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Manchester: Successful Critical Mass dispersed by police

Eddy Merckx | 28.02.2006 15:54

A successful Critical Mass in Manchester was eventually stopped and dispersed by the police last Friday. Around 25 cyclists were moved onto the pavement by a contingent of 6 police cars and vans, had their names taken, and received cautions and warnings. The ride was not allowed to continue.

Coming together at Central Library

Easy Rider

Beep if you love bicycles

On yer bikes

Moved onto pavement

My name is Eddy Merckx, officer

No escape

The bicycle ride started at the Central Library with circa 30 riders. It was this winter's most successful one, despite the freezing temperatures.

After an hour or so, a police van and 5 police cars blocked the cyclists' way, issued a man with a caution and everyone else with a warning. A handful of people cycled away before they had their names taken, although the cops had threatened with arrest in this case.

Critical Mass was declared an illegal assembly and riders were threatened with arrest in the case of forming a group again on the same day. Indeed Critical Mass did not reconvene, although most people found their way back to Manchester's social centre for a cup of tea.

Next Critical Mass will be on March 31st. Turn out in numbers to defend your right to cycle in groups. Meet us on the steps of the central library at 6 pm.

Eddy Merckx

Additions

police justifications

28.02.2006 17:31

TBH I couldn't really be bothered to listen to the justifications given by the coppers to stop and disperse us. What I did hear was that:
-They were concerned about our safety, because we did not wear reflective clothing.
-They stopped us at a point where there was a cycle path off the road which we did not use.
-We had cycled through red lights.
-We did not cycle in a single file.
-We had formed an illegal assembly (not sure if that was the exact term used)

Also interesting: we cycled mostly behind a guy with a mobile sound system to listen to the music. The police made him out to be the leader and cautioned him, I think.

Manc Critical Masser

Legal Info

01.03.2006 12:37

This is from the Free Beagles website, the best for activists - READ IT, READ IT AGAIN, THEN AGAIN.

This is the first bit about giving your name and address prior to arrest. Anything else the cops say is bullshit.

Know Your Rights!

2.1 Giving your details

Other than under road traffic and anti-social behaviour legislation, you do not commit an offence in English law by refusing to give your name and address to the police. However there are certain situations where the police may arrest you if they cannot establish your name and address, and if you are arrested and charged with an offence you will be unlikely to be granted bail unless they can establish these details.

2.2 Prior to Arrest

The general rule to remember is that you never have to give your name and address to the police prior to arrest, subject to the following 3 exceptions:

1. where the police reasonably suspect you of a non-arrestable offence, and require your name and address for the service of a summons (Section 25 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE));
2. where you are the driver of a vehicle;
3. where the police say they suspect you of “anti-social behaviour.

Legal Eagle
Homepage: http://www.freebeagles.org/