Geoff Pearson
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profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson
@profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
1.3K followers 350 following 210 posts

Prof of Law and Co-Director of Research at Manchester University's Law Dept. Socio-legal research interests in human rights, policing, public order, crowd management, football "hooliganism", Ethnography, and sports law.

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Political science 47%
Sociology 29%
Posts Replies Media Videos

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 2d
I'd kill to watch a moderate county championship side these days.

Reposted by Michelle Kelly‐Irving, Karen O’Donnell, Geoff Pearson

martinmbauer.bsky.social
Martin Bauer @martinmbauer.bsky.social · 2d
What would really be the implications of taking Santa Claus seriously?

It's the time of the year to review the current state of the physics of Santa Claus

1/12

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 7d
Rather pleased with our efforts for this year's advent window. And yes that is Father Christmas and not @markhamillofficial.bsky.social climbing into the AT-AT.
An advent calendar window scene of the Battle of Hoth

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Will Jennings, Leigh Sparks , and 6 more

sundersays.bsky.social
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 8d
Matthew Goodwin objects to prosecuting this: ‘I think it’s time for the British to gang together, hit the streets and start the slaughter. Violence and murder is the only way now. Start off burning every migrant hotel then head off to MPs’ houses and Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE.’

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 9d
Or has the position on this changed?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Met Police says it will no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents
The move comes as an investigation into Father Ted creator Graham Linehan is dropped, after his arrest over a post on X.
www.bbc.co.uk

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 9d
Surely it should be for the CPS to make a statement about what - if any - offence has been committed by people engaging in this chant and then for the police to decide whether to take action as and when?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Met police and GMP pledge crackdown on ‘intifada’ chants at Gaza war protests
Forces say they will ‘recalibrate to be more assertive’ in light of antisemitic attacks in Manchester and Sydney
www.theguardian.com

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 9d
Not much. The issue crops up from time to time on S&S scrutiny panels reviewing BWV, but I've not encountered any system for finding out reasons for not asking the question and don't know of any research in this area. Suspect it just falls into the standard cutting-corners that many bobbies do.

Reposted by Geoff Pearson

publiclawpubs.bsky.social
Public Law Publications @publiclawpubs.bsky.social · 10d
Lewis Graham, "Human rights challenges after SC" [2026] Public Law 48

WestLaw Link: uk.westlaw.com/Document/I2A...
uk.westlaw.com

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 14d
£7.5k? A staggeringly low price for such an abuse of power, law, and process. Not surprised the MPS settled. That's barely a ticket for a World Cup group stage match.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Met police agree to pay £7,500 to woman arrested over Gaza protest placard
Exclusive: Force to pay damages to Aisha Jung, who was put into a police van and held until 4am
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Geoff Pearson

danielstorey85.bsky.social
Daniel Storey @danielstorey85.bsky.social · 14d
The ticket pricing for the World Cup is a disgrace. Making fans pay for all eight games up front is a disgrace.

The game is being taken from the people and sold back to them at an unforgivable premium.

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
World Cup ticket prices are hideously, unforgivably expensive
Watching your country play shouldn’t be the pursuit solely of the super-rich - this is so far beyond the pale it has to cause a line in the sand
inews.co.uk

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 15d
Really useful ECtHR judgment on public order tactics, this.
lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social Lewis Graham @lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social · 15d
Tsaava v Georgia [GC]

hudoc.echr.coe.int?i=001-247738

Court: excessive force used against protestors in front of Georgian Parliament

+ a Partial Dissent from the UK’s Judge Tim Eicke who would have found that two applicants lacked “victim status in relation to their complaint under Article 11”.
HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights
The HUDOC database provides access to the case-law of the Court (Grand Chamber, Chamber and Committee judgments and decisions, communicated cases, advisory opinions and legal summaries from the Case-L...
hudoc.echr.coe.int

Reposted by Geoff Pearson

lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social
Lewis Graham @lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social · 15d
Tsaava v Georgia [GC]

hudoc.echr.coe.int?i=001-247738

Court: excessive force used against protestors in front of Georgian Parliament

+ a Partial Dissent from the UK’s Judge Tim Eicke who would have found that two applicants lacked “victim status in relation to their complaint under Article 11”.
HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights
The HUDOC database provides access to the case-law of the Court (Grand Chamber, Chamber and Committee judgments and decisions, communicated cases, advisory opinions and legal summaries from the Case-L...
hudoc.echr.coe.int

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 16d
Billy Joel knew the score.

