Policing at climate camp
Really Fit | 06.09.2009 21:47 | Analysis | Repression
Ian Caswell, one of the few regular FIT cops to make an appearance at camp
Police (and FIT) harassment was gone (for the time being at least), but police surveillance proved a harder nut to crack. Throughout the camp, remote cameras propped up on a cherry picker were able to pick out new and familiar faces for the FIT teams to focus on. FIT cops stationed at a camp set up a couple of miles away were able to get a direct feed from the camera, and from the helicopter that hovered around from time to time, without needing to be on the ground.
From the cherry picker, FIT could get high quality images of activists training on tripods, with lock on devices, and for mass actions. They were able to maintain, in the words of the Silver command Julia Pendry, an ‘information flow’.
FIT officers were also present at the SWOOP meet up points, although without their usual distinctive FIT jackets. Sgt Graham Wettone, a long standing FIT officer, insisted as he hung around watching the crowd at Bank that he was ‘just on normal duties’. In the end he had to be introduced by FITwatchers to the waiting crowd and hoards of press.
By the end of the camp, the veneer had slipped a bit. FIT teams were back, monitoring and photographing actions at Shell and RBS, although happily they met with some determined opposition.
Overall, we still have some work to do in countering police surveillance from CCTV and remote cameras stationed on cherry pickers. But there is no denying that FIT were on the back foot. They weren’t able to get away with the harassment and intimidation they are used to dishing out, and that in itself is one-up to us. Confidence is growing that we can now defeat the FIT, as is determination that we will not be their willing victims. Bring it on.
Really Fit
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http://fitwatch.blogspot.com/2009/09/policing-at-climate-camp.html
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Policing of Millwall vs Westham was small recently, everyone knew it would kick
07.09.2009 04:52
At some level senior met police mainly are basically generally being hands off for a while it seems, they hope that the same groups who asked them to lay off after the death of ian tomlinson etc will basically at some point complain the police arent doing their job. Then met police chiefs will complain about omelettes & egg breaking, before asking to get on with business as usual.
Thats my bet anyway
copology
Apparently..
07.09.2009 09:13
Lynn Sawyer
HELIUM BALLOONS
07.09.2009 11:43
TRY
Why has Discombe been depicted as a DOG by AR activists?
08.09.2009 14:48
anon