‘£10k fine for NHS pay protest was justified’
A top cop has stood by the decision to give a £10,000 fine to the organiser of a NHS pay protest that lasted less than ten minutes.
Karen Reissmann, 61, a mental health worker and Unison rep, was among the organisers of an event to showcase anger over the Government’s offer of a 1 per cent pay rise to NHS staff by attending a ‘sociallydistanced and risk assessed’ demonstration in St Peter’s Square on Sunday afternoon.
However, Greater Manchester Police officers told Karen, from Hulme, that the gathering was illegal under current coronavirus laws and the event could not go ahead.
As the gathering dispersed, GMP officers then told her she was being issued with the maximum £10,000 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for organising a gathering of more than 30 people.
Yesterday, Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey said while all fines are subject to a review once submitted, he believes the £10,000 fine ‘appears to be appropriate.’
Karen said: “I’m contesting it partly because I think it’s unfair.
“I’ve had lots of offers of legal advice.”
The M.E.N. has been inundated with comments expressing anger at the fine handed to Karen.
And, responding to our story, barrister Adam Wagner tweeted: “This is in my view wrong.
“The police have a duty under the Human Rights Act to protect the right to protest.
“Protest is neither permitted nor banned under the current regulations. Read together with the Human Rights Act, socially distanced
POLICE DEFEND ACTIONS AS ANGER GROWS
outdoors protests should be permitted.”
But ACC Bailey said: “Since the current national restrictions were introduced this year, as with the second lockdown last year, protests are now no longer exempt as a reason to gather and are therefore unlawful, which is different to the position for much of last year.
“I absolutely recognise the tension in having to take any kind of action against health workers at this time, when we recognise the fantastic job they have played on the frontline . . . but I have a duty to ensure policing plays its role in reducing the spread of Covid.
A fundraiser launched by supporters has already raised more than £13,000 to pay the fine for Karen.