Is RBS not owned by the taxpayer these days? Given that new power stations are going to be built whether RBS loans them money or not, the choices are (a) allow RBS to make billions of quid from E.ON which will defray the cost to you and me, (b) get some foreign or private sector bank to underwrite this construction instead at no benefit to us, or (c) end up having the Government subsidise the building of new power stations.

It’s not immediately clear to me why (a) is the worst option.

I’m conscious that Liberal Conspiracy’s audience is primarily English and as a result, may be more familiar with English law. I assume the three individuals in question will be up before the Sheriff (the professional judicial officer who sits alone in the summary determination of the vast majority of Scottish criminal cases, as opposed to the English approach, which relies far more extensively on lay magistrates).

In Scotland, breach of the peace is a common law offence, defined as “conduct severe enough to cause alarm to ordinary people & threaten serious disturbance to the community” conjunctively interpreted. Those following this case and curious about the underlying law may be interested in this judgment of the Scottish High Court of Justiciary from 2004. It deals with five separate breach of the peace appeals, which respectively argued that the variously impugned courses of conduct didn’t fall within the legal definition of breach of the peace, set out in Smith v. Donnelly.

http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/XJ264.html

After some time the bank decided to close, presumably not wishing their customers to be fully informed of the bank’s destructive practices.

That line is stretching it a bit. They closed because there was a disturbance in the bank which made it impossible to continue business I would guess.
It would be very distracting for staff working behind the counter. And a bit of an embarrassment all in all.
They could have done this outside and there would have been no bother.
Handed out a few leaflets.
It’s because of things like this that I’m turned off all this direct action/netroots politics.

I remember the people super-gluing themselves to those windows in Brighton. I’ve never understood why the police didn’t just leave them there.

1 – RBS is indeed owned by the tax payer these days. Which means RBS should be acting in the public interest. Climate change is not in the public interest. When People and Planet and others took RBS to court though, the judge refused judicial review. Which only really leaves protest….

2 – Indeed the outcome of this case will be very interesting.

Um… presumably we do want new power stations to be built because otherwise we will end up sitting in candlelight, unable to access LC (lawks!).*

Unless that’s what people want?

(*AIUI over £100bn investment in power plants and the grid is needed over next decade.)

Lallands Peat Worrier, thanks for posting that link – I will read with interest.

damon the chances of you doing direct action stuff is virtually nil anyway. What would you act over? Doing some fundraiser to support your beloved Spiked online crew?
There’s no need for the faux-disgust, we know you too well to believe that has any credibility.

I don’t know about ”direct action” but I’ve done things like stick up posters (at the risk of being arrested) in the past. Against the 1991 Gulf war for example.
It all depends on what the protest is about and the kind of action it is.
Invading a bank and super-gluing your self inside and playing musical instruments and dancing about isn’t really my kind of thing. Just like I’m sure what Otis Ferry and his pro fox hunting pals did in 2004 when they invaded the House of Commons chamber wasn’t to everyone’s liking either. Regardless of where you stood on the hunting issue.

Personally, I find this new kind of left activism a bit stifling and controlling.

Self superglue isn’t new. It is quite a mild tactic no? Is a good advert for superglue anyway

and how is it controlling? Did someone come and superglue everyone and then walk off saying “We are with you brothers and sisters”?

Dave,

Is a good advert for superglue anyway

Nah – they came off with all their skin, so wasn’t that good…

If you engage in direct action as opposed to peaceful protest, you presumably do so in the full knowledge that your actions may be interpretted as illegal?

I can’t see how if someone is willfully superglued to the doors of a bank it can’t be a Breach of the Peace. If anyone is alarmed, annoyed or disturbed by the behaviour it is a BOP. Bank staff in addition to members of the general public are part of the community. So if they were alarmed, annoyed or disturbed enough to close the bank it is self-evidently a BOP. So they will be found guilty. Procurator Fiscals use BOP as a catch all charge. Professional footballers fighting on the pitch can be charged with BOP. People who block the public highway can be charged with BOP. Someone shouting in the street can be charged with BOP. All quite different behaviours but all a BOP.

Peace needs a bit of breaching occasionally.

Sorry, a little OT (only a little), but this story may interest some of you:

“GOVERNMENT AGENCY CAUGHT INFILTRATING ACTIVIST MEDIA OUTLET

“No – stuff that – SHUT the place: Let’s not all stand around like lemmings – lets shut the place!Bring ladders and wire cutters. If there are enough of us we can shut it!” – a pretty average comment on Indymedia you might think – if a little gung-ho. In fact it was posted there by the police – and SchNEWS has the proof. ”

http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news755.php

hahahaha great link The Police are frontine activists. They are hardcore I bumped into about 70 of them cycling along Victoria st one time. Asked them where they were going they said critical mass bike ride!

“Nice one!” I said.

I am busy tonight but am with you in spirit!

Superglue yourself to the door of the Royal Bank of Scotland? It may not be effective or comfortable – It may not be legal either – but it sure will be binding.

You know – perhaps the coalition Lib Dems should Superglue themselves together for self identification – then all get stuck in an electoral cleft Clegg-stick . . . Oh, wait a minute . . .!

Lallands Peat Worrier was too modest to link back to his own blog on this, but it is really very funny, so I will instead – http://lallandspeatworrier.blogspot.com/2011/01/sticky-situation.html

nice1 that guy on guitar is a proper trustafarian