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| Flag-burning law plan criticised | Flag-burning law plan criticised |
| (4 days later) | |
| Human rights groups have opposed a plan by police chiefs to make flag-burning by protesters a new criminal offence. | Human rights groups have opposed a plan by police chiefs to make flag-burning by protesters a new criminal offence. |
| The Liberal Democrats and Liberty said new legislation was unnecessary because police had powers to tackle incitement. | The Liberal Democrats and Liberty said new legislation was unnecessary because police had powers to tackle incitement. |
| Scotland Yard has drawn up proposals to submit to the Attorney General because of a belief the UK has become a soft touch in dealing with extremists. | Scotland Yard has drawn up proposals to submit to the Attorney General because of a belief the UK has become a soft touch in dealing with extremists. |
| The plans, backed by Labour MP Shahid Malik, would also ban protesters from hiding their faces from police. | The plans, backed by Labour MP Shahid Malik, would also ban protesters from hiding their faces from police. |
| But that would not include Muslim women wearing a veil. | But that would not include Muslim women wearing a veil. |
| Shami Chakrabarti, Liberty's director, said: "We will have to look at the detail of these proposals but the police already have wide powers, especially for dealing with people wearing masks. | Shami Chakrabarti, Liberty's director, said: "We will have to look at the detail of these proposals but the police already have wide powers, especially for dealing with people wearing masks. |
| The battle against terrorism and extremism is not a matter of yet more public order offences Lib Dem MP Evan Harris Flag-burning law mooted | The battle against terrorism and extremism is not a matter of yet more public order offences Lib Dem MP Evan Harris Flag-burning law mooted |
| "I wonder how hard-working officers on the beat today will feel knowing their senior officers are spending so much time dreaming up unnecessary legislation." | "I wonder how hard-working officers on the beat today will feel knowing their senior officers are spending so much time dreaming up unnecessary legislation." |
| Criminalising flag-burning would be an unacceptable restriction of freedom of expression, said Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, a member of the parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. | Criminalising flag-burning would be an unacceptable restriction of freedom of expression, said Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, a member of the parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. |
| "The battle against terrorism and extremism is not a matter of yet more public order offences and it is vital that we preserve free speech where no crime is incited," he said. | "The battle against terrorism and extremism is not a matter of yet more public order offences and it is vital that we preserve free speech where no crime is incited," he said. |
| Public order | Public order |
| The plans have been drawn up by Scotland Yard and submitted to the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, by Britain's most senior Muslim police chief, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur. | The plans have been drawn up by Scotland Yard and submitted to the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, by Britain's most senior Muslim police chief, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur. |
| If they [the public] start to see images of people who seem to be 'getting away with it', that [the tolerance of people] starts to erode Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3681938.stm"> Ghaffur interview Send us your comments | |
| Mr Ghaffur, responsible for public order in the capital, said he was concerned the UK had come to be seen at home and abroad as soft on extremist demonstrators. | Mr Ghaffur, responsible for public order in the capital, said he was concerned the UK had come to be seen at home and abroad as soft on extremist demonstrators. |
| He said police wanted "a change in the law on the burning of flags - to make that illegal". | He said police wanted "a change in the law on the burning of flags - to make that illegal". |
| Mr Malik, MP for Dewsbury, said burning a flag was clearly an incitement to violence practised by a small number of "thugs" who get to the front of demonstrations. | Mr Malik, MP for Dewsbury, said burning a flag was clearly an incitement to violence practised by a small number of "thugs" who get to the front of demonstrations. |
| "They hijack what are very legitimate and peaceful protests. | "They hijack what are very legitimate and peaceful protests. |
| "Not only do they spoil it, but they have the potential to turn it into something much more sinister." | "Not only do they spoil it, but they have the potential to turn it into something much more sinister." |
| But Massoud Shedjareh, of the Islamic Human Rights' Commission, said whether it was incitement or not depended on the circumstances, but police already had powers to deal with it. | But Massoud Shedjareh, of the Islamic Human Rights' Commission, said whether it was incitement or not depended on the circumstances, but police already had powers to deal with it. |
| A Home Office spokeswoman said she was unaware police thought existing powers were inadequate but ministers were ready to listen to any suggestions from officers. | A Home Office spokeswoman said she was unaware police thought existing powers were inadequate but ministers were ready to listen to any suggestions from officers. |