If you look closer at the picture then you can see an explanation of the actions of the community 'police' - see attached photo.

Above it says- "having done their dirty deed, the police went away leaving the rest of the picnickers to tidy up (or carry on banner making it seemed!) and leave." However I don't remember seeing anyone continuing to make banners - the police put a stop to that clearly. The police prevented other lawful activity in the form of a picnic. Only five minutes were given for the picnickers to clear up so it is not surprising that the arrest occurred. This was intimidation of a lawful picnic by the Police. It should also be made clear that there were several other groups of people sitting on the same grass at the Square who were allowed to continue without the same intimidation. I believe a bag with personal belongings of one of the picnickers was also confiscated to be used as 'evidence' of unlawful activity simply because some of the banners made were put in there in the rush to clear up in five minutes.

Thanks to Rikki and others who have the courage to get out there and test the limits of this new borderline-fascist legislation. Do people know if those going to court want others to show up and express solidarity?

Sean

It was hard not to see a certain kind of hypocrisy highlighted on the day by an article on the front page of what appeared to be a new free newspaper handed out on the day of the picnic. This newspaper was focussed on the issue of the arms trade and the DSEi Exhibition held every two years with the help of the Government. At the last exhibition as the newspaper reported, the Police took no action against illegal arms trading due to the fact that they had been advised that to do so would 'embarass' the Government as it had invited those foreign companies to come and exhibit at the event. On the other hand if there are peaceful picnickers then it might embarass Blair if the Police did not take action.

just to clarify, although the party was broken up, it seemed that after the arrest all the police dissappeared, and if they had wanted to the picnickers could probably have resumed some banner-making (with what little was left unconfiscated) and then gone through the whole process again. in other words, satisfied that they had got an 'organiser', the police weren't actually interested in upholding this stupid law. they simply use it to target people politically.

i do agree that the police gave very little time for clearing up after first warning and before making their arrest. basically they were trying to intimidate people to scarper quickly or face arrest. meanwhile other picnickers on the green were left unhassled.

the whole exercise seems aimed at trying to pinpoint organisers, cause them as much hassle as possible, and dissuade others from exercising their human rights to free speech and free assembly.

the arrestee was held for more than five hours before getting bail.

but the police were "just following orders" - now where have i heard that before?

Hi there

Just a note to report that our party/picnic/sort of protest/vigil
thingie was again a lovely experience. Again, numbers lower than
we'd hope - small but most perfectly formed.

My Arrest

As some of you already know, I got arrested at 1642 (quite a decade
that) in the Square yesterday. The police confiscated a number of
the beautiful placards that had been made, even though
we had not at that point raised them or even had the chance to
discuss what we were going to do with them. My fave was E's "Menace
To Society Age 15" in gold with sequins.

I was not charged - I was instead released on bail after a number of
hours. The police are now going to consult with the Crown
Prosecution Service about how to deal with my case and I will be
told on Sep 16th (coincidentally, my birthday) at Charing X Station
what's next. It looks like they will possibly/probably go for a
prosecution on the grounds of being an organiser of a demo (possibly
in addition to being an individual demonstrator) because they
collected fliers (with my mobile number on) and a copy of a Guardian Online Article which names me as organiser and, as i said, the placards. My overall impression was that the
Police hate this law, they don't know how to deal with it, they
don't even know the terminology of the Act - they accused us of
protesting whereas in fact I noticed that the Statute s132 Serious and Organised Crime POlice Act reads/outlaws "demonstrations" and does not mention even the word protest. May
the Farce Be With You!

+ More Publicity For Next/Coming Weeks!

Wanted to also say let's really make an effort to spread the
word this week - meetings must go on, this issue is important
and the meeting/network that springs from it through our DIY
gatherings in Westminster have a real potential to grow.
Posters, fliers, phone calls, email
lists.. please do whatever you can to get more along next
week. There is lots going on in Sept - French union forces and
others have lots of unrest planned for France and there's Stop The
War on the 24th and also the week of action against the DSEI Arms
Fair 13th-16th Sept in London (where there is a no protest Exclusion
Zone as far as I know under the same Serious and Organised Crime
Police Act as we are dealing with) so the pressure will stay on.

Also the politicians/others will be back from their hols next
Sunday - so hopefully it's time to increase the numbers.

Costume - We Need Images For The Press

If you can do Edwardian costume, boater hat, blazer, shirt, great,
as it'll look great with the croquet .We played croquet this last
weekend - and most seem to agree that the images and reminders of
the 19th C Sufragettes etc with Big Ben will make a lovely image for
the press. Also Maria has
suggested Keystone Cops in coming weeks. Hilarious idea - why not.
Plastic police hats are dead cheap and it would be really funny with
and for the cops. So, why not theme of Edwardian Aristos and
Keystone Cops? Love it. What does anyone else think?

Commons Meeting

I will post brief Minutes from yesterday's interrupted Commons
Meeting soon on the www.1.atwiki.com/picnic site

Suggest also that this week if/when they try to move
us we have in place a plane to regroup for a full Commons Meeting as
we did on the 21st so that we do it properly [this week we had to
finish the Peoples Commons Meeting earlier because of Police asking
us to disperse] and also ensure we are properly organised for the
following week? Somewhere else in the Exclusion Zone. Also, we need
to collect email addresses of new attendees and possible mobile
phone nos of everyone involved/willing? Really feel the Commons
Meeting is important aspect - we must keep it up because of the
location and its deeply democratic quality - and technically its not a demo, and so is not arrestable offence - even though it seems
innocous it's revolutionary and should continue
and grow regardless of what happens with the law and the right to
demonstrate. What do you all think?

Good Ideas For Later

Also Sian and I came up with [for later weeks] for the art class? -
me/all of us dressed in plain pyjamas[or whatever makes sense?]
and then we could draw prisoner arrows all over ourselves[or perhaps
just me,or other arrestees who are willing] and we could make
polystyrene balls and chains for all of us quite easily. Life under
the Modern Govt..pickaxes , doing New hard Labour!! ha ha.

also for winston's breast/placard "We shall protest, on the beaches"

Or another one for him/more generally - "It's Right To Protest!"

or "Me Thinks we cannot protest too much"

and definitely "Evict Big Brother"

the skies the limit with this one.

M

best not to put your name or personal phone number on publicity etc, otherwise you provide the police with evidence to charge you. And remember boys and girls, NO COMMENT. It's for your own protection (& others with you).

if it is demonstrations that are outlawed and not protests, maybe some people could take along some nice new gadget of the find they 'demonstrate' in department stores and show the people how to use a trouser press, steam iron etc - the clothese they usecould have no war written on or not... maybe could demonstrate new cucumber sandwich technology..
dunnno though, maybe a stupid idea
love to those who care

The creative commons sounds a very positive thing to be happening in a public space outside OUR ? Houses of Parliament. It is very sad and crazy that Mark was arrested, Definitely political. I hope it only serves to show how ludicrous the law and police action is.

How is demonstration or protest defined? Does Law prohibit Political discourse in the area? Does it prohibit assembly? Picnic? Does it prohibit the creation of art works? Does it prohibit distributing newspapers, pamphlets...?

Creative Commons is a fantastic thing. Just wish we were closer to London some times, hope the support swells.

Rich