I have to say I was shocked at the number of police cameramen clicking away and filming all day. Also those yellow vans from Merseyside full of robocop style suited riot police were also 'Camera Surveillance Vans' with cameras mounted on their roofs. There were also a few similar surveillance vans from staffordshire force as well.

Seems it would make more sense to simple give us all a few grand to stay away.
I'd have stayed away for less than half of what it cost to police me.

Basically, they are looking for who is who and who is talking to who so they have the intelligence in place for whom they should be focusing on in the run up to the 'Big One' in July. (see www.activistsecurity.org)

And yes, a copper did one admit to me that they also do it for plain old harassment - and that you are more likely to behave if you think you will be caught on camera.

But, what they are really crap at is stopping nighttime actions...

"Police have been granted powers to prevent trespassers from entering an exclusion zone surrounding the venue and will deploy specialist "spotters" to identify known trouble-makers."

 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1529490,00.html

So that is what was happening...

It was a great idea to limit the number of protesters at the Derby anti-g8 action to 100, to highlight the ludicrously massive expensive police operation (2000+ coppers), and the states irrational fear of creative peaceful street protest. The result is that more locals are interested in the illegitimate G8 and some of them will now go to Gleneagles in July. It was a good + day.

Here’s the report in today’s Guardian:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1440522,00.html

Thanks to special branch, MI5, Charlie Clarke and all the chief constables for that - so much intelligence, such little sense. Keep wasting the tax payers money, and helping us out at the same time. And let us know when you are planning a riot so we can film you.

The most memorable moment of the day, for me - ahead the half a Guinness in the Court House - was the pie I received in the mush from the little shkin in the black tracksuit. Had he been sparing with Mike Tyson - pity Mike Tyson if he had. That little chap is highly dangerous; how about reaching some consensus on he being press spokesperson for DISSENT. - get him on Newsnight and Question Time.

It would be good to have a DISSENT event in Cov. building for the G8.

>robocop body armour win the prize for the most over the top costumes (they were also camera shy so no snaps of them)


Surely all the more reason to take some snaps? Protesters are often camera shy but it never stops the cops taking pics.

I did get a couple of shots of this season's new armour but it's going to be a little while til i get my photos sorted out. Will post them if there's any interest

I put up a few comments here

(if that works!)

 http://the-north-will-rise-again.co.uk/Mambo/content/view/2/2/

for a few words about m17