Could anyone chip in with an explanation of a protestor's rights here? I intend to go to the Embassy tommorow at 6.00 to protest, but I want to know what my rights are if the same thing happens tommorow.
Please forward this to any lists you can in anticipation of the demo tomorrow!! It's originally from Wombleaction. Thanks
The S60 order is a new police tactic at major demonstrations used effectively to control, subdue and gain personal information about protesters despite having the extraordinarily limited power simply to "Stop and search in anticipation of violence".
Its effectiveness in the past was due to the fact that no-one knew just exactly what powers the police had under S60. As it turns out, they have very few powers.
In the event of an S60 order being issued, these are the important things to remember:
1. The police have the power to search you for weapons (and dangerous instruments). They have no other powers under S60. They can only detain you "for as long as necessary to carry out a search". 2. They have no legal power to force you to give them your name and address. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES give it to them: it will be kept on file for SEVEN years. When asked, say "NO COMMENT". 3. They have no legal power to force you to have your photograph taken. Do not allow them to do this. This too will be kept on file for SEVEN years. Keep your head turned away, or put your hand in front of your face. 4. They have no legal power to ask you to remove any item of clothing in public view, OTHER THAN that which is concealing your identity. Any facial masking can be confiscated., If you are asked to remove coats/jumpers etc, REFUSE OUTRIGHT. 5. They have no legal power to search wallets, purses, inside small pockets etc. This is an S60 search, for weapons only. If they ask to search wallets, purses, inside small pockets etc, REFUSE OUTRIGHT. 6. If you have a bag they will search that, but again for weapons only. Any other items, documents, potentially incriminating articles are OFF LIMITS. Do not allow them to examine any of your personal possessions (cash cards, student cards, diaries, organisers etc). This is not part of S60. Under Article 8 of the UK Human Rights Act 1998 your privacy is assured. Make sure they know this. They can only confiscate weapons and facial masking. 7. They have the power to use "reasonable force" but ONLY if you do not submit to a search. No other force can be used for any other purpose. 8. They must tell you their name, number, station they're based at the reason for the search. Ask them for this. Not only will it piss them, off but if they don't provide this information the search will be illegal.
Remember: in an S60 situation, you are accused of nothing and you have done nothing wrong. DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, however insignificant or polite. SAY "NO COMMENT" to everything.
Most of all, DON'T BE SCARED BY THEM! They know the law, and now so do you. USE IT!
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YOUR s60 RIGHTS!
23.07.2001 00:07
The S60 order is a new police tactic at major demonstrations used
effectively to control, subdue and gain personal information about
protesters despite having the extraordinarily limited power simply to "Stop
and search in anticipation of violence".
Its effectiveness in the past was due to the fact that no-one knew just
exactly what powers the police had under S60. As it turns out, they have
very few powers.
In the event of an S60 order being issued, these are the important things to
remember:
1. The police have the power to search you for weapons (and dangerous
instruments). They have no other powers under S60. They can only detain you
"for as long as necessary to carry out a search".
2. They have no legal power to force you to give them your name and
address. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES give it to them: it will be kept on file for
SEVEN years. When asked, say "NO COMMENT".
3. They have no legal power to force you to have your photograph taken.
Do not allow them to do this. This too will be kept on file for SEVEN years.
Keep your head turned away, or put your hand in front of your face.
4. They have no legal power to ask you to remove any item of clothing in
public view, OTHER THAN that which is concealing your identity. Any facial
masking can be confiscated., If you are asked to remove coats/jumpers etc,
REFUSE OUTRIGHT.
5. They have no legal power to search wallets, purses, inside small
pockets etc. This is an S60 search, for weapons only. If they ask to search
wallets, purses, inside small pockets etc, REFUSE OUTRIGHT.
6. If you have a bag they will search that, but again for weapons only.
Any other items, documents, potentially incriminating articles are OFF
LIMITS. Do not allow them to examine any of your personal possessions (cash
cards, student cards, diaries, organisers etc). This is not part of S60.
Under Article 8 of the UK Human Rights Act 1998 your privacy is assured.
Make sure they know this. They can only confiscate weapons and facial
masking.
7. They have the power to use "reasonable force" but ONLY if you do not
submit to a search. No other force can be used for any other purpose.
8. They must tell you their name, number, station they're based at the
reason for the search. Ask them for this. Not only will it piss them, off
but if they don't provide this information the search will be illegal.
Remember: in an S60 situation, you are accused of nothing and you have done
nothing wrong. DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, however insignificant or polite.
SAY "NO COMMENT" to everything.
Most of all, DON'T BE SCARED BY THEM! They know the law, and now so do you.
USE IT!
Rochelle
e-mail:
rochelle.harris@ukonline.co.uk