Jubilee Protesters Win £80,500 Damages from Police
features | 13.02.2004 00:00 | London
Anti-monarchy protesters were celebrating recently after winning £80,500 in damages from the Metropolitan Police, over their unlawful arrest and false imprisonment on June 4th 2002 - the Queens Golden Jubilee. 23 people sued the Metropolitan Police, who settled out of court, and sent each of them a letter of apology.
The protesters were arrested after their demonstration when up to 40 Police officers entered a pub they were drinking in and surrounded them. Police commandeered a number 11 double decker bus after flagging it down, then turned it into a prison on wheels, dropping off the protesters throughout the day at five different police stations. No charges were ever brought against those arrested, and the individuals were released several hours later as the jubilee celebrations were drawing to a close. The arrests were apparently "intelligence led" - an arrest report from one constable reads that he was briefed that "all answers" (the protesters might give to questions) "are to be disbelieved".
A statement issued by the group of protesters reads: "This award, apology and acceptance of liability demonstrate that the police now accept no offences were committed, nor were likely to be. We remain convinced that these tactics were employed, planned and coordinated in advance and at a very senior level, in order to remove any dissent against the monarchy or the jubilee day celebrations themselves."
Press Release / Report | Original Indymedia Reports from Jubilee 2002 | Movement Against the Monarchy
The protesters were arrested after their demonstration when up to 40 Police officers entered a pub they were drinking in and surrounded them. Police commandeered a number 11 double decker bus after flagging it down, then turned it into a prison on wheels, dropping off the protesters throughout the day at five different police stations. No charges were ever brought against those arrested, and the individuals were released several hours later as the jubilee celebrations were drawing to a close. The arrests were apparently "intelligence led" - an arrest report from one constable reads that he was briefed that "all answers" (the protesters might give to questions) "are to be disbelieved".
A statement issued by the group of protesters reads: "This award, apology and acceptance of liability demonstrate that the police now accept no offences were committed, nor were likely to be. We remain convinced that these tactics were employed, planned and coordinated in advance and at a very senior level, in order to remove any dissent against the monarchy or the jubilee day celebrations themselves."
Press Release / Report | Original Indymedia Reports from Jubilee 2002 | Movement Against the Monarchy
For the Queen's Golden Jubilee (4 June 2002), more than 14,000 police were on duty as hundreds of thousands of people gathered in central London. Corporate media had yet again raised the spectre of anarchist troublemakers and violence, including this from The Observer: "Anarchists plan jubilee mayhem".
Some of the protesters had earlier in the day attended a public demonstration against the monarchy at Tower Hill entitled "Execute the Queen". A large joint police operation between the Met and City of London Police had confined the protest to a small area near Tower Hill tube station. As the protest ended the demonstrators dispersed, and some event goers walked to the nearby Goodman’s Field pub in Aldgate. They were followed by a group of around 40-50 police officers who waited outside and, following a briefing entered the pub encircling the group, by now seated and enjoying a bank holiday lunchtime drink.
Other customers looked on horrified as the police cautioned, filmed and led the revellers out one by one, making them stand in line on the pavement, under the auspices of "preventing a breach of the peace".
The nature of the arrests was farcical. Officers asked each person in turn their intentions. Regardless of the answers all 23 were summarily arrested. An officer notes that one arrestee stated categorically that he had no intention of breaching the peace. The officer records in his notes his reply to the man: "I believe you are here [in the pub] to cause a breach of the peace therefore I am arresting you to prevent a breach of the peace".
According to the Guardian, the reason given for the detentions by officers was "intelligence from Chief Inspector Page that the group inside may cause trouble".
The arrest reports said arresting officers were told by their superiors to detain the anti-monarchists whatever answers to questions were given! The arrest report from one constable reads that he was briefed that "all answers are to be disbelieved".
Police commandeered a number 11 double decker bus after flagging it down, then turned it into a prison on wheels, driving around at high speed and dropping off the protesters, some of whom had been handcuffed, throughout the day at five police stations across east, north and south London. No charges were ever brought against those arrested and the individuals were released several hours later as jubilee celebrations were drawing to a close (surprise, surprise!).
All of the protesters will now recieve £3,500 each and the letter of apology.
On Thursday 5th February, the protesters celebrated by presenting themselves with a massively enlarged letter of apology and a cheque for damages before boarding an open-top decorated Routemaster bus and touring around Central London, stopping off at New Scotland Yard, Buckingham Palace, Plumstead and Bishopsgate Police Stations (two of the stations the arrestees were detained) before finishing off where it all started at the Goodman’s Field pub in Aldgate, E1.
They said they finally managed to finish the drinks they ordered over 18 months ago!
Corporate Media Coverage:
Guardian: The day the Number 11 bus became a prison for 23 anti-royal protesters
BBC: Jubilee protesters get damages
Evening Standard Frontpage: Anti-monarchists handed pay-out
Some of the protesters had earlier in the day attended a public demonstration against the monarchy at Tower Hill entitled "Execute the Queen". A large joint police operation between the Met and City of London Police had confined the protest to a small area near Tower Hill tube station. As the protest ended the demonstrators dispersed, and some event goers walked to the nearby Goodman’s Field pub in Aldgate. They were followed by a group of around 40-50 police officers who waited outside and, following a briefing entered the pub encircling the group, by now seated and enjoying a bank holiday lunchtime drink.
Other customers looked on horrified as the police cautioned, filmed and led the revellers out one by one, making them stand in line on the pavement, under the auspices of "preventing a breach of the peace".
The nature of the arrests was farcical. Officers asked each person in turn their intentions. Regardless of the answers all 23 were summarily arrested. An officer notes that one arrestee stated categorically that he had no intention of breaching the peace. The officer records in his notes his reply to the man: "I believe you are here [in the pub] to cause a breach of the peace therefore I am arresting you to prevent a breach of the peace".
According to the Guardian, the reason given for the detentions by officers was "intelligence from Chief Inspector Page that the group inside may cause trouble".
The arrest reports said arresting officers were told by their superiors to detain the anti-monarchists whatever answers to questions were given! The arrest report from one constable reads that he was briefed that "all answers are to be disbelieved".
Police commandeered a number 11 double decker bus after flagging it down, then turned it into a prison on wheels, driving around at high speed and dropping off the protesters, some of whom had been handcuffed, throughout the day at five police stations across east, north and south London. No charges were ever brought against those arrested and the individuals were released several hours later as jubilee celebrations were drawing to a close (surprise, surprise!).
All of the protesters will now recieve £3,500 each and the letter of apology.
On Thursday 5th February, the protesters celebrated by presenting themselves with a massively enlarged letter of apology and a cheque for damages before boarding an open-top decorated Routemaster bus and touring around Central London, stopping off at New Scotland Yard, Buckingham Palace, Plumstead and Bishopsgate Police Stations (two of the stations the arrestees were detained) before finishing off where it all started at the Goodman’s Field pub in Aldgate, E1.
They said they finally managed to finish the drinks they ordered over 18 months ago!
Corporate Media Coverage:
Guardian: The day the Number 11 bus became a prison for 23 anti-royal protesters
BBC: Jubilee protesters get damages
Evening Standard Frontpage: Anti-monarchists handed pay-out
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