(send) Up The Cops!
citizenssection60agogo | 04.03.2002 22:52
The police are having a big demonstration and rally!? On Thursday March 13th? In London at approximately 1pm? Why (rub rub of the hands with sheer glee) This looks like a job for - The MUPPETS and FRAGGLES.......
What? Big piss-take action against the first mass mobilisation and rally by cops for cops in the UK since the 30s
When? Wednesday March 13th
Where? Meet outside Politicos bookshop, Westminster 12.30pm - the rozzers are having their rally/demo at the QE2 conference centre, Westminster between 1 and 2pm
Who is behind these shenanigans?! - The MUPPETS (Movement Undermining Police and Politicians Endangering Tomorrow's Society) and the FRAGGLES (Front of Resistance Against Government Greed Leaching Everybody's Souls) - obviously Hardcore Samurai sword wielding baby-eating anarchists from hell..
Background:
On March 13th, thousands of rank and file police officers are converging at the QE2 Conference Centre, Westminster, SW1 for a rally and demo by default (they are expected to make their presence known en masse outside the centre, probably for press photo-opportunites more than the possibility of marching on Parliament - although this has been threatened). They are venting their dissent towards much reviled reforms instituted by David Blunkett which will see officers' over-time pay cut; uniform allowances slashed; food allowances axed and the introduction of Community Safety Officers (any member of the public with a clean record can become one of these) to enforce new anti-social behaviour spot penalty fines (up to £100). These CSOs will have powers of detention using reasonable force for up to half an hour before a constable arrives on the scene. They also have the power to take names and addresses without arrest. Great, Stop and Search (legalised harrassment) with financial bells on! The Police Federation - The equivalent of an police officers' union has labelled the introduction of CSOs as 'policing on the cheap' and has even put forward proposals for challenging the UK's police anti-strike laws (in place since 1919) in the European Court of Human Rights! Blunkett's reforms represent the continuing logic of capitalism: the restructuring and casualisation of the force is a repetition of the neo-liberal dynamic of further privatisation of utilites and atomisation of the workfrce throughout the UK - it's been happening with the railways, water, air-traffic control, office workers, the construction industry - what makes the cops think their lot should be any different?
Anyway, this action is not about sympathy with the cops, it's about turning the tables and giving them a taste of their own medicine!
Everybody is encouraged to bring a camera in order to film ringleaders (the Police Federation) and 'over-view' trouble makers. If anyone fears for their safety and that of public order, what with the presence of so many agitated boys/gals in blue out en masse in the street, a citizens section 60 may be established in order to prevent a breach of the peace. Banners will be waved aloft bearing slogans such as 'Alright, You've Made Your Point Now, Move Along Please', 'My Daughter's A Police Woman', and 'They're Just Workers In Uniform'. Hearty renditions of 'Brian Paddick he's our friend',(Brian Paddick he's our friend, he's our friend, he's our friend, Brian Paddick he's our friend, he likes anar-chyyy!' and 'If you're an anarcho and you know it (and you Really want to show it) clap ya hands'. Activists will cover up 'their numbers' and stories are expected to be released to the press in the run-up to the event about violent inflitrators, fascist presence(Doh! no shocker there)and fears of a minority of harcore weapon carrying saboteurs taking over a 'largely peaceful' march. Gosh,let's hope no naughty anarchists take on the roles of genuine infiltrators.
See ya'll there!
Disclaimer: The overseer rode around the plantation but he really did do a jolly good job of ruling all de nation, so go ease nah
PS times are subject to change, check out the mainstream press for confirmation of the exact time of the Po-lice rally and watch this space for more info...
When? Wednesday March 13th
Where? Meet outside Politicos bookshop, Westminster 12.30pm - the rozzers are having their rally/demo at the QE2 conference centre, Westminster between 1 and 2pm
Who is behind these shenanigans?! - The MUPPETS (Movement Undermining Police and Politicians Endangering Tomorrow's Society) and the FRAGGLES (Front of Resistance Against Government Greed Leaching Everybody's Souls) - obviously Hardcore Samurai sword wielding baby-eating anarchists from hell..
Background:
On March 13th, thousands of rank and file police officers are converging at the QE2 Conference Centre, Westminster, SW1 for a rally and demo by default (they are expected to make their presence known en masse outside the centre, probably for press photo-opportunites more than the possibility of marching on Parliament - although this has been threatened). They are venting their dissent towards much reviled reforms instituted by David Blunkett which will see officers' over-time pay cut; uniform allowances slashed; food allowances axed and the introduction of Community Safety Officers (any member of the public with a clean record can become one of these) to enforce new anti-social behaviour spot penalty fines (up to £100). These CSOs will have powers of detention using reasonable force for up to half an hour before a constable arrives on the scene. They also have the power to take names and addresses without arrest. Great, Stop and Search (legalised harrassment) with financial bells on! The Police Federation - The equivalent of an police officers' union has labelled the introduction of CSOs as 'policing on the cheap' and has even put forward proposals for challenging the UK's police anti-strike laws (in place since 1919) in the European Court of Human Rights! Blunkett's reforms represent the continuing logic of capitalism: the restructuring and casualisation of the force is a repetition of the neo-liberal dynamic of further privatisation of utilites and atomisation of the workfrce throughout the UK - it's been happening with the railways, water, air-traffic control, office workers, the construction industry - what makes the cops think their lot should be any different?
