Anti DSei Critical Mass penned under s12/14
teterouge | 13.09.2007 20:21 | DSEi 2007 | Analysis | Repression
The Pen
Insp Rowe, who looked quite fetching in his garb, told us it was from above. Some of the PCs didn't have clue what this meant; and neither did most of us; but we were penned and not allowed to move. About ten to fifteen minutes later Acting Superintendent Morgan told us that not only was s12 being applied, but also s14. We could protest, but only where he thought we could. His s12 notice (which didn't mention s14) told us that he "reasonably believed that our protest may result in serious public disorder, serious damage to property and serious disruption to the life of the community". On asking him for the rationale behind his 'reasoned' belief he informed me that he did not have to share this with me and could only be compelled under judical review. I reflected to him that this was a little difficult in the circumstances.
So we milled around a little longer and then I left, but only after having to inform a PC what his boss had just said (that I could leave if I stopped protesting); and on his failure to comprehend, get his sargeant involved.
So what did the Police achieve? They held up the traffic far more than we would have done by cycling about; in my view they directly enabled the serious disruption to the life of the community (you should have seen the subsequent grid lock), and they held us on a whim that they didn't want or need to explain.
Given it took around half an hour from setting off to getting to Park Lane, it strikes me that they already had the notices printed before we left; so couldn't have formed an opinion about public disorder in that time; they don't communicate half as much as we might think they do; and many of them don't know the law they are enforcing.
The protest then, as at Climate Camp, also becomes one of rights - we appear not to have the right to non-violent protest unless we do what the state tells us...bit contradictory that one. And the state doesn't need to tell us why they have stopped us. And they can make it up as they go along.
teterouge
Additions
Critical mass takes message around the streets of Mayfair
14.09.2007 09:26
The cycle convoy continued around surrounding streets, passing by many bars, spreading the message of denouncing the Arms Fairs, with facts that make it of direct relevant to ordinary Joe-Public such as the fact that taxpayers subsidise the arms industry by up to £12 million a year. After over about an hour, we reached Piccadilly Circus where we stopped in the middle of the street to deliberate what to do next, with our 2 MC's on the tandem with the soundsystem continuing to deliver much biting polemic. Unfortunately, one of the number got arrested for not moving into the pavement quick enough after the cops insisted we make way out of the road. He was charged, along with 7 others who were arrested for minor offences at the Dorchester.
While at the nick, a man came in claiming his car had been nicked outside the Dorchester Hotel, where 200 cops were in attendance (an indictment of proper policing you might reason!) He wasn't an arms dealer - to a few of us, he had a familiar face and we think he was a tv actor!!!!
cyclist
DSEi Dinner critical mass addition
14.09.2007 12:47
Eventually two of the cyclists were send off (on foot) to the pen, armed with their stop and search form and some copy of a badly written paper telling them they would be arrested if they were found protesting outside the pen. The third cyclists was given no such paper, but a neatly filled out stop and search from, and was sent to the pen (cycling on the pavement to get there).
While the three cyclists were stopped and searched (all three were clearly protesters), the police managed to drag at least tow cyclists off the road who just happened to cycle by.
Cyclist
e-mail:
saskia.walzel@Acona.com
Comments
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Lots of illegal policing
14.09.2007 01:03
Some claimed that under section 50 you have to give them your name and address or face arrest. I don't think that's true. I've never willingly given my name and address to police and despite threats of arrest they have always backed down. I think it's another lie. Any proper lawyers out there want to let us know?
As for the critical mass penning. Totally illegal and definitely should be checked by judicial review. The police haven't a leg to stand on with that one, and they need to be shown so in court.
This was ridiculous, oppresive policing and they keep cranking it up more and more. It's really important to stand ground and fight back.
Anyone noticed all the road closures and new bollard building near the American embassy. I guess they're expecting trouble. Couldn't have anything to do with an attack on iran could it?
Why do ordinary policemen go along with this shit? Can't they see they're just being used? I guess they like the power they get. Small penises and all that!
pigwatcher
Finding Ways Around by Bicycle
18.09.2007 14:14
Recently somone told me that Critical mass is actually part of a new religion called Matrixism. I wonder if laws protecting our religious freedoms could help to make it harder for police to arrest Critical Mass riders?
Bicycle Day
Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/matrixism2069
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