UK Indymedia - UK Newswire Archive

Tasers in Nottingham and elsewhere

22-08-2010 13:41

Tasers are becoming an increasingly prominent tool in the arsenal of police in Nottinghamshire and elsewhere. This should raise important questions, regardless of whether you accept the anarchist critique of the police as a tool of state control, view them as a necessary evil or actually regard the boys in blue as good for society. However, these questions do not seem to be asked. Despite a number of high profile incidents when tasers have been deployed, we continue to creep towards a situation where police are routinely armed without any public debate on whether this is actually what we want or not.

The most high-profile incident locally was the tasering of a man outside Flares on Upper Parliament Street. The incident, in June last year, was captured on video which for some reason was handed over to radio station Trent FM, but quickly found its way onto YouTube and from there became a major national story.

The incident was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), a notoriously toothless organisation. They concluded their investigation in February of this year, announcing, "The investigation examined force and national policies on the use of tasers by police officers and police guidelines on managing conflict. It found that the actions of the police officers in these circumstances were within relevant policies. The investigation sought the opinion of a private sector expert in the use of tasers and force. His view was that the actions of the officers and the decision to deploy a taser several times, and not to use any alternative such as a baton or incapacitant spray, was compliant with their training and relevant guidelines."

Whether these guidelines were correct was not considered, a point raised by Amnesty International who noted, in response to the IPCC's report, that "current policing guidelines do not specify clearly that these weapons should be used only when there is a genuine threat to life or very serious injury. This, in our view, leaves the risk that the Taser may be used when officers are presented with far less threatening situations." In Amnesty's views, tasers, "which inflict excruciating pain" should only be used by highly trained officers in situations where there is a genuine risk to life. They urged "the Home Office to review the policing guidelines on the use of Tasers so as to ensure that officers only use the weapon when absolutely necessary."

growing list of fatalities, following the deployment of tasers has forced the abandonment of this as a selling point and the weapons are now billed as "less lethal". Experience in Nottingham and elsewhere, demonstrates that in any case tasers are usually not used in situations where a firearm would be deployed, but instead serve to lower the threshold of violence, possibly encouraging police brutality.

This is quite apart of course, from any questions about the competence of the officers using the weapons. On Wednesday August 4th, police were called to Alexander Street in Stapleford following reports of "anti-social behaviour." Reportedly, one man "became aggressive" towards the officers (a turn of phrase used by both Nottinghamshire Police and the BBC). At this point the police used a taser against him, but missed (or to use the police's own wording, the taser "did not connect with the man") and hit Jodie Gallagher who was standing behind him.

This case was referred to the IPCC, but they decided to hand the case back to Notts Police without even bothering to organise a sham investigation. The IPCC said: "In making this decision the IPCC considered a number of factors including that the girl was stood near the intended target , who moved as the officer discharged the Taser." Note that they state this as fact even before an investigation has happened. They were also content "that the police officer concerned took prompt actions to rectify the incident by stopping the discharge as soon as he realised the mistake and ensuring she was not injured. We are also aware that Nottinghamshire Police have apologised to the girl and her family." That makes it alright then? What's 50,000 volts between friends?

On the same day this story was published in the Nottingham Post, that paper was carrying another taser related story on the front cover, reporting that "POLICE dog handlers had to use a Taser gun on a crazed dog which savaged its owner in her flat." The Post states, "Police said the use of the Taser on the dog was 'extremely unusual' but they had no other option to ensure everyone's safety." Unfortunately, the paper doesn't make it clear if this is actually recommended policy or whether the officers involved were improvising, hoping that the weapon wouldn't simply enrage the animal further.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the article is the final line which reveals that "Notts police officers trained to use Tasers now include road police and dog section officers." When the weapon was first introduced to the force it was only trained firearms officers who were issued with them. This is now changing. As the weapons become routine, we can expect to see them deployed in a increasingly diverse situation. In all likelihood this will include them being used against protesters. In August 2005, police in Pittsburgh attacked a counter recruitment demonstration using both Tasers and pepper spray against protesters. Nobody should kid themselves that this couldn't happen here. During last year's G20, in an incident which has received remarkably little coverage, the Met Police threatened peaceful protesters with a taser while evicting a squat in London.

