I was going to do this as a separate article but it can fit in here:
Local free VFD newspaper "WEST END EXTRA", London, 6 April , has the following piece by Martin Newman.
Congratulating themselves on a cancelled election, based on remarks by Ch Super P Tolland:

"...potential rioters would be arrested as soon as they reach the West End... 6000 police across central London will treat the outfits adopted by different anarchist groups as a political 'uniform'... marchers are banned from being within one mile of the Palace of Westminster... in agreement with the TUC... "

O, dear. so that's how they want to play it. Several remarks may be added to this.
The laws concerning 'political uniforms' date back to the 1930 s, and were originally designed to cope with paramilitary forces such as Moseley and the BUF. It is not at all clear which left wing groups are employing 'uniforms'. Ya Basta and the Wombles ?, anyone with orange hair and an ex-army jacket ? or carrying a copy of 'Socialist Worker' ?
The measure banning marches within a mile of Palace of Westminster [Big Ben and Parliament] takes up a large area of cental London, including Waterloo, Piccadilly, and Victoria. We may imagine that anyone construed to be in a 'uniform' is also likely to be considered a 'marcher' too.
Many thanks to the Trades Union Congress for showing their true colors ! Workers must now learn to build new structures outside the established Labour aristocracy, organizations of their own which will fight for their rights !
How will the police keep a watch in order to arrest these uniformed, rioting, marchers ? Which way is the best to get into London to exercise our human rights to protest ? Walk ? Cycle ? Tube ? Car ? Mainline Rail ? Clearly we should not, in the circumstances, dress TOO outlandishly for fear of being in uniform...
When the authorities start to revive redundant laws, its a sign of desperation.

...of brown corderoy trousers was recently smuggled in to New scotland yard.

MAIN QUOTE!!!!!

"I appeal to anyone who really cares about these issues not to get involved in this protest because it is in danger of being hijacked by a violent minority."

YOU'LL BE SEEING A BIT MORE OF THIS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS>>>


'Anarchists plot May Day standstill'

by Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent
A hard core of 1,000 anarchists is plotting to bring London to a standstill on May Day, Scotland Yard warned today.

Senior officers say they believe violent demonstrators are planning to hijack this year's anti-capitalist demonstrations, with a wide range of actions planned across London.

More than 5,000 officers will be on duty to police the events in central London in a joint operation involving the Metropolitan and the City of London forces.

Groups from the Continent are believed to be planning to join organisations such as Reclaim The Streets and anarchist groups on May Day, which is a working day this year.

Protesters - using a version of the Monopoly board to plot this year's trouble - plan to attack targets including City companies, government buildings, hotels, chains such as McDonalds, and privatised railway and utilities HQs.

Assistant Commissioner Mike Todd, who is organising the police operation, said: "We have strong intelligence that a sizeable minority of protesters will use this opportunity to indulge in violent, criminal and anti-social behaviour on a large scale with the intention of bringing London to a standstill.

"I appeal to anyone who really cares about these issues not to get involved in this protest because it is in danger of being hijacked by a violent minority."

Last year around 5,000 officers were on duty at the May Day protest and there was criticism of a so-called "softly softly" policing operation after protesters were allowed to deface the Cenotaph and the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.

This year officers are under orders to "hold the line" at potential key targets such as government buildings and Whitehall.

 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/top_story.html?in_review_id=380933&in_review_text_id=326758

Police expect violence and damage in May Day riots

Police chiefs are expecting violence and widespread criminal damage in the May Day anti-capitalist riots planned for London.

City of London Police Assistant Commissioner James Hart warned "there is a clear intention, in our minds, for violence" within the groups planning the protests.

Anarchists are planning to bring as much disruption as possible to the City, he told the BBC.

He said: "Their intention is to come and maximise disruption, to significantly damage property and commit acts of violence."

Last year's riots caused massive disruption and thousands of pounds worth of damage was done to property, including the Cenotaph. Dozens of people were arrested.

Mr Hart said he believed many of the protesters expected to take part on May Day attended last year's event.

But he urged working people not to stay away from the capital on the day. He said: "Part of our job is to keep the City working."

Earlier in the programme a protester, who gave his name as Peter, was unable to rule out the possibility of violence during the demonstrations. He said: "We are having 30 to 40 autonomous campaign groups that are going to have their own actions."

Protests could include pickets, occupations and street theatre.

Asked if violence was possible he said the majority of the protesters were not violent. But he added: "A lot of things could happen, you can't guarantee 100% on anything."

Last updated: 15:14 Thursday 12th April 2001

 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_242779.html?menu=

Brief reports on BBC radio one, and both daytime and evening on Independent Television News:

 http://www.itn.co.uk/news/20010412/britain/12mayday.shtml

The TV showed footage from last year, police spokesmane, web site shoot, flyposter on lamp post for this years.

