Student fee riots - Dozens of protesters facing “exaggerated” charges carrying lengthy prison sentences, says solicitor Alastair Lyon

Published: 27 January 2011
by TOM FOOT

DOZENS of young people arrested over the student fees protests are facing “exaggerated” charges carrying lengthy prison sentences, lawyers have told the New Journal.

Alastair Lyon, of Birnberg Peirce solicitors in Camden Town, who is representing many of the students arrested following the recent demonstrations, feared police were confusing “political anger” with “criminality”.

Mr Lyon was speaking following the arrest of a 17-year-old student at his home in Upper Holloway.

The teenager was the 57th young person to be arrested for “violent disorder” – a serious charge carrying a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment – following the protest outside Conservative headquarters at Millbank on November 24 last year.

Mr Lyon said: “The prospect of there being serious charges is a very worrying one. There is always a fear in these cases that the police will conflate political anger with criminality and lose sight of what really happened. 

“This was no football riot but rather a spontaneous and rowdy demonstration that had wide support throughout the country. To suggest otherwise through exaggerated charges would be an attempt to re-characterise the true events of that day.”

Violent disorder is defined as three or more people threatening unlawful violence that causes fear for personal safety. There are now concerns that anyone present during a scene of violent disorder could be charged under the section 2 of the Public Order Act.

Mr Lyon added: “Some of the charges may be for people who just joined the protest by walking into the building (Conservative HQ). Now because of some old nonsense they will have their lives ruined.”