Saturday 17 December 2011

UPDATED

After meeting outside Boots in Parliament Street, Uncut protesters proceeded to a number of their usual locations.

Calling at Miss Selfridge, they entered the store and a couple of people had their details taken and were issued with a 'stop and search form'. It seemed that no search was in fact conducted though.

On to Vodafone in Clumber Street and accompanied by a number of police officers. The police say that because of an alleged "serious disruption to the life of the community" [shopping!] and "intimidating people from going about their lawful business" the sargeant [1554] in charge informed people that he was making a direction under section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 that protestors should move 20 yards from the store entrance and not use a megaphone. 

Remaining there for a few minutes more .... people continued from Vodafone and onto TopShop in Lister Gate. At 2.00pm, same police officers following on issued a similar direction there. Some people argued that these restrictions infringed their human rights and their rights to protest. One lady asked a question, didn't move fast enough and was promptly arrested.  Another, querried this arrest and was himself arrested.  Their young 11 year old son was then left in care of others.

Both were quite disabled with mobility issues and had to be assisted / helped [one shoved] into the police van sent to pick them up.

A demonstration was then held outside of the Bridewell Police Station in their support.

People were not allowed to visit in the police station, I assume while they were being processed. Then, a local vicar and their son was similarly refused when again wishing to cheak on their welfare.

Some protestors returned to outside of Topshop and continued their action.

Later in the evening, I also understand a further arrest of a supporter had been made at the Bridewell Police Station for refusing to leave. Again, while simply asking about the earlier arrests. [I guess for waiting, in the waiting area].

It might be noted that it is now over a year since Notts Uncut protests on these issue have been happening.  Yes, of course they have been monitored by police, CPO's and private security companies.  However, I didn't observe anything that happened on Saturday, that hadn't happened on so many occasions before.  You might therefore conclude that they are becoming a sufficient pain in highlighing the tax issues of these companies.  Also, of course, this being the busiest weekend before christmas, and the shopping and economic imperitave being so vital.

All released by later in the evening, bailed to appear in January 2012.

Notts Uncut Arrests 

http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2272

Criminalisation of protest in Notts 

http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2273

2 Arrested at Uncut demo: Topshop [Breaking]

http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2271

Nottingham Uncut: First Birthday Tour

http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2167

Notts Uncut

http://www.nottsuncut.co.uk

nottsuncutaction@gmail.com

Notts Save or Services

http://nottssos.org.uk

____________________________________________

ALAN LODGE 

Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham.  UK

Email:                 tash@indymedia.org

Web:                   http://digitaljournalist.eu

Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]

____________________________________________

"It is not enough to curse the darkness.

                                   It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"

___________________________________________

<ends>