LAW1106 summative coursework Brief 2024, Middlesex University London

Assignment Brief

Choose two of the four questions below.

Each answer should be around 1,500 words. The total word limit is 3,000.

With reference to legal sources, critically consider what is meant by and the limits of Parliamentary supremacy.

• The University of Utopia Students' Union (UUSU) organized a march and rally in Fairtown to protest about inadequate funding for higher education. A route was agreed for the march in accordance with the Public Order Act 1986 (as amended) and permission obtained from the local authority for a rally outside the Department of Education (DoE). It was agreed that the UUSU march should pass via Sleepy Avenue.
• However, some of the UUSU protesters chose to march through Buzzing Road instead, as they believed this would spark more attention to their cause. When the police ordered these protesters to join the rest via Sleepy Avenue, Liam, one of the UUSU protesters sat down, refused to move, and started shouting that he has the right to protest and that nothing could be done about it.
• When the rest of the UUSU protesters reached the DoE building the police ordered them to go onto the opposite pavement for their rally, as a number of supporters of an organization called Cut Public Spending (CPS), which disapproved strongly of the use of public funds for higher education, had gathered outside the entrance of the DoE. Some of the CPS protesters also chained themselves onto the entrance gate of the building as part of their protest.
• On seeing the UUSU marchers, Ranter, the leader of CPS yelled ‘here come the scroungers!’ This so incensed some of the USSU marchers that they pushed past the police officers who were keeping the two groups apart and widespread fighting occurred between rival CPS and USSU supporters. 
• On the basis of above facts, consider whether any offences have been committed and comment on the legality of the actions taken by the police.
• Stop-and-search must not be arbitrary and must not violate the principle of non-discrimination. It must be authorized by law, necessary and proportionate.’ - Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

Discuss.  Illustrate your answer by reference to relevant sources of law.

• James has approached you for advice. He is resident in an apartment owned by the Hamdean local authority. The local authority now proposes to demolish the apartment block and move him to another apartment 15 miles away, but they have refused him a hearing and refused to give him reasons for their decision.
• In addition, James has heard that a company owned by the Chairman of the Housing Committee in Hamdean local authority has just bought the site of the apartment block and intends to develop it as luxury apartments.
• Advise James as to the GROUNDS he may have in challenging the local authority’s actions by way of judicial review. Do not discuss the procedure for judicial review.