Police harass Sussex newsletter
porkbolter | 18.08.2002 20:11
Police in Worthing continue to harass people trying to save ancient woodland, sending plain clothes officers to target a local newsletter that publicised a forthcoming protest event.
POLICE in Worthing continue their harassment of people opposed to the destruction of ancient Titnore Woods by property developers.
In their latest over-reaction to a well-supported local campaign against a threatened 900-home estate, they this week turned up at the front door of a woman who helps produce local newsletter The Porkbolter.
The plain clothes cops were Pc Sean McDonald (CM440) and DC Jodie Moss (DM725) from the Divisional Crime Unit.
The heinous "crime" they were investigating appears to be the proposed delivery of a letter to Titnore landowner Mr Somerset urging him to consider preserving the area as a nature reserve.
The coppers admitted they had traced the woman's home address through the newsletter's PO Box number, which is registered under her name.
They were interested in a report in the August issue of The Porkbolter about plans by protest group Ye Olde Friends of Titnore to deliver the letter in person on Sunday September 1 and were eager to be provided with names of "organisers" so they could "help" them.
Needless to say, no such information was provided.
Previously Worthing police hassled a Titnore Lane resident with repeated visits because she was displaying a "Save Titnore Woods" placard.
There are reports of other seemingly random door-knocking exercises in the Durrington area in a bid to identify "organisers".
A group of people peacefully leafleting a supermarket car park were followed by police including video camera-wielding evidence gatherers.
And police tried to intimidate local people away from attending a protest on May 26 by planting a scare story about dangerous agitators in a local paper. It didn't work - 350 people turned up.
Anyone wishing to join the September 1 letter-delivering event, for which fancy dress is named as an optional fun extra, should meet at 1pm at the Coach and Horses on the A27 Arundel Road - just at the western edge of the (current) built-up area.
The Porkbolter has a website at www.eco-action.org/porkbolter and campaign group Protect Our Woodland! has a site at www.worthinga27.freeserve.co.uk
In their latest over-reaction to a well-supported local campaign against a threatened 900-home estate, they this week turned up at the front door of a woman who helps produce local newsletter The Porkbolter.
The plain clothes cops were Pc Sean McDonald (CM440) and DC Jodie Moss (DM725) from the Divisional Crime Unit.
The heinous "crime" they were investigating appears to be the proposed delivery of a letter to Titnore landowner Mr Somerset urging him to consider preserving the area as a nature reserve.
The coppers admitted they had traced the woman's home address through the newsletter's PO Box number, which is registered under her name.
They were interested in a report in the August issue of The Porkbolter about plans by protest group Ye Olde Friends of Titnore to deliver the letter in person on Sunday September 1 and were eager to be provided with names of "organisers" so they could "help" them.
Needless to say, no such information was provided.
Previously Worthing police hassled a Titnore Lane resident with repeated visits because she was displaying a "Save Titnore Woods" placard.
There are reports of other seemingly random door-knocking exercises in the Durrington area in a bid to identify "organisers".
A group of people peacefully leafleting a supermarket car park were followed by police including video camera-wielding evidence gatherers.
And police tried to intimidate local people away from attending a protest on May 26 by planting a scare story about dangerous agitators in a local paper. It didn't work - 350 people turned up.
Anyone wishing to join the September 1 letter-delivering event, for which fancy dress is named as an optional fun extra, should meet at 1pm at the Coach and Horses on the A27 Arundel Road - just at the western edge of the (current) built-up area.
The Porkbolter has a website at www.eco-action.org/porkbolter and campaign group Protect Our Woodland! has a site at www.worthinga27.freeserve.co.uk
porkbolter
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