Put costs burden on protesters

Sir, – Recent protests and demonstrations have cost the taxpayer millions in cleaning, compensation and repairing costs.

Our authorities seem helpless to do anything about this.

As this is a democratic country, citizens have the right to demonstrate, petition and protest, but they do not have the right to inconvenience the general public going about their lawful business.

And nor does our democratic system confer immunity from punishment, retribution or repayment if they damage property, impede traffic or leave streets covered in litter and worse.

If not already in place, there should be a law prohibiting protest marches or demonstrations unless the organisers have first gained permission for their action from the local authorities affected.

Once that permission has been granted, the authorities should be able to demand a deposit

Livelihoods lost, education abandoned and, crucially, medical treatment withheld. We should be grateful for that? HAMISH HOSSICK

to cover possible damage from acts such as littering etcetera.

This could also include the cost of policing the events.

The size of the deposit should depend on how well-behaved followers joining in that demonstration were last time they took such action.

At the end of the protest, any costs incurred from policing to criminal damage to littering should be deducted from the deposit.

If no such offences are committed, then the organisers need only meet the costs of policing and they will be reduced in the authorities’ next claim for a deposit

Such action would not eliminate the disgraceful scenes we have witnessed in the past few years.

But it would go a long way to discouraging them in the future.

Okay young ‘uns, if you really wish to be led by the nose by extremists with a secret political agenda, go ahead.

But it’s going to cost you – not the taxpayer! George K McMillan. Mount Tabor Avenue, Perth.