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CRIMINAL LAW, EVIDENCE AND PROCEDURE - OFFENCES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER - RIOT, VIOLENT DISORDER, AFFRAY ETC - FEAR OR PROVOCATION OF VIOLENCE; HARASSMENT, ALARM OR DISTRESS - POSSIBILITY OF BREACH OF THE PEACE — RIGHT OF PUBLIC TO ATTEND PUBLIC MEETING — ON PRIVATE PREMISES — POWERS OF POLICE
Appellant was one of the conveners of a meeting held to protest against a Bill then before Parliament in a private hall which had been hired for the purpose by one of the other conveners of the meeting. The meeting was extensively advertised and the public were invited to attend it and no charge for admission was made.
Respondent, a police sergeant, and other police officers were refused admission to the hall, but they insisted on entering it and remaining there during the meeting. No criminal offence was committed by any person at the meeting, nor was there any actual breach of the peace or disorder but respondent and the other officers had reasonable grounds for believing that, if they were not present at the meeting, seditious speeches would be made and that incitements to violence and breaches of the peace would occur.
Held respondent and the other officers were entitled, in the execution of their duty to prevent the commission of any offence or breach of the peace, to enter and remain on the premises.
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