Absolutely disgusting how long do we have to put up with this sort of blatant harassment before something is done about it.

what was she arrested for does anyone know ???

Barbara was released this evening at 2300hrs (on bail to return to belgravia police station in October) after being interviewed by some rather red-faced police officers, for a section 5 public order act 1986 offence (likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress).

This offence typically is dealt with by serving a person with a fixed penalty notice as it is a 'summary only' offence and subject to a statutory maximum of a fine (level 3) and is NOT therefore imprisonable - though, as anyone who knows the inside story relating to police abuses, this method of imprisoning protesters unlawfully without trial before dropping the offence as NFA (no further action) is very commonly used as a catch-all punishment meted out by the corrupt police.

Barbara, on the other hand, typically receives excessive abuse by the police, cps, courts, etc. and I suspect her ill-treatment in this matter may well progress through the courts - for political purposes relating to the Parliament Square Peace Campaign.

During her ordeal at the hands of PCSOs (yes the C.H.I.M.P.S. as other police officers call them) and sadistic police, she had suffered injury to her wrist area - the handcuffs were placed very tightly, NOT around the normal wrist part, but further toward the fingers of the hands. This torture technique was used in parliament square, at the police station the custody sergeant was very put out when Barbara insisted on photographs being taken of how tightly, and the position of, the cuffs on her - naturally such evidence is generally covered up by police officers (like I really needed to tell you that).

Possibly more later.

> Absolutely disgusting how long do we have to put up with this sort of
> blatant harassment before something is done about it.

Well, that's up to all of us, isn't it? The only way this kind of thing is going to be ended is when enough people start fighting back. Or were you expecting some higher authority to 'correct' this 'mistake'?

'J'
we are the higher authority, had i been able to get to the square yesterday in reasonable time and without my children in tow i woulda been there just a shame there isn't many more like us.

Time will tell2

"despite continued protests from the campaigners that section 17 was only a power of entry for the purpose of arrest"

Perhaps because it's not true to say that s17 is only for arrests?

PACE s17(1)(e):
"Subject to the following provisions of this section, and without prejudice to any other enactment, a constable may enter and search any premises for the purpose of saving life or limb or preventing serious damage to property."

 http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?parentActiveTextDocId=1871554&ActiveTextDocId=1871577

The relevant code of practice is B which:
"Deals with police powers to search premises and to seize and retain property found on premises and persons."

 http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/operational-policing/2008_PACE_Code_B_(final).pdf?view=Binary

"Brian and Ant remain in the square, but to let them get down to belgravia police station, if you can help out by coming down and lending your support and protection it would be much appreciated."

In a way I like what the peace protestors are doing at Parliament Square because of the need to end the slaughter of thousands in Afghanistan and Iraq. However when I wanted to 'remain in the Square' some time ago I was shouted at by an angry Brian Haw, and had to leave this public place, which makes it kind of difficult to support. Also not sure if I would want to participate in a demonstration that only remains due to applying for permission under the undemocratic SOCPA law, which is not dead yet.