Another worrying taser-related development recently was the death of Raul Moat, who shot himself after police used a "Taser Xrep" in an attempt to subdue him. The Xrep is a new weapon developed by Taser International. Unlike earlier tasers it is a wireless weapon which can be fired from any 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. The deployment of this weapon was a surprise because it is still undergoing testing by the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) did not know Northumbria Police had these weapons. While there are questions about the impartiality of some of the research used in previous Home Office trials, you might hope that the police would at least conduct some testing of weapons before using them against members of the public. Cynics might also note that this was a particularly high profile case and if the police were prepared to use an untested weapon in the full glare of the international media spotlight what are they up to on a day-to-day basis?

Tasers have been introduced with minimal mainstream debate. We are slipping towards a situation where police are routinely armed and nobody has been asked if this is what they actually want. This may be par for the course, but the silence of activists on this point is surprising and unfortunate. We may believe the police today are violent and oppressive, they didn't need a taser to do for Ian Tomlinson, but we shouldn't dismiss this as irrelevant. Tasers lower the threshold of violence and in doing so make it more likely.

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The Martians Have Landed at the Camp for Climate Action in Edinburgh

22-08-2010 12:35

Auditions have begun for a live interactive show entitled “The Martians Have Landed” at the Camp for Climate Action in Edinburgh.
Produced and directed by the Children of the Eco-Warriors “The Martians Have Landed” will be the story of the kids' bloc Children's Revolution at the climate camp.

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People Unite in Opposition to Scottish Coal's Open Cast Plans in Midlothian

22-08-2010 12:35

Yesterday around 185 people gathered in Cousland, Midlothian, to show their united opposition to Scottish Coal's plans to mine 2 million tonnes of coal from the 154-hectare site at Airfield Farm – the size of Edinburgh's old and new towns combined – just 500 metres from the village. Many villagers and their families came to the Village Hall and were met by 20 cyclists who cycled from Climate Camp in Gogar and a further 60 from the Climate Camp and beyond who came to show their support for the campaign.

"National" "newspaper" "report" on RBS invasion

22-08-2010 12:35

Report from the Scotsman about Friday's incursion into the RBS offices from the Climate camp. Most notable feature of the report is the constant use of "scare quotes" around the phrase "non-violent" in '"non-violent" protest', as if there were some controversy or doubt over such a statement.

Protest inside Brixton police station

22-08-2010 12:35

About 100 people demonstrated yesterday (21 August) afternoon in front of Brixton Police Station
to remember the death of Sean Rigg, who got arrested on 21 August in 2008 by police,
“restrained” and transported to Brixton police station in the back of a van. He was removed from the van in a collapsed state and died a short while after whilst in the station yard. He was 40 years old.

After the protest outside about 40 people entered the police station to protest inside.

full article: http://london.indymedia.org/articles/5433

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Brixton Police Station, remember Sean Rigg

22-08-2010 12:34

About 100 people demonstrated yesterday (21 August) afternoon in front of Brixton Police Station
to remember the death of Sean Rigg, who got arrested on 21 August in 2008 by police,
“restrained” and transported to Brixton police station in the back of a van. He was removed from the van in a collapsed state and died a short while after whilst in the station yard. He was 40 years old.

Speakers included many family members of victims of police brutality, including Sean Riggs
sisters. Protestors enrolled a giant list with the names of victims of police violance in
front of the station entrance.

Despite the obvious suspicious circumstances surrounding Sean’s death, the Independent Police
Complaints Commission's (IPCC) report completed in February 2010 with no results. Sean's family described the report as "heavily biased in favour of the police”. In a statement, the family's solicitor asked: "What happened to Sean in those crucial minutes between him being arrested and arriving in a collapsed state at Brixton police station? Why haven’t they been able to access key CCTV footage from the night?"

Speakers remembered the long history of police violence in London and also mentioned the death of Ian Tomlinson, who died during the G20 protest in 2009 after being beaten by police officers.

After the picket about 40 people tried to enter Brixton Police Station to talk to an offcial representative, but were denied access to the offices. They remained inside for about 15 minutes shouting "No Justice, no peace!" (video: http://london.indymedia.org/videos/5434 )

The protest was followed by a public meeting in the Karibu Eductaion Centre in Brixton in the evening.

more information about the case of Sean Rigg: http://seanriggjusticeandchange.com

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#513 - Producing Killers and Selling Wars (Why Any Mother's Son will Do)

22-08-2010 11:51

This week's show looks at the manipulation necessary to create wars from 3 different angles, the brainwashing of recruits, the political manipulation of public opinion, and tailoring of Hollywood's depiction of war.

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Workers' Fightback: Indianapolis and South Africa Wage Battles

22-08-2010 11:39

We support... rank and file workers' struggles against the chaotic profit system!

