UK Bike Meets under Threat from Proposed Legislation

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Graham Smith

Guest

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Legislation that is currently going through Parliament could be used to stop bikers meeting up at the regular bike meets through complaints about noise. Up to now the noise created by meetings hasn't been a public order matter but the new legislation could change all that with meetings stopped by just a few complaints.​


The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill has been promoted as a way to protect the Police better and crack down on protests, but the actual wording does not distinguish between protests and any other meeting. That being the wording of amendment 55.

The specific amendment that is worrying is one that imposes new conditions on public assemblies. A public assembly is just a meeting in a public place and most bikers meet up in public places. This amendment will allow the Police to stop a meeting if the noise generated by the persons taking part may have a relevant impact on persons in the vicinity.

You may say that the noise is generated by the bikes, not the people, but it is the people who run the bikes that cause the noise and to the Police that will be one and the same thing. So all it needs are a few busybodies or biker-haters to phone the Police and complain that a bunch of bikers are making too much noise and having a relevant impact on their otherwise quiet Sunday afternoon in front of the cricket and that's the end of the bike meet.

At present the legislation has passed the second reading. The next stage is for it to go to Committee for a detailed examination and when interest groups can have a say. This is your chance to write to your MP and to contact MAG and the BMF through the new National Motorcyclists Council to ask for noise to be removed as grounds to stop public assemblies.

Proposed Legislation

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National Motorcyclists Council

(Stolen from another website)
 

Bill Thomas

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
In the 60 s, All we had to do was Hide under the tables, In the Pub',
Car park full of Vincents, No owners !!,
The Pub should have been closed, And the local Police came through every day at the same time,
On His Push bike.
I think it was the Stan Powell road trial, Ron won it on an "A" "Comet Special " a real one !.
Really we were the first back to the Pub' :D .
 

Rapide

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
The Human Rights Act protects the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of association. This right protects not only the right to meet but to join or form a group with like-minded people.
This proposed change in law undermines our human rights. The Government and Police cannot be trusted to protect our human rights and thus this should be objected against.
 

vibrac

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Yes it wont be long before this place is renamed 'airstrip one' unfortunately this time the Thought Police wont be riding series D machines
 

Bill Thomas

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Or bend the rules a bit, They are there for braking, Always a Rebel,
But I haven't been out on a Bike yet this year !.
 
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