Policing the blank page movement: Insights from policing students, as a cohort of representatives of Generation Z

Abstract

Police decisions to arrest and disperse protestors, displaying anti monarch rhetoric during the funeral cortege of Queen Elizabeth ii, has questioned the right to freedom of expression under the Human Rights Act 1998. This presents a potential problem around public perception of police impartiality. This paper utilises an online questionnaire, with the aim of establishing views of youths aged 18 to 23 years old, as a sample of Generation Z, around police actions at the scene. It reviews whether restrictions towards freedom of speech, have negatively impacted upon perceptions of police impartiality. The hypothesis is that the participants will perceive freedom of speech as highly important, with restrictions to this right, damaging the concept of police impartiality. Findings highlight how participants acknowledge the importance of freedom of speech for democracy. However, there was doubt shown around whether police actions which appeared to restrict this right, impacted upon police impartiality.