We believe... workers know how to run our workplaces far better than business people, the government, or trade union leaders!

We aim for... workers' control over our own jobs and our own lives!

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Nottingham Carnival 2010

22-08-2010 11:34

Nottingham Caribbean Carnival 2010 was held on the Forest Recreation Ground on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th August. The highlight of the weekend was the big parade on Sunday which drew thousands of spectators.

Photos: Nottingham Carnival: The Big Parade | Nottingham Caribbean Carnival Parade | More from Caribbean Carnival | Caribbean Carnival, Nottingam: Forest Rec Ground

Videos Nottingham Carnival on Friar Lane | Nottingham Carnival on Friar Lane 2 | Nottingham Carnival on Alfreton Road

Previous coverage: Carnival 2010 | Carnival 2007: 1 | 2 | 3 | Carnival 2005: 1 | 2 | 3

The parade went from Friar Lane, just outside the Castle, down towards the Market Square. Making it's way along Beastmarket Hill and up Angel Row, before turning left up Mount Street, onto Maid Marian Way and then up Derby Road. From their it turned down onto Ilkeston Road, right on Highurst Road, up to Alfreton Road before turning right at Bentick Road to enter the Forest Recreation Ground.

The event was well attended and blessed by warm - if not massively sunny - weather. There were various colourful costumes including two huge puppets of cartoon characters Poeye and Olive Oil. The various floats were generally not decorated, but did carry large, and very loud, sounds systems.

At the Forest Rec, those involved in the parade queued to display their dance routine in front of the crowds. Others drifted off to explore the various stalls (which included a display from the "Army Information Team" clearly on the circuit, having also been at last week's Riverside Festival) or fairground rides.

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Tesco Keyworth planning timescales

22-08-2010 10:39

Tesco have recently submitted a planning application for a large store in Keyworth. The majority of villagers are opposed to this and an active resistance campaign has been mounted. Here is an update with deadlines for objections and a likely decision date.

The current owners of the brownfield site, builders/developers William Davis, still have planning permission for the 48 sheltered flats which would allow elderly residents to return to their community, which the villagers support. However William Davis can make more profit selling to Tesco. Tesco clearly have plenty of cash to throw at this proposal (so they obviously make loads from shoppers despite their claims to be cheap). For example, it is believed that they have offered three times the market value of an adjoining house so they can pull it down to use the land as part of their proposed car park.

One devious element to Tesco’s plans is to claim that this is a completely new type of store – no doubt in an attempt to negate objections based on comparisons with other sites or stores.

The consultation period for public comments on Tesco’s planning application officially ends on 13 September, but responses will continue to be accepted and noted for several weeks after this. Details are on Rushcliffe Borough Council’s planning website (see link) and the reference number is 10/01333/OUT.

The plans can also be examined at Keyworth Library, Keyworth Parish Council and the Civic Centre. Your comments can be directly e-mailed to RBC at   developmentcontrol@rushcliffe.gov.uk.

Rushcliffe Borough Council's Development Control Committee will meet to make the decision on the Tesco plan on Thursday 21 October at 7.00pm in the Civic Centre

The No Tesco In Keyworth group have not been idle and have prepared guidance and advice on how to object to the proposal.

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Bradford Bother

22-08-2010 09:06

Despite the ban on any EDL march in Bradford, those little rascals are still going to turn up.

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Bradford EDL organiser revealed. Stop the EDL in Bradford!

21-08-2010 23:58

The English Defence League are the racist football thugs that by now everyone has heard of. They have attacked mosques, put pigs heads on mosques, attacked Muslims women & pulled off their hijabs. They have smashed up shops, cars, homes & rampaged through Luton, Bolton, Stoke, Dudley, Aylesbury, causing trouble. They now plan to riot in Bradford in Yorkshire on the 28th August.

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The hole that cost a mint

21-08-2010 20:23

he hole that cost a mint, six month review. As a responsible citizen and commentator your correspondent felt compelled today to visit the recently opened "Temporary Bradford Urban Garden" [1] - link to hoarding pic using this name] which we last reported on in February [2], when plans were about to be unveiled for the opening up of the space.

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Bristol Anarchist Bookfair 2010

21-08-2010 20:22

Welcome to the 2010 Bristol Anarchist Bookfair !
Saturday 11 September, from 10.30am to 6pm
At Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY (fully accessible via ramp & lifts)

At the bookfair we offer you: 48 tables of stalls over 2 floors, 28 separate meetings/workshops/films spread over 4 rooms (including a Bristol Indymedia room and a Radical History Zone), a kids space, and an all day vegan cafe. All are welcome - come along and find out more, just step inside the door!

