Advice for students fearing arrest
Fighting FIT | 13.11.2010 09:26
Over 50 people have been arrested so far, and the police have claimed they took the details of a further 250 people in the kettle using powers under the Police Reform Act. There may be more arrests to come.
Students who are worried should consider taking the following actions:
Students who are worried should consider taking the following actions:
If you have been arrested, or had your details taken – contact the legal support campaign. As a group you can support each other, and mount a coherent campaign.
If you fear you may be arrested as a result of identification by CCTV, FIT or press photography;
DONT panic. Press photos are not necessarily conclusive evidence, and just because the police have a photo of you doesn’t mean they know who you are.
DONT hand yourself in. The police often use the psychological pressure of knowing they have your picture to persuade you to ‘come forward’. Unless you have a very pressing reason to do otherwise, let them come and find you - IF they know who you are.
DO get rid of your clothes. There is no chance of suggesting the bloke in the video is not you if the clothes he is wearing have been found in your wardrobe. Get rid of ALL clothes you were wearing at the demo, including YOUR SHOES, your bag, and any distinctive jewellery you were wearing at the time. Yes, this is difficult, especially if it is your only warm coat or decent pair of boots. But it will be harder still if finding these clothes in your flat gets you convicted of violent disorder.
DONT assume that because you can identify yourself in a video, a judge will be able to as well. ‘That isn’t me’ has got many a person off before now.
DO keep away from other demos for a while. The police will be on the look-out at demos, especially student ones, for people they have put on their ‘wanted’ list. Keep a low profile.
DO think about changing your appearance. Perhaps now is a good time for a make-over. Get a haircut and colour, grow a beard, wear glasses. It isn’t a guarantee, but may help throw them off the scent.
DO keep your house clean. Get rid of spray cans, demo related stuff, and dodgy texts / photos on your phone. Don’t make life easy for them by having drugs, weapons or anything illegal in the house.
DO get the name and number of a good lawyer you can call if things go badly. The support group has the names of recommended lawyers on their site. Take a bit of time to read up on your rights in custody, especially the benefits of not commenting in interview.
DO be careful who you speak about this to. Admit your involvement in criminal damage / disorder ONLY to people you really trust.
DO try and control the nerves and panic. Waiting for a knock on the door is stressful in the extreme, but you need to find a way to get on with business as normal. Otherwise you’ll be serving the sentence before you are even arrested.
If you fear you may be arrested as a result of identification by CCTV, FIT or press photography;
DONT panic. Press photos are not necessarily conclusive evidence, and just because the police have a photo of you doesn’t mean they know who you are.
DONT hand yourself in. The police often use the psychological pressure of knowing they have your picture to persuade you to ‘come forward’. Unless you have a very pressing reason to do otherwise, let them come and find you - IF they know who you are.
DO get rid of your clothes. There is no chance of suggesting the bloke in the video is not you if the clothes he is wearing have been found in your wardrobe. Get rid of ALL clothes you were wearing at the demo, including YOUR SHOES, your bag, and any distinctive jewellery you were wearing at the time. Yes, this is difficult, especially if it is your only warm coat or decent pair of boots. But it will be harder still if finding these clothes in your flat gets you convicted of violent disorder.
DONT assume that because you can identify yourself in a video, a judge will be able to as well. ‘That isn’t me’ has got many a person off before now.
DO keep away from other demos for a while. The police will be on the look-out at demos, especially student ones, for people they have put on their ‘wanted’ list. Keep a low profile.
DO think about changing your appearance. Perhaps now is a good time for a make-over. Get a haircut and colour, grow a beard, wear glasses. It isn’t a guarantee, but may help throw them off the scent.
DO keep your house clean. Get rid of spray cans, demo related stuff, and dodgy texts / photos on your phone. Don’t make life easy for them by having drugs, weapons or anything illegal in the house.
DO get the name and number of a good lawyer you can call if things go badly. The support group has the names of recommended lawyers on their site. Take a bit of time to read up on your rights in custody, especially the benefits of not commenting in interview.
DO be careful who you speak about this to. Admit your involvement in criminal damage / disorder ONLY to people you really trust.
DO try and control the nerves and panic. Waiting for a knock on the door is stressful in the extreme, but you need to find a way to get on with business as normal. Otherwise you’ll be serving the sentence before you are even arrested.
Fighting FIT
e-mail:
info@fitwatch.org.uk
Homepage:
http://www.fitwatch.org.uk
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
SMS logs
13.11.2010 18:50
If the piggies are sure they've got the right person, but don't have the evidence, they can and will pull either the logs, or content, of every text your number has sent. Alternatively they may think that you are part of either an organised or an on-the-spot group, one of whom they are gunning for.
But to get this they need your phone number. They'll get that if they arrest you and you're carrying your phone.
This is not a tactic they can be bothered to use for everyone, so no need to be paranoid.
This comment included just for completeness.
techbit
time to wise up
13.11.2010 20:16
jo blogs
talking to others
13.11.2010 20:44
Get arrested, then come out fighting, because the police will tarnish you if they can get away with it, and the more isolated you are the more pressure they can apply. People can only support you if we know who you are.
NEVER, EVER, EVER GIVE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A NO-COMMENT INTERVIEW. Even if your lawyer advises otherwise - get a decent lawyer as duty lawyers can just as likely to be untrustworthy bastards and ex-cops (some are decent, but experience has show that not enough are).
Interviews are there to serve the police, both to convict you or to gather intelligence - what they are not about is getting you off or "giving your side of the story". Start with no comment even when the tapes are turned off, don't let them lure you in to a conversation at any time. Keep cool and you'll be out sooner. We've been arrested enough times to know that it the only way that works.
If they approach you to give evidence afterwards, saying they'll drop charges and all that shite, politely say no and tell your friends/group.
AS
Homepage:
http://activistsecurity.org
Journalists
14.11.2010 17:20
There's a reason why people have been pushing away journalists in protest all over europe. This also goes for demonstrators taking pictures of unmasked protestors. Mask up, push cameras away. That will only do good to the protests, if people start acting instead of taking a collection of images to put on their facebook. And after the article they published on this matter, journos from the telegraph should be a special target. No phones, no cameras, smashing CCTV before it's too late, and no paranoia afterwards. I know this is not the usual protest in England, but I don't think we should spread the paranoia. They can't possibly get everyone. They don't have evidence. Refuse to cooperate, watch your steps and keep fighting !
rerrrr