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Leeds social centre attacked by police

Anarchist Youth | 24.11.2002 13:21 | Culture | Free Spaces | Repression | Social Struggles

A-spire, a temporary social centre in Leeds was attacked around 3am sunday morning and stormed by police using tear gas and pepper spray.

The Leeds temporary social centre A-Spire was attacked by police 3am Sunday morning. While hundreds of people were partying insude the police forced their way in using tear gas and pepper spray. About 12 arrests have been reported as well as many baton injuries.

To get in touch with the organisers of A-Spire e-amil  info@a-spire.org.uk or call 07796 343 085. Alternatively you can e-mail  manchester@anarchistyouth.net to contact us.

I think we need to support them and possibly call a counter-demo against the Leeds police. Any suggestions?

Anarchist Youth
- e-mail: info@a-spire.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.a-spire.org.uk

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

Biased Indymedia reporting

24.11.2002 18:15

CS sprays were first carried by police officers during operational trials in 16 forces between 1 March and 31 August 1996. Since then, an increasing number of forces have adopted the spray, and it is currently carried by officers in 40 forces in England and Wales. No force has introduced incapacitant sprays containing oleoresin capsicum. Oleoresin Capsicum is the spray known as pepper spray. Further more the use of Tear Gas was and is not used by West Yorkshire Police.
If any form of incapacitant spray was used to prevent disorder or to facilitate police gaining entry to this event then it would have been CS (CS (ortho-Chlorobenzalmalononitrile). The only force trialing a non CS incapacitant is Hertfordshire Constabulary who are trialing (not issued operationally) PAVA - water based synthetic OC irritant spray currently being researched as an alternative to CS.

I would also note that, if you dont obstruct or threaten police officers who are trying to arrest people/gain entry to buildings etc then you won't find yourself on the recieving end of spray. Behave in a violent and obstructive manner then fair play to the police.



 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/fprs21.pdf

The enforcer


fuck you

24.11.2002 22:24

Fair play to the police?

Why the fuck should I, a worker, pay for 100 police to storm a building with people partying inside?

We will in a democracy and I can vote, so Mr Enforcer what the fuck were you doing? Who gave the orders?

Oh, and sorry for not knowing the chemical names of the spray used, but spray of some form was used, you lying piece of shit.

My friend was bitten by one of the dogs in attendance.

The way West Yorkshire police acted last night was unlawful, possible motre unlawful than the event being policed, which created not nearly as much of a disturbance as you 'orrible fascist lot.

Hope taking orders makes your life feel worwhile you sucker of satans cock.

not likely


Who's a clever boy then?

24.11.2002 22:27

Oh how everybody loves a pedantic twat. You didn't do much enforcing in Manchester tonight though eh pal?

squidge


Dear the Enforcer

25.11.2002 11:54

Dear Enforcer, you claim that only Hertfordshire police use an alternative to CS. Well you are totally wrong, Sussex police use PAVA spray (also known as "pepper Spray" even though it has no pepper in) in an operational capacity, not just a trial.
In Sussex the police used "pepper spray" on protestors sitting in the road on Halloween to try and clear it, this was assault pure and simple. I was there and saw it with my own eyes, and have seen the video of it. The police are only supposed to use pepper spray when they are physically threatened, people sitting in the road are not a physical threat.
People are going to sue Sussex police over their actions.
I have every sympathy for those in Leeds who were attacked with CHEMICAL WEAPONS for merely wanting not to pay extortianate club door prices.
More info on pepper and CS spray see  http://www.blackcrosscollective.org

Miss Point


Pedant...

26.11.2002 17:32

Yes, Mr Pedant The Enforcer...
Ok some people don't know exactly what chemical deterrants are used in diferent forces- Who gives a f*ck about your superior knowledge...
What's improtant is that it was unnessecary, Unjustified and illegal, and some of us are still suffering the effects of it 3 days later.

Saturated


Use of CS justified???!

09.01.2004 16:03

Totally unrelated incident to the one in Leeds, but a disturbance at my local in Dinnington,South Yorks the other night had the police called to deal with four 20-25 year olds shouting swearing and threatening bar staff. Police came and were dealing with the one person throwing the abuse, while doing so other two intervened allowing the first one to escape.

Police chased the one who'd escaped caught him and the two officers (one young male, one small female) were attacked by his two mates just for taking hold of him.
Rightfully one of the officers sprayed the bastards with CS, and rightfully the other officer batoned them...

I hope that isn't police brutality too because if it is I'm all for it!!!

Eye Witness