Police listen to Ed James

Police were called to listen to Umina community activist Mr Ed James in front of State Parliament House on November 23, the last sitting day of parliament.

"They had received a complaint about me being both offensive and intimidating," said Mr James.

The police from The Rocks Area Command listened "at some length to what I was saying", said Mr James, and left "apparently finding no obvious offence of intimidation with me exercising my rights".

Mr James said the police presence was an attempt to silence and intimidate him.

"This is not the first attempt to silence vocal dissent," he said.

"I have been written up under the Protection of the Environment Act by two officers from the Surry Hills Area Command, an exercise now buried, which proved to be inappropriate use of the law to silence political opinion.

"NSW State Parliament House and its precincts are not the place for police to be directed in an attempt to silence political dissent, with the threat of legal consequences.

"For the parliament to remain silent, while restrictions are placed on a citizen's right to voice the public's concerns about elected representatives and whether they are fit to represent us, is itself offensive and intimidating."

Mr James said that he would fight any action taken by police to silence him, a point he made to the attending police.

"They left with the understanding that any paperwork they may find necessary in future should be well written, because if action goes forward, the question of a man's right to freedom of expression outside the oldest parliament in this country will be tested in the courts."

Letter, December 6 Edward James