Is it a crime to chain yourself to entrance gates in protest?
How far can demonstrators push the limits? And should the police step in when someone chains themselves to entrance gates as part of a protest? Jeroen ten Voorde, Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure, commented on the right to demonstrate on regional public broadcaster ‘Omroep Gelderland’: ‘I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a criminal offence.’
The atmosphere was unusually tense last week at Dolfinarium, a marine mammal park located in Harderwijk. Animal activists were demonstrating at the entrance to the park. They had blocked the entrance and chained themselves to the gates in protest against what they claimed to be the poor conditions the animals are kept in. Director Alex Tiebot voiced his frustration at their actions, saying that by chaining themselves to the gates, the protesters had crossed a line when it comes to what constitutes a criminal offence. Professor Ten Voorde takes a different view: ‘In a democracy, people must be allowed to express their opinions. As long as they do that peacefully, it’s allowed.’
Only when behaviour becomes more serious and is violent or threatening can the right to demonstrate be restricted, claims Professor Ten Voorde. On the Dolfinarium incident, he's clear: ‘Though I can imagine the director wasn’t happy about it, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a criminal offence.’
More information
Read the full article (in Dutch) on the Omroep Gelderland site