MAY DAY – THE POLICE SCORE ANOTHER OWN GOAL

Despite the predictions of the police and the media, the ‘Mayday in Mayfair’ protests passed off peacefully as the protestors intended. The massive police operation is now revealed as a total waste of money.

Prior to May 1st, activists had been the targets of police and state harassment. This included:

 Photographing those attending meetings and benefit gigs.
 Calling at peoples homes early in the morning to hand deliver letters.
 Tapping telephones.
 An unwarranted raid on the Radical Diary Social Centre.
 The Forward Intelligence team following people.

The only trouble on May Day occurred later in the evening in Soho. This followed the ill-advised decision of the police to pen people in. The police have claimed that this was carried out (as with Oxford Circus last year) under s60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. In fact s60 contains no power to detain people. The police then did two things that made matters worse.

Firstly the police kept people penned in until after dark, ignoring the repeated requests protestors made to leave. Secondly the police then allowed the drummers of the Samba Band to leave. Naturally everyone else wanted to go home as well. The police would not allow this and, having their pleas refused, the crowd tried to push through the police line. The police responded firstly by pushing the crowd back and then with repeated baton charges. For about 10 minutes the police lost control of the situation and the senior officer lost control of his officers, as protestors were hit indiscriminately. This resulted in many injuries.

One protester was seriously injured when she was struck in the head by the police and was taken by ambulance to hospital.

Just over 50 people were arrested on May Day. The most serious charge was violent disorder. Most were arrested and accused of minor charges. We know from previous May Days that the police routinely overcharge protestors and that the conviction rate is low. We have no reason to believe that this year will be any different.

Notes for Editors

1. The Legal Defence & Monitoring Group (LDMG) is a small voluntary organisation which provides Legal Observers at demonstrations and legal advice to protestors. LDMG also provides unconditional support to anyone arrested at demonstrations we monitor.
2. LDMG had a team of Legal Observers at the Critical Mass, Mayday in Mayfair and Sex Workers Parade events on Wednesday May 1st.