In London on 23rd November, the Day of the Reopening of Parliament, 4 activists (Rosie, Les, Liz, Giulia) did a series of die ins to highlight the
slaughter in Iraq; outside Downing Street, outside Parliament - and inside
the Cabinet Office. At about lunch time the four walked into the Cabinet
office where they wandered around for about 20 minutes. They then demanded
to speak to someone responsible for the actions being taken in Iraq; they
then did a die in covered in fake blood. They were escorted out of the
Cabinet Office and arrested on suspicion of Burglary at 1.30 that day.
They were held in Charing Cross Police Station for 24 hours, though they
committed no crime whilst in the Cabinet Office, or at any time. Their
clothes were taken for forensic analysis. They were not released until 1.30 Wednesday 24th November, during which time they were strip searched, but not interviewed! Their houses were searched and computers - including in some cases those of other people living in the same house - and some floppy discs and notebooks were taken away (something else to bear in mind if you are planning an action - even if you aren't actually planning to get arrested). They were - after the intervention of a solicitor from Bindmans - released , although the police were in the process of applying to extend their detention for another 12 hours . The police kept their mobile phones and their clothes (they were given paper suits to wear). They have been police-bailed until 2 Feb, when apparently they will be interviewed.....