F.I.T HARRASSMENT

Citizen X | 08.06.2002 18:49

Big Brother is watching you! (And he's coming to get you with a vanload of TSG!)

Three of us who had just left the "Campaign Against Criminalising Communities" demo on Saturday noticed that we were being followed by a riot van as we came onto Trafalgar Square. One of us joked that the cops were keeping us under surveillance because we obviously looked like dangerous subversives. However, this turned out not to be a joke.

The van stopped at the side of the road and about six TSG (riot cops) got out. London's favourite copper from the Forward Intelligence Team (F.I.T) - otherwise known as officer LX365 - then stopped and detained me. He then asked me several questions about a demonstration that I had been on several months ago. My friends were searched and all our details were taken, including our addresses and home phone numbers. LX365 was in TSG gear this time and wearing a different number - U5635 (I didn't know that cops were allowed to swap numbers when they felt like it!)

This is a very good example of what it's like to be involved in the protest movement these days. I went to the anti-jubilee party and got arrested "to prevent a breach of the peace" and spent four hours in a cell. I go to a campaign against police harassment and get, er, harassed by the police. I don't have a criminal record and have never been in trouble with the law, but that doesn't seem to stop them from following me about all the time and generally giving me a hard time.

Question: Why do police vans have stripes down the side?

Answer: So the policemen can find the door-handles.

Citizen X

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

Moan on

08.06.2002 21:47

Soumds like you're a professional Protester so you can't be too surprised about Police interest in you. Typical profile - middle-Class, spoit Brat - Mummy will always love you. Get a job and get real for once in your pointless life

jes warrel

jes warrel the cop

08.06.2002 22:19

jes your obviously a cop either that or your as thick as dogshit .dont you think (probably not )that the next time a cop batters you just cause your in the wrong place at the wrong time that its wrong for anyone to have that much power with no recorse
or your forced to work in dangerous conditions with no way out maybe just maybe you should have given your support to some of the people who protest they do it for all of us you dick
but then again its the english thing do what your told beleive what your told especially if the teller has a uniform or a football
and you got suckered by the class thing too devide and rule
its people like you that have stood by and watched thatcher and the rest of them boss you about and take away what little rights you had in the first place
you wankers make me sick

@ctivist

Cop names

09.06.2002 10:58

Firstly are you sure it was LX365?? I didn't think cops were allowed to change numbers. If so, please please get a copy of the search documents as we are desperate to find out his name (it really pisses them off when you call them by their real name!!).

Also, under what legislation were you searched? Police have to give justification for a search and if it isn't under the PTA, then you have no obligation to give your name and address unless you are being arrested.

Interested

Justification

09.06.2002 11:14

I was also searched that day along with Citizen X, the police said it was about a previous demonstration about a month ago, and that we looked familiar.

Mr Gimp

Re: justification

11.06.2002 02:53

PLEASE research your rights everybody before getting anywhere near the police.

The more that people give in to them using their authority and overstepping their powers, the more they'll abuse our rights.

You NEVER have to give ANY details about yourself unless: you have been charged (by the desk sergeant at a police station) or you are driving a vehicle.

To search you they have to have reasonable suspicion that: you're carrying something dodgy, going equipped, etc, and state their suspicion. You still do not have to give your details, even when they ask them for the search record they fill in.
Under Section 60, they can just stop and search you without reasonable suspicion - you can demand to see the document declaring the area 'under a Section 60' and they still CANNOT take your details, unless arresting you.

And remember NO COMMENT at all times, otherwise you'll fit yourself up or others without meaning to.

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moaner