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 17d
This will raleigh improve the quality of public order policing. (sorry)

Reposted by Geoff Pearson

policinginsight.bsky.social
Policing Insight @policinginsight.bsky.social · 17d
Review urges wider use of tactical cycle teams for public order policing
[SUBSCRIBER ARTICLE]
policinginsight.com/feature/inno...
Review urges wider use of tactical cycle teams for public order policing
An evidence-based review of Thames Valley Police’s deployment of its Tactical Cycle unit in public order operations is calling on the College of Policing to develop Authorised Professional Practice…
policinginsight.com

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 24d
Treat with caution. The BBFC press release does not contain a link to either the full report or to a detailed methodology or data tables. It is does also not appear to be peer reviewed.

Reposted by Jonathan Wolff, Geoff Pearson, Simon Lester

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 25d
British public’s verdict is in: Die Hard is not a Christmas movie
British public’s verdict is in: Die Hard is not a Christmas movie
Survey also reveals Britons’ favourite festive film, views on tear-jerkers and family cinema trips When Macaulay Culkin recently said he didn’t consider Die Hard to be a Christmas film – wading into one of pop culture’s most heated holiday debates – he was booed by a live audience. But it looks like the British people are behind the actor, with a survey revealing that Home Alone is the UK’s favourite festive film, while Die Hard has officially been voted not a Christmas movie. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 27d
Two Becomes One was top of the Hit Parade for three weeks in Christmas 1996. It was by an obscure popular beat combo called something like The Spicey Girls.

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 27d
It was a Christmas No.1, they are dressed as, well, some sort of snow things, and there are Christmas bells in it. Definitely a Christmas song, in a way that Two Becomes One isn't.

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 27d
It had a quality nativity music video. What's your view on Stay Another Day?

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 28d
All good now. Expecting to be home tonight, albeit one and a half days late!

Reposted by Geoff Pearson

crimandcj.bsky.social
Criminology & Criminal Justice Journal @crimandcj.bsky.social · 28d
🚨 Got bold ideas in criminology or criminal justice?
We want to read them.

Criminology & Criminal Justice is open for submissions — from the critical to the creative, the empirical to the theoretical.

🖊️ Send us your best work: journals.sagepub.com/home/CRJ

#Criminology
Criminology & Criminal Justice: Sage Journals
journals.sagepub.com

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 28d
Thunderstorms, landslides and floods. The low point was when the car we hitched a lift in started to float. The worst weather the locals could recall in many years.

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 28d
Was an eventful journey back from the writing retreat. After being stuck on the island for over two days with no boats going in or out.

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 29d
Brilliant news. Congrats @lucyfrith.bsky.social

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · 29d
Quelle surprise. The only question is whether the continued failure of the French police to manage football crowds is gross incompetence or deliberate maliciousness. Suspect it's a bit of both, personally.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Newcastle: Club to complain after treatment of fans in Marseille
Newcastle United are to launch a complaint following the
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Geoff Pearson, José Pina-Sánchez

lawatleeds.bsky.social
University of Leeds - School of Law @lawatleeds.bsky.social · 29d
80% of UK women have experienced public harassment, yet 75% report that no one stepped in.

Dr @annabarker.bsky.social's research has helped hundreds of park staff and volunteers across the UK to be trained in how to spot, safely challenge, and prevent harassment.

Read more👇
tinyurl.com/99px5urh
Background of Woodhouse Moor. Smiling photo of Dr Barker in a circle. #News flare. Text reads: “We know that safer parks are not just about better lighting or design - they’re about people. This training gives staff and volunteers the confidence to act when they see or hear something that isn’t right. It empowers communities to look out for each other.”

Reposted by Geoff Pearson

uomsoss.bsky.social
University of Manchester School of Social Sciences @uomsoss.bsky.social · 29d
New report by the Independent Commission on Counter-Terrorism, with Prof. Hilary Pilkington @uomsociology.bsky.social, calls for urgent reforms to make the UK’s counter-terrorism laws fairer, focused & more accountable

www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/o...

#SoSSResearch #Research @manchester.ac.uk

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · Nov 26
Sorry to be a bore David, but I try to avoid commenting publicly on active ops, given my current CoP role.

profgeoffpearson.bsky.social
Geoff Pearson @profgeoffpearson.bsky.social · Nov 25
Have had a productive and enjoyable writing retreat in lovely Hydra and a book will be forthcoming from it. However, any mistakes will be those of the many cats who have interfered with my efforts, rather than my own.