fears

Tents and camping equipment have been banned from the London Olympics over fears that ‘Occupy’ style protests will disrupt the games, home secretary Theresa May announced today.

Home Secretary Theresa May announces the measure at the RUSI olympic security conference.

While speaking on the plan for Olympic security, May confirmed that there is to be a blanket rule outlawing tents and camping equipment to “prevent encampment protests similar to those seen in recent months in the capital”. 

Those attending events at the games will be subject to screening for camping 
equipment with “swift police action” for anyone attempting to sidestep the measure.

Describing encampment protests as “emerging threats”, the home secretary said: “Our approach to such protests will now be based on three aspects.

“Strict security and screening measures to help stop the necessary equipment being brought into Olympic venues, encouraging an immediate response from LOCOG to any encampment that does get through and rapid follow up action by the police using all available powers to remove encampments and equipment.”

The home secretary said the plan is “not intrusive” but there have been concerns over its implementation over the summer.  

“This is the latest in a long line of worrying developments,” said Occupy London supporter Laura Taylor. “It is now clear that the right to assemble and make your voice heard is being treated as a threat to be controlled rather than an essential element of a free society - one that should be celebrated as testament to the strength of our democracy.

“The 2012 Olympics are being held in London, not in Beijing,” she added. “It would be awful if by the time the summer comes round it's harder to tell the difference.”

Occupy London are set to appeal a High Court eviction order which was handed down on 19 January. Protesters have been encamped at St Paul’s Cathedral since 15 October.

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Judge to make Occupy London ruling

A decision is due on the bid by the City of London Corporation to evict anti-capitalist protesters from outside St Paul's Cathedral.

After a five-day High Court hearing, which finished just before Christmas, Mr Justice Lindblom will rule on whether to grant orders for possession and injunctions against Occupy London.

The City says there is an "overwhelming" case for the court's intervention because of the impact on the area of the camp, which has been in place since October 15 last year.

It was not seeking to prevent lawful and peaceful protest or lawful assembly in the general location - but the right to protest enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights did not justify a semi-permanent campsite on the public highway, particularly in a location like St Paul's Churchyard.

Protesters camped outside St Paul's Cathedral
as part of the Occupy London Stock Exchange protest

The camp had acted as a magnet for people who had caused significant disorder and a substantial increase in crime in the area, it claimed.

Lawyers for the protesters said that the case raised an issue of "extreme public importance" and that freedom of expression was a liberty which must be jealously guarded by the courts.

The camp did not prevent worship at St Paul's and any impact it did have on those visiting, walking through or working in the vicinity was not solely detrimental.

They said that politicians, members of the public and commentators had expressed support for the camp's presence and the sentiments behind it, at a time when there was a consensus that the issues it raised needed addressing.