I'm only young and quite new to this movement but I really wanna be involved. I want to be able to express my discontent with all the issues, in my home country. Looks like May day isn't on...more attempts by the powers that be to marginalise the people who want to press for real ideals-justice, equality, protection, community, and so much more. If they're trying to brand me as some sort of terrorist they can go study their history books a little more and make their own conclusions. I'm only trying to follow my conscience..can we stop being so secterian and get together somehow? Together we're so much stronger. Every day is a step wasted or gained. Many need our help these dark days

The “press briefing” wasn’t open to anyone with a press card. It was “invitation only.” Apparently it was a briefing, but not for the press in general. Only for specific representatives of the fourth estate. I wasn’t one of them. Maybe my suit wasn’t nice enough. They didn’t even ask to see press credentials… They simply noted down the expected names as they filed into the inner sanctum of New Scotland Yard. I left on the heels of another frustrated journalist who was turned away. We had both telephoned the yard earlier in the day to confirm the briefing and were told nothing of invitation only. On the street I was interrogated by an officer, who attempted to lure my name from me. “But if you give me your name, maybe we can put you down on the invitation list for future briefings,” he said. Smiling, I replied, “I don’t think that is likely. Sorry, I have to go.”

Maybe Scotland yard should review the press policy outlined by Commissioner Sir John Stevens.



“Over the years, I have seen the Met become increasingly cautious in its media relations and become far too reactive. This cautiousness can breed suspicion and contempt, while an open approach tends to breed confidence and respect. If we are to gain the goodwill, confidence and support of the general public and achieve our aim of making London a safer place, we need to re-engage with the media and seize every opportunity to be much more proactive.”
( http://www.met.police.uk/media/index.htm)



By not adhering to standard rights and privileges normally extended to the press, independent included, the Met will continue to breed suspicion and contempt. I suspect they were up to no good inside those walls this morning.

The conference was very specific - aimed at getting out two messages:

1) Zero Tolerance - police are saying they will react at the slightest incident hard and fast in a robust "in your face" manner with zero tolerance.

The line is that last year the 'softly softly' approach did not work and that this must never be allowed to happen again. While the police did operate in a hands off style at the start of the gardenming action in Parliament Square, they quickly moved in hard after some people smashed the unguarded macdonalds in Whitehall to trap almost everyone else in Trafalger Square. They also closed off Parliament Square and for while it looked really bad as they kept bringing in more reinforcements - luckily in Parliament Square people organised and acted together to exit the square on mass preventing further trouble. So last year it was not wholly a softly softly approach - only at the start.

You can see how this has developed since. Last year despite the damage caused being small compared to June 18th 1999 the press coverage both before and after mayday 2000 was far more over the top than in 1999. The paint on the cenotaph provided the moral outrage hype they needed - taken far more seriously in the press than the storming of the LIFFE exchange in 1999. Blair even took time out to condemn the protestors on TV.

Now we have one hell of a media hype around planned violence and terrorism, which has prepared the ground nicely for the hard line we're seeing now and will no doubt see on mayday - of course the other thing this does is act to put off people who otherwise would have attended the various demonstrations on mayday. With the police also making noises about not allowing people to wear masks (perhaps aimed at the white overall wombles?) it'll be interesting to see just how hard they go in at the start of the 4pm meeting - and indeed what happens at all of the other events planned in the morning and early afternoon. Liberty has already expressed alarm of over the police line being taken.


2) Divide and Conquer! "Do not attend Mayday!!"

"I appeal to anyone who really cares about these issues not to get involved in this protest because it is in danger of being hijacked by a violent minority"
- Assistant Commissioner Mike Todd

This is the other tactic. After months of press reports hyping planned violence and terrorism the move to try and isolate and split protestors begins to reach a climax.

This explicit statement represents a new peak in the "war of attrition" following years of press demonisation and is the tactic most favoured by any state seeking to neutralise opposition or troublesome movements - a grade A textbook tactic.

Last year the police used the violent protests (although some of it was started by them) to stop the workers march from Camberwell to Trafalgar square the rally and speeches did not take place.
You cannot physically smash capitalism by breaking windows in the city. or even by war.
They only make more money repairing and rebuilding it.
The only way to destroy it (at this crisis ridden point) is to 1. fight against the attacks on our wages and conditions 2. Stop it going to war by protests and strike actions (look how effective the petrol protests were) by the way economic sanctions are acts of war.**But the unions are rubbish ? - sure - all Geof Monks talks about is getting into Europe , but I don't care what currency I buy my beer and fags with -but all those old shop steward farts with their share save schemes and biscuits with the management will tell you that they take their orders from the members. So educate , organise, edify and empower at work. And get your stupid anarchist arses to Camberwell* and join the march (an unemployed worker or student is still a worker) . Talk to some communists they are brainy as hell.
*I dont know if it has been rescheduled
** Also 3rd world debts must be cancelled - thats an abomination

Sorry about the rant
Best of luck . . . Lots of love Tim