Politicians have left the “prosecuting authorities” in no doubt that they expect action to be taken in respect of the Muslim demonstrations that took place at the weekend.

Whilst no one is openly criticising the Police for failing to arrest protestors on the spot, many people want blood.  David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary was reported[1] to have said that it was essential that action was taken against demonstrators who deliberately tried to stir up violence. He continued,

“I do expect that action should be taken – and taken soon - against those who clearly incited violence because it is vital that we make it very clear that incitement to violence has no place in the political life of the country.”

I hope that the Crown Prosecution Service will be allowed to exercise its independent judgement in this matter, without political interference.  As experienced lawyers with years of experience of what does, and does not “stick” in Court, no one is better equipped to make the right judgement as to whether any prosecutions take place.

Many things were said and done by the protesters last week that were intended to be and were provocative, but they were just exercising their right of freedom of speech.  They did not injure anyone nor was any criminal damage caused.  People who witnessed the protests seemed annoyed, rather than frightened.  We were being confronted with signs that made us angry, just as a week earlier; these same protesters were presented with something that angered them.

Alone in a dock, with the full force of the State arraigned against them, they will look like victims.  British juries punish trumped up prosecutions.