Protest groups aim to blockade arms fair
By Jason Bennetto Crime Correspondent
02 September 2003


More than 3,000 security guards and police officers will be deployed in London next week to protect Europe's biggest arms fair amid warnings of potentially violent protests.

Up to forty groups of anti-arms activists, anarchists and anti-globalisation demonstrators are to lobby against the arms exhibition in Docklands, east London.

The protesters have made plans, which have been posted on the internet, to "storm" and "blockade" what they call the "death fair". Some demonstrators have been told to "dress as smart as you can" to confront arms dealers and government delegates. A senior Metropolitan Police officer said they were "expecting serious trouble", and described the planned demonstrations as "a major public order headache".

Nearly 1,000 arms companies and suppliers selling artillery, military aircraft, small arms, bombs, mines and tanks will have stands at the Defence Systems Equipment International (DSEi 2003) exhibition at the Excel Centre from 9 to 12 September. A frigate and a minesweeper are to be moored outside the centre and a tank and a helicopter will be on show inside.

Government ministers are expected to attend the event, which is supported by the Ministry of Defence. The MoD has invited delegates from 60 countries and will provide them with accommodation and board.

The huge security operation, costing more than £1m, includes the deployment of 2,000 frontline police officers from the Met, 300 officers from the British Transport Police, officers from the City of London force and MoD police and specialists from the Met's marine, dogs, and horse units. Plainclothes detectives will also be used to identify known troublemakers, and surveillance teams will monitor the protests. Security fences will enclose the exhibition, which will also be policed by security guards. It is an invitation-only event.

The Met said: "It's a big event, very high-profile and seen as controversial, so we expect it to attract a large number of demonstrators. We have been planning this for a year because of the high level of protest expected, including plans for a day of direct action."

Protesters plan a march in central London on 6 September and a demonstration called "Facing the Arms Traders" on 9 September. There have been calls for direct action and blockades on 10 September, which has been labelled "Destroy DSEi". Two groups, Reclaim the Streets and Critical Mass, plan to cause traffic chaos with a mass bicycle ride and protest marches to close off streets.

Martin Hogbin, co-ordinator of Campaign Against Arms Trading, said: "Our Government likes to project itself as a force for good in the world, but the reality is that by hosting this arms fair, the UK has become an international force of hypocrisy."

Other protest groups include the Anarchist Federation, CND, Reclaim the Streets, Destroy DSEi, Disobedience, Globalise Resistance and Wombles.

An MoD spokesman said its involvement in the exhibition was part of its support for the legitimate British arms industry. A spokesman for the organiser of the arms fair, Spearhead Exhibitions, based in Surrey, said it was "100 per cent" confident that police would ensure the security of the exhibitors and visitors.









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