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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to wonder who foots the bill for demonstrations?

21 replies

HRH2shoesofMn · 05/06/2012 13:03

example
yet again our town has been taken over by this, just wondered who pays for this.

OP posts:
ShellyBoobs · 05/06/2012 13:09

The bill for policing them, you mean?

The government.

I suppose it's part of being a democracy isn't it?

JosephineCD · 05/06/2012 13:12

By "the government" you mean "us", as in the people that work for a living.

The same people that footed the bill for last year's riots, the student protests, and any other group of people intent on causing havoc.

LadyTeeAndBiscuits · 05/06/2012 13:13

I'm happy to foot the bill. It's part of being a free society.

Would you rather they weren't allowed to protest or speak their minds just to save you some money?

creighton · 05/06/2012 13:13

we are paying for the 4 day 'love-in' and worship of the queen. what's the difference?

LadyTeeAndBiscuits · 05/06/2012 13:17

Actually, we're not. Most of the jubilee was paid for by private donation. I do not know if that includes security.

HRH2shoesofMn · 05/06/2012 13:20

so not the local council tax payers then?
tbh yes I would like to see a stop to the town I live in having demonstrations on what seems like every bank holiday.
it will put a lot of families off visiting, so less money coming in.

OP posts:
JuliaScurr · 05/06/2012 13:24

security was provided by this system:

www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/04/jubilee-pageant-unemployed?INTCMP=SRCH

how much taxpayers' money props up arms deals to eg Libya, Egypt, Saddam's Iraq?

HRH2shoesofMn · 05/06/2012 13:25

i am talking about demonstrations not wars or national events.

OP posts:
OldGreyWiffleTest · 05/06/2012 13:30

Get your facts right creighton - WE are NOT paying for the "4-day love-in" as you so nastily put it. It has all come from private donations/businesses.

cory · 05/06/2012 13:31

What LadyTee said. It is part of what we pay for living in a democratic society. We pay for the elections too.

HRH2shoesofMn · 05/06/2012 13:32

but is it payed for locally? or by the government?

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creighton · 05/06/2012 13:34

is security for the 'love-in' being paid for by private donation? are the soldiers on ceremonial duty being paid for by private donation? are the extra trains (not) to carry the public around being paid for by private donation? i doubt it

HRH2shoesofMn · 05/06/2012 13:36

why do people hi jack, I didn't mention the queen. I am asking about something else that has no connection.

OP posts:
LadyTeeAndBiscuits · 05/06/2012 13:41

Not sure what you mean by 'locally' versus 'the government'. All are paid out of our taxes, whether council or PAYE etc.

HRH2shoesofMn · 05/06/2012 13:42

locally as by local people who foot the whole bill via council tax
as apposed by everyone in the country via tax

OP posts:
LadyTeeAndBiscuits · 05/06/2012 13:44

I don't know for sure, not being involved in government, but I would imagine local law enforcement is paid for by local tax and country wide tax.

But I could be wrong!

And I'm also not sure what the Jubilee has to do with your question...

creighton · 05/06/2012 13:45

i would imagine that it is paid for out of local police budgets.

HRH2shoesofMn · 05/06/2012 16:22

thanks, so it is payed by council tax payer in the area affected.

OP posts:
scaevola · 05/06/2012 16:40

Policing is paid for out of the local poilce budget. There is an adjustment to the London police budget (from general taxation?) which is meant to divergent costs of policing national demonstrations held in the capital. I think I remember someone saying recently that the amount extra isn't sufficient (true of so much in public sector budgeting) to cover cats.

And the costs fo the Jubilee are tiny compared to the eye watering amounts for the Olympics (which will also be using more Service personnel than have been on show these past four days).

JosephineCD · 05/06/2012 16:42

Peaceful demonstrations are fine but demonstrations that turn unruly or violent are not.

JuliaScurr · 05/06/2012 18:43

If an arms dealer (eg) attracts demonstrations, maybe it could pay for police protection from the protestors. Or move. Or close. None of those options are too good in a democracy. Stopping protests gives the same problem. So the cost of democratic dissent should be shared by the whole democratic nation. Probably.

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