Fitwatch press release concerning the shut down of fitwatch.org.uk by the Metropolitan Police

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release

15th November 2010

*Police shut down activist website after support of demo students*

Police have shut down an activist website for openly supporting the student
demonstrations at Millbank.  FITwatch - a direct response to police Forward
Intelligence Teams (FIT) – has a history of challenging excessive police
surveillance and breaches of civil rights.

The website was shut down at the request of the Metropolitan police after
FITwatch issued advice to students fearful of arrest after the Millbank
demonstration.  A number of national newspapers made reference to an
activist ‘anti-police site’ that urged demonstrators not to panic into
giving themselves up.

“Our advice was simply good sense based on the understanding we have of
police operations”, said  Val Swain, a FITwatch activist.  “We don’t want to
see students arrested, convicted and criminalised for what was an entirely
justified action.”

The Metropolitan police applied to the websites host to suspend the site on
the grounds that it was involved in ‘criminal activities'- specifically,
‘attempting to pervert the course of justice’.

“This is an attack on freedom of speech,” said Emily Apple, another FITwatch
activist.  “The police don’t like what we do.  They have seized a flimsy
excuse to shut us down, and are trying to silence criticism of the police,
and support for political dissent”


 *For more information, contact:*

defycops@yahoo.co.uk

Notes for the Editor:

i. The use of the domain name www.fitwatch.org.uk has been suspended
following a request to the web hosting company, Just Host, from the
Metropolitan police.   The Met claimed the site was being used for ‘criminal
activities’ following comments made on the blog following the student demo
at Millbank.  The police stated that the blog was being used in an ‘attempt
to pervert the cause of justice’.

 ii.    Fitwatch published an article on Friday 12th November that contained
advice to protesters who were fearful of being identified by press
photography, cctv or FIT.  That advice has been copied widely around the
internet, indicating the support that FITwatch has received on this
issue.  A copy of the post can be found at
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/11/468002.html?c=on#comments

iii.  FITwatch contributed to a major story on the police use of ‘protester
databases’ in the Financial Times on 17th October 2009.

iv. FITwatch was also in the news in July when the Evening Standard reported
on a court victory by three Fitwatch supporters who had successfully
challenged the right of police to place attendees at an open public meeting
under surveillance.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23860752-protesters-rights-were-violated-by-met-surveillance.do

 v. A number of Fitwatch activists are currently taking legal action against
the police for assault and unlawful arrest

 vi. A number of newspapers including the Mail and Independent carried the
story of ‘anti-police’ website giving advice.  The Independent stated:

“Activist websites have published step-by-step instructions to those who
fear they may be identified and arrested in the aftermath of the
violence.  One anti-police site told participants to destroy potential
evidence, including clothing and any distinctive jewellery worn.  A
contributor urged demonstrators not to panic or give themselves up as a
result of the flood of media coverage.”


 vii. The last post to the site before suspension was highly critical of the
way the police have been capitalising on the aftermath of the protests to
defend their own budgets and justify repression of protesters.