On Friday February 3rd, campaigners in Nottingham will hold a protest against Atos "Healthcare".

The protest is taking place despite the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to drop charges against two local residents which arose from a previous protest.

In September 2011, protesters entered the Atos' offices on Stoney Street. Although the protest was entirely peaceful, two demonstrators were arrested and subsequently charged with aggravated trespass.

Earlier this month the CPS dropped the charges against the two. Supporters of the pair, dubbed the "Atos Two" welcomed the move and attributed it to the impressive soldairty campaign which was organised for the defendants.

Supporters believe that the motivation behind the original arrests was to discourage protest and are keen to show that this has been ineffective.

Chris Sandford of the Nottingham Defence Campaign said, "The Atos Two no longer have this case hanging over them, but Atos continue to make people's lives miserable.

"We keep being told that there isn't any money to fund public services or pay for welfare, but as we've seen over the last week with the huge bonuses being offered at RBS that this is a lie. There's plenty of money, but 'austerity' is being used to ensure that the rich get richer at the expense of the poor and disabled.

"We need to stand with all those being picked off whether by the police or welfare privateers like Atos. Only collective action can beat these attacks on the welfare state and our right to protest."

Notes

1) Protesters will meet at 12.30pm on Friday February 3rd, at the junction of Carlton Street and Heathcote Street, Hockley (outside Ice Nine).

2) Atos Healthcare has been the subject of protests across the UK by disabled people and campaigners seeking to defend the welfare state.

Atos was selected by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to administer the Work Capability Assesments (WCA).

Campaigners claim that WCA are part of a deliberate policy by the coalition government designed to force as many people as possible off disability benefits regardless of their physical and/or psychological abilities.

Critics of Atos Healthcare point to the high number of successful appeals against decisions by the company.

A report by BBC Inside Out East found that more than one third of appeals were successful. (http://bbc.in/ulXxMG)

Furthermore the expertise and conduct of the so called ‘healthcare professionals’ undertaking the assessments has been severely questioned by campaigners.

In August it emerged that twelve doctors employed by the company were being investigated by the General Medical Council over allegations of improper conduct. (http://gu.com/p/3x7jd)

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