A crowd of two hundred people, angry and disgusted, watched as legal
campaigners from 10 protest groups had their leaflets and tables confiscated in Church Street, Liverpool this Saturday 11th October. Two arrests were made.
campaigners from 10 protest groups had their leaflets and tables confiscated in Church Street, Liverpool this Saturday 11th October. Two arrests were made.
What began peacefully enough ended in near-riot as police physically
manhandled members of the public and protesters in order to force a way through for the van carrying the arrested pair.
At one point, around six police vans and a dozen police officers were
required to quell angry protest at the suppression of free speech in a crowd – mostly shoppers and visitors - seething with anger and contempt. Shouts of “Let Them Out!”, “You're A Disgrace!” and “Free Speech!” resounded from the buildings, the crowd drawn by the police over-reaction entirely blocking Church Street and spilling onto Hanover Street in a dangerous melee.
Over the last few months, campaigners on issues as diverse as the war in Iraq, animal rights and defending the NHS have been the subject of police bullying, with literature confiscated and cautioned and arrested. Liverpool Freedom of Expression was formed to defend free speech and the right to campaign in public places. This was its first action.
Around 10 campaigning groups set up campaign stalls and immediately the police swooped and began confiscating materials. What began with one police officer, rapidly escalated with first four, then a dozen forced to respond to a situation rapidly turning ugly.
Throughout, no campaigner did anything but stand their ground, arguing passionately for the right to free speech and to campaign in the city centre. One person was arrested for doing just that. The second for asking why the first had been arrested.
This prompted a very passionate and angry reaction, people sat down in front of the police vans, formed a rolling blockade and otherwise tried to prevent their innocent friends being taken away. But throughout, no violence was offered and protesters were at pains to debate and to argue but not to provoke the police into a violent response; it came anyway as they were pushed, shouted at and manhandled out of the way.
The incident ended peacefully at 2.30pm although many people vowed to make their way to St Anne Street police station - the local lock-up - to voice their anger and file a complaint at police tactics. Two hundred people – and the many hundreds more who witnessed the ugly incident – went away disgusted at this waste of time, money and resources. Another PR disaster for the Merseyside Police.
Photographs of the incident can be obtained from Indymedia UK/Liverpool Indymedia when posted.
The entirely legal action was organised by Liverpool Freedom of Expression.
manhandled members of the public and protesters in order to force a way through for the van carrying the arrested pair.
At one point, around six police vans and a dozen police officers were
required to quell angry protest at the suppression of free speech in a crowd – mostly shoppers and visitors - seething with anger and contempt. Shouts of “Let Them Out!”, “You're A Disgrace!” and “Free Speech!” resounded from the buildings, the crowd drawn by the police over-reaction entirely blocking Church Street and spilling onto Hanover Street in a dangerous melee.
Over the last few months, campaigners on issues as diverse as the war in Iraq, animal rights and defending the NHS have been the subject of police bullying, with literature confiscated and cautioned and arrested. Liverpool Freedom of Expression was formed to defend free speech and the right to campaign in public places. This was its first action.
Around 10 campaigning groups set up campaign stalls and immediately the police swooped and began confiscating materials. What began with one police officer, rapidly escalated with first four, then a dozen forced to respond to a situation rapidly turning ugly.
Throughout, no campaigner did anything but stand their ground, arguing passionately for the right to free speech and to campaign in the city centre. One person was arrested for doing just that. The second for asking why the first had been arrested.
This prompted a very passionate and angry reaction, people sat down in front of the police vans, formed a rolling blockade and otherwise tried to prevent their innocent friends being taken away. But throughout, no violence was offered and protesters were at pains to debate and to argue but not to provoke the police into a violent response; it came anyway as they were pushed, shouted at and manhandled out of the way.
The incident ended peacefully at 2.30pm although many people vowed to make their way to St Anne Street police station - the local lock-up - to voice their anger and file a complaint at police tactics. Two hundred people – and the many hundreds more who witnessed the ugly incident – went away disgusted at this waste of time, money and resources. Another PR disaster for the Merseyside Police.
Photographs of the incident can be obtained from Indymedia UK/Liverpool Indymedia when posted.
The entirely legal action was organised by Liverpool Freedom of Expression.
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Comments
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I'd challenge it, for all our sakes
11.10.2008 23:09
I would also strongly recommend that as many people as possible make a formal complaint about police tactics in general and about the behaviour of individual officers (if relevant). Amongst other things, you can complain about breaches of Article 10 (freedom of expression) and Article 11 (freedom of assembly) of the European Convention of Human Rights, incorporated into English and Welsh law through the Human Rights Act 1998. There is strong precedent in English and European law against breach of these rights by public authorities. I'd also write to the local papers, MPs, and councillors. This really needs to be nipped in the bud; it's outrageous.
Paul Hussey
Take it to trial!
13.10.2008 15:41
It's not an imprisonable offence so you'd be unlikely to get legal aid, but check out "McKenzie Friends" - basically a friend/assistant in court.
My mate mentioned this post to me as I have some legal background so can help you if you'd like. I'm sure there are plenty of people in the same position out there though.
It's true that cops aren't supposed to take offence to something (unless of course it is extremely bad) and were there any complaints made about what you were doing? Why wasn't this the initial offence to get you nicked? Why were the police there in the first place if there was no disorder? These are all questions that need answers.
I would seriously suggest not accepting the fixed penalty order, especially as it means you have no chance to give your side of the story or question the actions of the police. It also means the cops will think they can get away with acting in a similar manner in future. It's totally up to you though but remember even if you were found guilty in court of Sec. 5 there's really not much they can do to you. It'll probably get dropped beforehand anyway.
If you need me, you can contact our group's email address above.
Good luck to those arrested and well done for resisting the cops. Keep up the good work. Jen x
Jen @ NARC
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