Could you provide more details on the grounds the police used to disperse you and take your names (other than that they are many, big and have sticks and handcuffs). We need to deal with this and nip it in the bud before they think they can repeat this oppressive behaviour.

It's really simple but somewhat unpleasent... when cops make threats to arrest people for non arrestable behavior, people MUST be arrested if they wish to stand a chance of retaining any liberty and respect.

Only by challenging abuses of authority can we not give our own authority to their abuse.

just thought I'd add a little good luck from Nottingham. Whilst I sympathise with the sentiment that it's good to throw yourself at the system and force them to process you, I know from experience that it's not always practical. We've been lucky in Notts to have avoided police attention for almost a year now which has meant that it's possible to decide to grab a bike and head down to Critical Mass (on the last Friday of every month at 5.30pm at the Savoy Cinema, Derby Road if you're interested!) without too much worry. It means you can go along even if you're on bail (for example).

good luck and keep the faith.

The police have more power when we give them power, not challenging them and knowing the law better than they do. And when they get away with it, they remember and try it again, and again...

Of course, GMP enjoy just ignoring the law and using their "I'm a big man in a uniform and this is what I say goes", still it can work if you're confident enough.

So it does matter what justification they give for threatening arrests, because you can challenge it & keep doing what you're doing, until they know that you know that the paperwork to justify an arrest from which they'd have to let you go without charge and then you'd sue them just ain't worth it. Know the law better than them - quote it back to them; if you're unsure, sound like you're even more sure.

Don't get knicked for no reason if you can't be bothered, but as long as you fear it it has (& the cops have) power, so don't worry about getting arrested - it ain't that boring, and can be a good fund-raiser! And please don't give them your name unless you are arrested, charged, and in police custody at the cop shop - they only ever have a right to take your name & details if you have been arrested & charged, or you are driving a motor vehicle. That's it. They only want the info because it is useful to them, and against your interests. When they offer someone a caution (or interview you back at the station) it is because they do not have enough evidence to do you - do don't accept one, and always say NO COMMENT - there's a guide to this available too.

Look up your legal rights on Free BEAGLES and the Activist's Legal Project. Check out police public order tactics (a bit relevant though we're on bikes not foot). All links can be found at  http://www.eco-action.org/blinc/web.htm

"hey only ever have a right to take your name & details if you have been arrested & charged, or you are driving a motor vehicle."

They can also take it under PACE. And now, due to recent law changes - if you don't give it you can be arrested so they can discover it.

Excuse the misquote but Gandhi once said something along the lines of; ”First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they attack you and then you win.”

If I’m not mistaken the Highway Code allows cyclists to ride two abreast, that’s enough to work. If I can come with criticism about the Nottingham Critical Mass it is that you’re also blocking busses. In the pictures published almost every second one shows a bus stuck behind you. Whether you block busses or not has nothing to do with me but I suggest that publishing pictures of trapped busses can have a negative propaganda effect.

Keep on biking Nottingham and you’ll never bike alone!

Hi, I was there dragging the trailer sounds. The cops first stopped us in Fallowfield and were being fairly reasonable although scare mongering about how we could be injured by the enraged traffic (and that would be our fault right not the raging cager) but as they drove off he said that we should cycle in single file at the edge of the road (you know - the gutter where all the glass and crap collects). I politely retorted that that was unreasonable and basically not going to happen but his response was that we were obstructing traffic, I could tell that he expected me to communicate this to everybody and get them in line. When they stopped us again at Whitworth Park they said they were going to caution us all and although one explained what a caution was didn't direct one at me, I gave them my details. The only complaint I heard from police was about people jumping red lights. All in I thought we had a good run this month, lots of miles covered, plenty of confusion and a growing turnout. Could I just say that when we turned onto the Parkway I wasn't really expecting to use both lanes, excellent work it looked pretty sweet.

Ian's right when he says that the Highway Code allows you to cycle two abreast, but it's worth noting that it says you SHOULD NOT ride more than two abreast, not that you MUST NOT, so riding more than two abreast isn't an offence. It's only advisory, in the same way that the Highway Code says you should wear a helmet.

it depends what you want doesn't it? critical mass is not really just a collection of cyclists coming together exactly. it is a protest against the hegemony of cars on the road and against all that means in terms of enviromental inpact etc so in that sense, the police are doing what the police do when faced with what they know to be an 'organised' protest. its not unexpected that they should react that way. you need to keep yourselves as safe as you can against the police which you know already (unless you choose to get arrested) but if you are really concerned about the police starting to harass you, then unpopular as it is, it might not be a bad idea to appeal to people like the green councillor in hulme who has supported rights to demonstrate in manc before to get the police off your backs. i'm hoping noones going to start shouting reformist shit at me now but ultimately, if you want to get them to back off, maybe the more conventional routes are one way of making them listen and leave critical mass alone.