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Police Confirm Section 60 throughout Edinburgh City Centre

Caroline | 02.07.2005 22:31 | G8 2005 | World

PC Skidmore at Edinburgh Police Headquarters confirmed to Indymedia at 16.53 this afternoon that a Section 60 had been declared throughout Edinburgh City Centre, along the entire route of the Make Poverty History March and the Meadows, site of the Live8 Concert.

This is believed to be in response to the small group of protesters who had left the main route of the march and were consequently blockaded by hundreds of police - many provocatively attired in full riot gear, shields and all - in Buccleugh Place for hours.

Although these protesters had done nothing illegal, many of them chose to keep their faces hidden. Police were reluctant to let them leave before having been individually photographed by the Met Police Forward Information Team, and the S60 gave police the power to arrest those who refused to reveal their identities. Two people are believed to have been arrested.

Photos at:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/07/315582.html

Caroline
- e-mail: carosinclair@yahoo.co.uk
- Homepage: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/07/315582.html

Comments

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Section 60 only grants stop/search or removal/seizure of disguises.

04.07.2005 00:12

Just in case you are getting worried about the section 60 granting police the power to detain or to photograph you, the powers don't work this way.

Check out the info at  http://g8legalsupport.info

Basically, the police will try to photograph you any time, but there isn't an actual provision for being photographed as part of a search. If you are being searched under section 60 you don't have to provide your name or address. You don't have to explain why you are at the location you are, and you don't have to explain what you are doing. It's a search for weapons. They may seize things that could be used for criminal purpose (by their definition, not ours). They can arrest you if they find anything on you during the search which is cause for arrest (eg- drugs). Otherwise, they have to let you go when the search is done. Obviously, this explanation doesn't help if the police ignore the law and threaten to arrest you if you don't give your name. If you refuse to give your name in this situation, and you explain that section 60 doesn't give them this power, arrest is still a possibility but it's unlikely.

In summary, you can be arrested if you refuse to remove your disguise or if you refuse to allow yourself to be searched. You can't be arrested for passive resistance ("going limp") or for not looking at the camera while they try to film. The search only allows removal of disguises and a very superficial search for weapons (no searching under the clothes, only removing jackets, hats is allowed).

Good luck!

Gr8