This year’s Bristol Bookfair will take place in the midst of the most serious ongoing crisis of capitalism for 80 years, against a background of drastic austerity measures (cuts, unemployment, tax rises, wage freezes, inflation) and worsening environmental mayhem. The class war waged against us by the ruling class has come up with an old trick, the coalition governent, this time of the self-serving LibDems and our class enemies the Tory toffs. Their Big Society is nothing but a Big Con, as they seek to roll back a publicly accountable state (well a bit accountable!) and replace it with a privately run corporately controlled one. Behind their PR bullshit of respect, sustainability and freedom lurks the iron fist of authoritarian capitalism making our lives subservient to their profits, our choices dictated to us by them. They tell us we must all share the pain of this crisis, we hope this bookfair will play its part in ensuring that they do indeed share some of our pain.

The aim of the bookfair is to provide a wide range of anarchist and radical literature, ideas, history, debate, theory, meetings, workshops and films, and merchandise. The event will provide a serious taster of anarchist ideas & practices to those people new to such ideas and looking for an alternative to the way things are, but do not have to be. The bookfair also acts as a get together for existing anarchists & radicals - to debate, discuss, network, plot and plan, and of course socailise!

This event will provide you with all the tools you need to join the fightback against the LibDemCon coalition. The future is unwritten, it is not set in stone, it depends on what we do in the present.

On our website at http://www.bristolanarchistbookfair.org you will find full details of the stalls and meetings at the bookfair, along with other events. We will also upload the full programme to the Bristol Indymedia site as soon as its available. Feel free to download and circulate publicity and info from the website.

Solidarity, love and rage!
Bristol anarchist bookfair collective xxx

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Mass insanity:“War on Terrorism” propaganda ratcheted up ahead of war escalation

21-08-2010 18:13

Exemplified by the furor over the so-called “Ground Zero mosque” in New York, and rumors of a new Al-Qaeda “mastermind”, 9/11 “war on terrorism” propaganda has been ramped up to deafening levels by various political factions. Nearly a decade since Bush/Cheney’s 9/11 false flag deception, a fearful, self-destructive American mass public remains fully brainwashed by “war on terrorism” deception--- ignorant of history, and militantly oblivious to facts.

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Right Wing Extremist Spies on Climate Campers with British Army Equipment

21-08-2010 17:24

There appears to have been a deadly serious game of cat and mouse going on between environmental activists, a local Scottish journalist, and the right wing extremist who has been threatening violence against the Camp for Climate Action in Edinburgh.
Boasting that he is a professional soldier recently returned from fighting in Afghanistan where he says he killed Muslims for reading Islamic literature, and now posting his threats on Twitter under the name “wearethebritish” the extremist claims to have been using British Army military surveillance equipment to spy on the climate campers.

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Antiwar Forum Attacks.. The 504 Gateway Timeout

21-08-2010 16:49

A number of antiwar forums have been experiencing 504 Gateway attacks.
Are they from government intelligence, corporate, war profiteer or other sources?

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Is Federal Abuse of Power Enslaving American People

21-08-2010 16:02

Given the massive size of our National Debt, the recent unexpected rise in unemployment, the fact that we are constantly in a state of war, legislators on both sides of the aisle cannot seem to tighten their collective belts and our government cannot accept its role as the protector of our Constitutional rights, are we becoming a “slave state?”

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Burial of Nuke Waste in Cumbria

21-08-2010 15:30

A West Cumbrian Councillor has proposed that Allerdale should withdraw from the dodgy process designed to force Cumbria into "geological disposal" of nuclear waste.
The new government like the last is desperate to have been seen to have solved the problem of nuclear waste - to pave the way for new nuclear build.

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Israel will attack Iran: Will Israel attack Iran?!

21-08-2010 09:44

Over the past five years, Iran has been recurrently under the threat of an imminent war which the mainstream media have overwhelmingly talked of; a war against Tehran to overthrow the Islamic Republic and bring to power a "democratic" regime which the "international community" favors. The psychological warfare machinery is being activated again as each newspaper and website represents one arsenal. Jeffrey Goldberg is taking steps to become the Judith Miller of war against Iran and the world once again watches the funny advertisement of human rights by those who are terrifically massacring "humans" in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan, getting prepared for a new bloodshed in Iran.