British Transport Police - keeping an eye on us

anon. | 31.03.2009 00:38 | G20 London Summit

British Transport Police warning rail staff employees to look out for G20 protestors

Staff who work for the Welsh Train company Arriva were handed this message today, I'm presuming other rail staff across the UK were given similar messages:

"As you are most probably aware from news reports it is anticipated that there may be some public disorder asocaited with the G20 meeting in London on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd April 2009.

Whilst our services are very unlikely to be directly affected by the event, it is possible that they will be used by passengers intending to make their way to demonstrate in London.

Therefore British Transport Police are asking staff to report any sightings that meet the following general description of activities:

* Groups of travellers wearing noticeable themed clothing, for example same large logo or coloured shirts etc
* Any noticebale groups who are beleived to be travelling to London
* Any groups carrying banners or posters
* Any group bookings to London that day/s

If any groups are seen that meet the above please forward details of time, locatins, description and numbers to BTP control Rooms on wither the normal control room number

0800405040 or

ON THE DAY of the event a direct phone line of Intenral 004 1123 or External 02078301123

BTP welcome any possible information that can be supplied and emphasise that even the smallest piece of information can be useful

Can you please pass on this request to all relevant staff"

anon.

Comments

Hide the following 20 comments

If This Is Genuine?

31.03.2009 02:19

Then that's a very frightening statement about the times we live in.

Rail staff being asked to be the political police??

I smell a scandal. Assuming this is true...

(getting the coach)

Spelling mistakes?

31.03.2009 02:23

Just read it properly and there's 5 terrible spelling mistakes:

asocaited
noticebale
beleived
locatins
Intenral

Not that I'm saying all police can spell perfectly or anything, but it does look a bit off.

fact or fiction?

please rat out your fellow citizens after the tone...

31.03.2009 02:36

seems like an open invitation for a bit of disinformation, especially as the first phone number is free. just pop into the nearest public telephone and bravely tell the ever-vigilant transport police that they ought to be watching various outlying minor stations (is the western end of zone 4 or 5 plausible??) for sudden groupings of angry anti-capitalists. who knows, it could even divert a few of them to places like wembley or ealing.

thurlow

Handy

31.03.2009 06:53

And now this stupid and sinister idea can be gleefully abused by its intended victims.

Is this what the average plod signed up for, to act like the fucking Stasi?

Mz Direction

letter is genuine

31.03.2009 07:32

The letter is genuine it was given to me by someone working for arriva - the spelling mistakes are my own, I was copying the letter out late last night.

anon.

anon

31.03.2009 07:42

Any chance you can take a photo of the letter and upload it here please?

nona

we are arrving at stations all around london

31.03.2009 08:18

Lets get them looking for groups of people arriving at a platform (not) near you.

travelling alone

Photo of letter

31.03.2009 08:20

Photo of letter to Arriva Staff

Here is a photo of the letter, not on heded paper but still very genuine...

anon.

phone # seems genuine

31.03.2009 08:23

just popped 0800405040 into google & got hits for British Transport Police SW area...

@ thurlow:
bloody great idea, can give those of us who can't make it to London for one reason or another something useful to do, this should be promoted!

anon

Wow Quite fucking unbelievable!

31.03.2009 08:43

If any one argues that we don't live within a police state, they should get a look at this. I agree we should really promote this and get it out to as many folk as possible and let the filth know we are coming (from some obscure angles)...

@narchist

Thanks for posting this - RMT?

31.03.2009 09:39

Wonder what the RMT would have to say about this?

Pete

Nothing new

31.03.2009 11:01

Glad to see other protesters are becoming aware of this dictatorship we live in. AR people have known this for years. The whole issue now of anyone protesting about anything is deemed that we are 'terrorists' or are 'trouble makers'. We do not have the right to freedom of speech or freedom of assembly, as this shows, if anyone has the guts to get out there and make themselves heard against any issue they are assumed to be trouble. It is time this police state is exposed to the general public. The Governement and the police want us all to stay home and be nice little Stepford Wives!

anon

No big deal

31.03.2009 11:14

I don't see why this shows we live in a 'police state'. Of course the police want to know about big groups of people coming for the demos so they know what numbers they are dealing with. Don't panic! :)

Ruby

Send it to wikileaks

31.03.2009 11:22

I suggest sending a transcript and the photograph to wikileaks.

nothing new for eco-stuff too

31.03.2009 13:01

I know what happens to AR protests is worse in so many ways.

But some of us who do eco-stuff have been aware of this kind of thing for years, we just have short-term 'movement' memory problems!

When people from the UK were going to the Czech Republic for the World Bank protests back in 2000, people were pulled off coaches leaving the country, here and across the Channel, photographed and questioned.

old hand

For staff only?

31.03.2009 13:24

Surely this memo is intended for staff to phone BTP - so any 'prank calls' would have to also include real details of staff to verify them?

earwicga

get real

31.03.2009 14:55

'the police want to know about big groups so they can see what numbers they are dealing with' ha, ha, ha, there speaks either a police officer or a niave person who has never done demo's!

anon

passing on info

31.03.2009 16:51

"pass on to all relevant staff"

joe bloggs the cleaner, burger king staff and the list goes on. Im sure they wont have time to check the information there and then about who is calling.

let them know theres an army arriving at every station in london.

let the games begin

anon

Bollocks to the BTP

31.03.2009 23:12

Anyone who's had dealings with the BTP knows they are corrupt cunts - especially DS Pete Thrush and PC Will Livings based at London Bridge. Sad bastards.

Bob

AR

01.04.2009 02:10

Stop behaving like some jumped up older brother who thinks he knows it all and knows best.

There's a difference between police operations against protestors and 'known activists' and a general rat on any demonstrators on your train line / stn request to civvy staff.

crikey.