in this very short and heart felt video plea, barbara tucker points out that the courts have never given permission for the police to enforce SOCPA because the act requires authorisation and conditions to be set by the commissioner, and any legal authority to delegate has yet to be proven. in the meantime, the protestors have successfully argued against the use of criminal law section 3(1) to empower seizure of banners, tents etc, showing that the £110,000 police operation in the dead of night in may 2006 was illegal.

despite having the law on their side, the peace camp suffers regular arrests and threats from the police. just last week, barbara and two others were held at belgravia for nearly 20 hours after being arrested for alleged unauthorised protest. ( http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/02/392412.html)

today, inspector fox tried to threaten brian haw with arrest if he didn't remove tents and banners that exceeded an arbitary 3 metre restriction. police also tried to search the tents without warrant or court order. ( http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/393715.html and  http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/393719.html)

it is blindingly obvious that if the powers existed, police would have got court orders for search, seizure or enforcement by now. instead they keep committing acts that are shown later in court to be unlawful. the fear of further such cases seem to have caused the retreat today, but the pressure and intimidation is growing. 'ant' was arrested for calling the police 'nazis' this afternoon. despite this being a minor public order offence at worst, he is still in detention at belgravia police station, and his solicitors have repeatedly tried to get news or speak to him, but the police have refused to co-operate.

there are fears for his safety.

tomorrow night, indymedia will publish footage of today's attempted seizure and ant's arrest