Snag in new laws allowing police to expose violent protesters

THIS is the confronting moment protesters against alt-right agitator Milo Yiannopoulos pelted riot police with bins, bottles, rocks and shopping trolleys — yet officers were unable to use new powers to unmask the violent thugs. This is why.

NEW laws giving police the power to unmask violent protesters could not be used last month at a demonstration in which officers were pelted with bins, bottles, rocks and shopping trolleys.

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The December 4 protest, outside Kensington’s Melbourne Pavilion, was against a talk being given by controversial alt-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos.

Under a law introduced last September, police can demand that protesters in a “designated area” remove masks and face coverings.

Police in riot gear charge at protesters at the protest outside the Milo Yiannopoulos event. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

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But the announcement of the location of the talk caught Victoria Police off guard, and so they did not have enough time to declare it a “designated area”.

The tempers of about 500 far-right and far-left ­protesters flared even before Yiannopoulos took the stage.

Police in riot gear had to use capsicum spray to separate brawling demonstrators.

Video footage showed ­officers themselves coming under attack from rioters.

Some people sought shelter inside the building.

Demonstrators outside the Melbourne Pavilion last month. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A police officer struck by a rock suffered minor injuries.

So far, nine people have been charged with offences, including affray, riotous ­behaviour, assault, assault by kicking, unlawful assault, and discharging missiles. Inquiries are continuing, and more charges are expected.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said the new law required that a decision to enact a ­“designated area” be advertised for 24 hours.

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Police use pepper spray to disperse protesters. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“As organisers did not ­engage with police and a ­location was not provided until several hours before the event, it did not give us time to fulfil the obligations of the legislation,” she said.

“When a person is located within a designated area wearing a face covering, they must be given opportunity to first move on from the area.

“An offender cannot be charged unless they are first given the warning.”

The changes to the law last September followed a spate of violent clashes ­between far-Left and far-Right protest groups.

The new law gave police the power to direct that face coverings be removed.

Riot police form a line outside Melbourne Pavilion. Picture: Erik Anderson

Riot police disperse protesters. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

It also introduced a violent disorder charge for those committing violence in groups of more than six, which carries a maximum of 10 years’ jail, or 15 years’ jail if the person’s face is hidden.

Police described the actions of protesters at Yiannopoulos’s talk as “Kardashian-style politics”, and the scene as “a battlefield”.

Yiannopoulos has said birth control made women unattractive and lazy, and has appeared to condone paedophilia.

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@AleksDevic