The bugs in battersea might be like the ones that the shac people found in their house. keep an eye out for these in social centres, internet cafes, activist pubs etc.

Look like cheap pens but with silver tops and a wire just poking out of the end. Once you know them they are easy to spot.

HEY CAN SAMEONE SEND PICTURE OF THE BUGS thanx

hi There did you see the bugs and where they were hidden.

If so can you please describe.

rocket

If you find a bug, do not remove or disable it.

That might at first appear to be strange advice, but the bug you know about is safer than the bug you don't know about (and they will know if a bug isn't reporting back in to them, will replace a "blown" bug). Moving a short distance might sometimes be possible/useful. But since these are likely low power devices, if you move to a distant location going to be out of range of its intended receiver.

Also, the bug that you know is there but that they don't know that you know is there can be used for purposes of disinformation. Get creative. Only after having been used for a few cases of disinformation and you figure that now they know that you know should the bug be removed. Note that this is not entirely unlike the situation with location bugs like tracking where a cell phone is. If they are assuming that the moving cell phone is in your pocket and so you must be where the cell phone is you might arrange for that assumption to be false.

FYI:

Bugs can probably come in the form of pens, but do not think if you don't find a suspect pen that you're not bugged.

Bugging devices can be almost invisible and fitted anywhere in, or outside a house, depending on type and quality. The one thing they need to work though is an electrical source, so bare that in mind. A bugged pen surely wouldn't have a very long battery supply?

Bugs can come ready made in the form of clocks, lamps, picture frames, smoke detectors, plug socket adaptors / extensions, plug sockets, and more. Some bugs you listen in 'live', i.e. they are fitted with a mobile SIM card that you phone and then listen in. Mostly though bugs will record the sounds and are then collected during a raid / break in and written up as transcripts when the cops are ready to spew out their case against you.

Bugs can also be added into items already in a house - for example plug fittings, light fixtures, smoke detectors - activists should never speak about anything private inside anyway, but especially so if you've been raided, as there is a high chance they will fit a bug into something with an electrical source. Bugs can also be planted in surrounding houses to listen through walls, floors, etc.

There's no need to get crazy paranoid about these things, but be aware of what technology is out there and be safe.

Also it may be worth knowing that you can actually buy bug detectors that supposedly pick up if you have a bugged house. You can get pretty cheap ones from Maplin electronic shops.. whether these work accurately or not is another question. Otherwise you could always fork out a few hundred for a proper one - much cheaper just to keep your mouth shut though!

Solidarity, stay safe, keep rebelling!

check the overflows on your sinks...

...

1. never say anything in your house that you would not say to a judge.

2. or your garden, favourite dog walk, well known activist hangouts/pubs, your car, etc.

3. don't get paranoid, just get on with being active and manage the risk.

The stuff about leaving bugs in place is good advice. And your security is only ever as good as your last scan which leads to false senses of security, etc. Also bug detectors (you can pick them up at Maplins, etc) are always going to be a generation behind the current generation of bugging technology.

Its a waste of time trying to play the spot the bug game because you can never be 100% certain. The only way is to not incriminate yourself by talking about sensitive stuff in your house, etc.

there have been false indymedia stories with similar content before - they were hidden. This time indymedia has made it into breaking news (although referring to 15 Gaza raids not 8 G20 raids). Does that mean indy can confirm them?

If not, these posts are just wasting our time. What makes me sceptical is the fact that numbers of arrests are given, without any more information. How would the poster know how many got arrested, if they are at different addresses?

Repost from copsite:

Six arrested in ongoing investigation into violence at demonstrations

Six people have been arrested this morning, 7 May, as part of Operation Ute, the Met's ongoing investigation into violence at a series of demonstrations in central London during January 2009.

The investigation team was formed in January this year after a series of demonstrations in central London descended into violence, with attacks on police officers and a number of shop windows being smashed.

To date 93 people have been arrested (including today's arrests) in connection with offences at the demonstrations. This is the second arrest phase since the investigation team formed.

At least 55 police officers have reported being injured during the policing of these demonstrations. Fortunately the vast majority of injuries were minor. However, on 10 January one police officer was knocked unconscious after he was hit by a metal object.

The demonstrations:

3 January 2009:

On 3 January a lawful march of around 12,000 went from Embankment to Trafalgar Square. What followed saw around 2,000 start a spontaneous march from the Square to the Israeli Embassy. Police worked hard to facilitate to the march to keep participants safe. Along the route of the march a small number of people repeatedly tried to break through police lines and hurled objects including fireworks at officers. Once at the Embassy a small group continued to try and attack police, breaking apart barriers and throwing them at police. This went on for approximately three hours.

Afterwards a search of the area recovered a knife embedded in the Embassy gatepost, which police believe had been thrown at officers. Some 13 people were arrested at the time, but detectives are still seeking in the region of 17 people for offences such as serious violent disorder.

10 January 2009:

On 10 January a march left Speakers Corner for the Israeli Embassy. Police believe there were between 15 - 20,000 people taking part. An initial attempt to breach security at the north gate of Kensington Palace Gardens resulted in police coming under attack from a small group of protestors throwing sticks and stones. The gate and nearby street furniture were also damaged. In front of the Embassy itself officers came under a sustained three-hour attack from a group who were intent on breaching police security barriers. People hurled metal barriers, sticks and stones at officers.

Four shops had their windows smashed and people attacked police vehicles. A 'Starbucks' was looted and people used items they had stolen to then throw at police. 24 people were arrested on the day; detectives are now seeking at least 20 people for offences ranging from serious violent disorder. CCTV and material taken by specialist evidence gatherers is now being reviewed by the team.

Those arrested are: A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder at an address in Ealing. A 20-yea-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder at an address in Notting Hill. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder at an address in Tower Hamlets. An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder at an address in Wood Green. An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder at an address in Holloway. A 17-year-old male youth was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder at an address in Tower Hamlets.

Bulletin 0000001274 07 May 2009

 http://cms.met.police.uk/news/arrests_and_charges/six_arrested_in_ongoing_investigation_into_violence_at_demonstrations