The HSBC 3 Defence Campaign was set up last December to defend three activists arrested on the 18th December at a protest against tax avoidance, on a UKUncut national day of action. The protest was lively but peaceful, and occupied many relevant shops and businesses supporting the cuts - including Mark's and Spencer, Boots, and Vodaphone. The three activists were targeted by the police to end the protest, to intimidate and deter young people from protesting against the government's savage public spending cuts.

Mark Pearson was the first to be arrested, accused of 'Breaking the conditions' imposed upon a demonstration. Patrick Reay was then arrested for apparently obstructing the arrest of Mark, and Toby Hobbs was arrested 4 days later whilst manning a Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! stall, accused of obstructing the arrest of Patrick. Mark and Patrick were both given harsh bail conditions, banning them from the city centre, in a clear attempt to prevent their attendance at further protests. The arrests were transparently political in nature, and are part of a worrying trend of systematic police repression against anyone taking direct action against the cuts.