Witnessing arrests outside the DSEI
Richard Scrase, Editor Green World | 14.09.2005 19:03 | DSEi 2005 | London
The Metropolitan police have 15 boats. This afternoon 7 of them, all full, faced around a 100 of us on the dock side. At 4.00pm, one man put his hand in front, perhaps on, a police camera-mans lens. Immediately the cameraman grabbed him, pulling him down. He was led away to one of the many waiting vans.
At 4.10pm, a thirty year old women was arrested, taken to another van. She was just in front of me when the police took her, for no reason that I could see. Afterwards somebody said it was because she had chalked a message on the ground. The police at the scene did not tell me why.
At 4.10pm, a thirty year old women was arrested, taken to another van. She was just in front of me when the police took her, for no reason that I could see. Afterwards somebody said it was because she had chalked a message on the ground. The police at the scene did not tell me why.
Outside the DSEI Arms Fair: 3.00 - 4.30pm, Wednesday 14th September
The Metropolitan police have 15 boats. This afternoon 7 of them, all full, faced around a 100 of us on the dock side. Across the grey water, people lined the opposite side to watch military motor-boats speed up and down and then spin on the spot. Some of the lucky weapon sellers had a ride. They looked faintly ridiculous as they sat bolt upright as the boat passed back and forth speeding in the restricted space.
Lining the shore were grey war-ships, the nearest was the Commandante Foscari, I could not make out the names of the rest. A large white hotel ship was at the front of the line.
One of us went for a swim for a closer look, immediately three of the police boats closed in. The swimmer treaded water for a while and then returned, refreshed.
Loudspeakers towed by a bicycle carried our cries across the water.
'What would your mother think?'
'Shame on you!'
We could get no nearer, another seventy police around us, many on bicycles, protecting the arms fair from us, the unarmed.
Christmas decorations were wrapped around the railings, people sang, danced, drummed. At 4.00pm, one man put his hand in front, perhaps on, a police camera-mans lens. Immediately the cameraman grabbed him, pulling him down. Other police surged forward to surround the two of them. We came forward, a moment of raised tension, let him go we asked, but he was led away to one of the many waiting vans.
At 4.10pm, a thirty year old women was arrested, taken to another van. She was just in front of me when the police took her, for no reason that I could see. Afterwards somebody said it was because she had chalked a message on the ground. The police at the scene did not tell me why.
By 4.30pm the people in suits were leaving the arms fair in steady stream to the train, hurrying home to their loved ones, their children. Do they think about the carnage, the blood-letting they sell when they embrace their children and smell the shampoo in their hair?
We started to leave, and so did the police. A local lady invited me in for a cup of tea. Her flat looked out on the water, and the boats. The police have been around here for the last couple of weeks, she said. I wish they were around when we need them , she said.
When I got home I phoned the Met. and asked why the lady had been arrested. They sent me the list below, but she was not there (unless she was charged with affray, which would be ridiculous, she was just walking and talking to a friend), I guess she has not been processed yet.
I am Richard Scrase, aged 48. I'm also a Dad.
31 people have been arrested to date in relation to the DSEI policing operation.
Saturday 10.9.05
1) Mr XXX ( - 31ys) from Bloomsbury Place, Bloomsbury, London was charged with Obstructing a Highway (Scn 137) - Section 25 PACE. He has been bailed to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court on 16.9.05.
2) A 36 year old male was arrested for being on an Enclosed Premises with Unlawful Purpose. He has been bailed to return to a south London police station on 23.9.05.
Sunday 11.9.05
3) One person was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. He was later released with no further action.
Monday 12.9.05
4) A 16 year old from Canning Town E16 was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and appeared in custody at Stratford Magistrate Court 13.9.05.
5) XXX (- 33ys) from Canning Town E16 was charged with possession of cannabis and possession of an offensive weapon. He has been bailed to appear at Stratford Magistrate Court on 16.9.05.
Tuesday 13.9.05
6) One person was arrested for public order offences and has been issued a fixed penalty notice.
7) One person was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon and has been released with no further action.
8) One person was arrested for highway obstruction and was released with a caution.
9) XXX, ( - 22ys) from Plymstock, Devon was charged with aggravated trespass and has been bailed to appear at Newham magistrates court on 27th Sept.
10) XXX, ( - 19ys) from Manchester was charged with aggravated trespass and has been bailed to appear at Newham magistrates court on 27th Sept.
Wednesday 14.9.05
9) & 10) Two people arrested for alleged breach of bail conditions were released with no further action in relation to the alleged breach. (NPTD nature of bail conditions).
11) One person has been arrested for public order offences and has been issued a fixed penalty notice.
12) One person has been arrested for going equipped for criminal damage. They remain in custody.
13) One person has been arrested on suspicion of theft they have been released with no further action.
14) One person has been arrested for going equipped for criminal damage and released with no further action.
15) One person has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
16) One person has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
17) One person has been arrested for aggravated trespass and resisting arrest.
18) One person has been arrested for aggravated trespass and assault on police.
19) One person has been arrested for aggravated trespass.
20) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train.
21) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
22) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
23) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
24) One person has been arrested for affray.
25) One person has been arrested for affray.
26) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
27) One person has been arrested for obstructing a highway
28) One person has been arrested for obstructing a highway
29) One person has been arrested for obstructing a highway
30) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
31) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
The Metropolitan police have 15 boats. This afternoon 7 of them, all full, faced around a 100 of us on the dock side. Across the grey water, people lined the opposite side to watch military motor-boats speed up and down and then spin on the spot. Some of the lucky weapon sellers had a ride. They looked faintly ridiculous as they sat bolt upright as the boat passed back and forth speeding in the restricted space.
Lining the shore were grey war-ships, the nearest was the Commandante Foscari, I could not make out the names of the rest. A large white hotel ship was at the front of the line.
One of us went for a swim for a closer look, immediately three of the police boats closed in. The swimmer treaded water for a while and then returned, refreshed.
Loudspeakers towed by a bicycle carried our cries across the water.
'What would your mother think?'
'Shame on you!'
We could get no nearer, another seventy police around us, many on bicycles, protecting the arms fair from us, the unarmed.
Christmas decorations were wrapped around the railings, people sang, danced, drummed. At 4.00pm, one man put his hand in front, perhaps on, a police camera-mans lens. Immediately the cameraman grabbed him, pulling him down. Other police surged forward to surround the two of them. We came forward, a moment of raised tension, let him go we asked, but he was led away to one of the many waiting vans.
At 4.10pm, a thirty year old women was arrested, taken to another van. She was just in front of me when the police took her, for no reason that I could see. Afterwards somebody said it was because she had chalked a message on the ground. The police at the scene did not tell me why.
By 4.30pm the people in suits were leaving the arms fair in steady stream to the train, hurrying home to their loved ones, their children. Do they think about the carnage, the blood-letting they sell when they embrace their children and smell the shampoo in their hair?
We started to leave, and so did the police. A local lady invited me in for a cup of tea. Her flat looked out on the water, and the boats. The police have been around here for the last couple of weeks, she said. I wish they were around when we need them , she said.
When I got home I phoned the Met. and asked why the lady had been arrested. They sent me the list below, but she was not there (unless she was charged with affray, which would be ridiculous, she was just walking and talking to a friend), I guess she has not been processed yet.
I am Richard Scrase, aged 48. I'm also a Dad.
31 people have been arrested to date in relation to the DSEI policing operation.
Saturday 10.9.05
1) Mr XXX ( - 31ys) from Bloomsbury Place, Bloomsbury, London was charged with Obstructing a Highway (Scn 137) - Section 25 PACE. He has been bailed to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court on 16.9.05.
2) A 36 year old male was arrested for being on an Enclosed Premises with Unlawful Purpose. He has been bailed to return to a south London police station on 23.9.05.
Sunday 11.9.05
3) One person was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. He was later released with no further action.
Monday 12.9.05
4) A 16 year old from Canning Town E16 was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and appeared in custody at Stratford Magistrate Court 13.9.05.
5) XXX (- 33ys) from Canning Town E16 was charged with possession of cannabis and possession of an offensive weapon. He has been bailed to appear at Stratford Magistrate Court on 16.9.05.
Tuesday 13.9.05
6) One person was arrested for public order offences and has been issued a fixed penalty notice.
7) One person was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon and has been released with no further action.
8) One person was arrested for highway obstruction and was released with a caution.
9) XXX, ( - 22ys) from Plymstock, Devon was charged with aggravated trespass and has been bailed to appear at Newham magistrates court on 27th Sept.
10) XXX, ( - 19ys) from Manchester was charged with aggravated trespass and has been bailed to appear at Newham magistrates court on 27th Sept.
Wednesday 14.9.05
9) & 10) Two people arrested for alleged breach of bail conditions were released with no further action in relation to the alleged breach. (NPTD nature of bail conditions).
11) One person has been arrested for public order offences and has been issued a fixed penalty notice.
12) One person has been arrested for going equipped for criminal damage. They remain in custody.
13) One person has been arrested on suspicion of theft they have been released with no further action.
14) One person has been arrested for going equipped for criminal damage and released with no further action.
15) One person has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
16) One person has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
17) One person has been arrested for aggravated trespass and resisting arrest.
18) One person has been arrested for aggravated trespass and assault on police.
19) One person has been arrested for aggravated trespass.
20) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train.
21) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
22) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
23) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
24) One person has been arrested for affray.
25) One person has been arrested for affray.
26) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
27) One person has been arrested for obstructing a highway
28) One person has been arrested for obstructing a highway
29) One person has been arrested for obstructing a highway
30) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
31) One person has been arrested for obstructing a train
Richard Scrase, Editor Green World
e-mail:
riscrase@yahoo.co.uk
Homepage:
http://www.greenworld.org.uk
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
Police repression/illegal arrests
14.09.2005 19:49
The woman was dragged away by the police and no reason was given. They denied that they were working to an arrest quota but why else pick up a guy fooling around with the cameraman and a woman whose only crime was chalking messages on the pavement and giving a short but passionate speech against the arms dealers and the police protecting them?
Other than that the event went alright although the police presence was heavy, as always.
Sharky
another dodgy incident
15.09.2005 09:10
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