Anyway, this action is not about sympathy with the cops, it's about turning the tables and giving them a taste of their own medicine!
Everybody is encouraged to bring a camera in order to film ringleaders (the Police Federation) and 'over-view' trouble makers. If anyone fears for their safety and that of public order, what with the presence of so many agitated boys/gals in blue out en masse in the street, a citizens section 60 may be established in order to prevent a breach of the peace. Banners will be waved aloft bearing slogans such as 'Alright, You've Made Your Point Now, Move Along Please', 'My Daughter's A Police Woman', and 'They're Just Workers In Uniform'. Hearty renditions of 'Brian Paddick he's our friend',(Brian Paddick he's our friend, he's our friend, he's our friend, Brian Paddick he's our friend, he likes anar-chyyy!' and 'If you're an anarcho and you know it (and you Really want to show it) clap ya hands'. Activists will cover up 'their numbers' and stories are expected to be released to the press in the run-up to the event about violent inflitrators, fascist presence(Doh! no shocker there)and fears of a minority of harcore weapon carrying saboteurs taking over a 'largely peaceful' march. Gosh,let's hope no naughty anarchists take on the roles of genuine infiltrators.
See ya'll there!
Disclaimer: The overseer rode around the plantation but he really did do a jolly good job of ruling all de nation, so go ease nah
PS times are subject to change, check out the mainstream press for confirmation of the exact time of the Po-lice rally and watch this space for more info...
citizenssection60agogo
Comments
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Mass Lobby Of Police Officers At Parliament
04.03.2002 23:11
They will be converging on the QE2 Centre, opposite the Houses of Parliament, from 11.30 am onwards, to express anger over planned changes to their pay and working conditions and concern about the future of the police service outlined in the Police Reform Bill.
The rally will follow yesterday's specially-convened meeting of the Police Negotiating Board where the Government rejected the Police Federation's 12% productivity claim and it, in turn, rejected the Government's pay proposals.
The Federation-organised gathering aims to ensure the voices of rank and file police officers are heard in the corridors of power during a period of conciliation which begins on 4 March 2002.
Whilst at Westminster, many officers will meet their local MPs to discuss their fears about police powers being given to non-police personnel and their views on plans to change police officers' pay and conditions.
Last Friday, following a historic ballot of all rank and file officers, police voted 10-1 to reject new pay and conditions proposals (84,205 against v 8,059 for) which include plans to slash their overtime from time and a third to time and a fifth.
Under current regulations, officers can be legally compelled to work overtime with no warning, irrespective of domestic, social or holiday arrangements.
"By the very nature of their profession, police officers are not allowed to strike or take industrial action but this does not prevent them from registering their anger about their treatment at the hands of the Government," said Fred Broughton, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales.
"Politically drip-fed smear stories, plans to worsen pay for a grop of public servants who regularly put their lives on the line and proposals to give non-police personnel powers to stop, detain and use 'reasonable force' against the public, have culminated in officers wanting to visibly display their frustration. We are organising the lobby to focus minds on bringing about change."
Police Federation
Homepage:
http://www.polfed.org/main_frame.htm
well, we may take the piss
04.03.2002 23:22
dh
Huh?
05.03.2002 12:18
Support the opposition!? Because that is what they are and they should be treated as such.
PS I'm not sure that the "My daughter's a policeman" banner isn't a bit too introverted? ;)
hs
How to Short-circuit Coppers and the Media
05.03.2002 13:10
Blunkett's reforms represent the continuing
> logic of capitalism: the restructuring and casualisation of the force is
> a repetition of the neo-liberal dynamic - it's been happening
> with the railways, water, air-traffic control, office workers, the construction
> industry - what makes the cops think their lot should be any different?
Errm, I see a major flaw in the logic here. Dualistic bullshit preventing a grassroots relationship being created between a group of workers (the Old Bill) and the broader anti-capitalist movement. I'm all for taking the piss, but it is not because we don't like them that we should not support their resistance. In the Serbian Revolution the police switched sides...
> Anyway, this action is not about sympathy with the cops, it's about turning
> the tables and giving them a taste of their own medicine!
Nonsense. This action should be about supporting the cops, as publically and media-obviously as possible (a one day truce if you like, just think of the headlines) but take the piss and tease as we do so. All the ideas in the proposal are brilliant, except the general attitude of confrontation. We have a great opportunity to spread added confusion about "whose side am I on" amongst those with whom we always find ourselves trapped into the "you hit me I hit you" cops vs protestors social game. I'd rather give out flyers explaining how they should police our protest (let us have soundsystems, we'll still block up everything, but we'll dance and get stoned and at least no one will get hurt and we might get an issue discussed one day) or wander about talking to coppers about the movement in a non-confrontational setting.
The Frenchman
See "How to short-circuit coppers" www.babylonproject.org
The Frenchman
e-mail:
captainconfused@streetmagic.zzn.com
Homepage:
http://www.babylonproject.org
two factors to consider
05.03.2002 14:56
not only are police commanders such as paddick extolling the virtues of anarchism but now, a black journalist is calling for the reintroduction of 'stop and search' for black alleged criminals...
this is beyond bizarre. strange days indeed when the police seem to be be more radical than leading black opinion.
it doesnt matter really whether either or both of them believe what they say. consider the social forces which enable such a configuration to occur...
d. sposa- balincom
Helicopters; please please
05.03.2002 16:12
jmayler
e-mail:
jmayler@hotmail.com