The Daily Mirror says the Met police wanted to arrest
arms dealers inside DSEi. They estimated 300 were
trading without licences. The Home Office instructed
them to do no such thing...
arms dealers inside DSEi. They estimated 300 were
trading without licences. The Home Office instructed
them to do no such thing...
According to an article in today's Daily Mirror at
... "Dozens of the 1,000 companies touting for business at the exhibition are unlicensed.
"Scotland Yard has issued a blistering rebuke to the Government and handed out warning letters to the illegal exhibitors.
"But the Government has ignored police concerns over security and insisted no action be taken against companies breaking the law.
"It means hundreds of arms dealers from around the world, including notoriously unscrupulous companies from unstable regions, have been allowed to ply their trade without even cursory checks on their credentials.
"And police have ignored the law being broken inside the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition in London's Docklands while outside they have arrested more than 130 anti-arms protesters."
All of which suggests that there was a plan to be, er,
even-handed. Or at least that retroactively someone
wants to create that impression.
Somone senior: The Met has clearly authorised
the hacks to give the impression it's all David
Blunkett's fault (revenge for his passing the
buck over the Terror Act thing... through which the
DSEi story predictably transmuted from life and
death to a Consitutional Crisis in the broadsheets...)
And:
"A senior Home Office source said: 'It is staggering that at a time when a terrorist attack is considered inevitable, an unknown bunch of arms dealers can turn up and flog weapons without anyone knowing a thing about them.
'Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein could be behind companies selling arms in London this week and we wouldn't have a clue.'"
And even stranger:
"Police chiefs initially wanted to shut down the arms show, which is costing the taxpayer £1.5million.
"In a document leaked to the Daily Mirror, Chief Inspector Stephen Lee of the Metropolitan Police Firearms Enquiry Teams warned a Home Office official: 'The integrity of the police force cannot be put in such an invidious position and as it stands, I will be asking Firearms Enquiry Team officers to enforce the law, either through prosecution or demanding the removal of the exhibits'."
Phew. If true.
Someone will be dropping the Met a note suggesting that
whever the Home Office pisses them around that much,
they should simply refuse to arrest anyone outside
either :-)
Whatever, expect DSEi 2005 to be held in tents at Foulness.
or Glen Douglas, or somewhere...
Oh, and the Mirror ran a pic of the TSquare fountains, and
unlike Ceefax (to which it was alll a puzzling mystery...
police hunting two mystery people) and the Press Association
(which studiously ignored it, online at least) managed to
quote someone who may have done it.
... "Dozens of the 1,000 companies touting for business at the exhibition are unlicensed.
"Scotland Yard has issued a blistering rebuke to the Government and handed out warning letters to the illegal exhibitors.
"But the Government has ignored police concerns over security and insisted no action be taken against companies breaking the law.
"It means hundreds of arms dealers from around the world, including notoriously unscrupulous companies from unstable regions, have been allowed to ply their trade without even cursory checks on their credentials.
"And police have ignored the law being broken inside the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition in London's Docklands while outside they have arrested more than 130 anti-arms protesters."
All of which suggests that there was a plan to be, er,
even-handed. Or at least that retroactively someone
wants to create that impression.
Somone senior: The Met has clearly authorised
the hacks to give the impression it's all David
Blunkett's fault (revenge for his passing the
buck over the Terror Act thing... through which the
DSEi story predictably transmuted from life and
death to a Consitutional Crisis in the broadsheets...)
And:
"A senior Home Office source said: 'It is staggering that at a time when a terrorist attack is considered inevitable, an unknown bunch of arms dealers can turn up and flog weapons without anyone knowing a thing about them.
'Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein could be behind companies selling arms in London this week and we wouldn't have a clue.'"
And even stranger:
"Police chiefs initially wanted to shut down the arms show, which is costing the taxpayer £1.5million.
"In a document leaked to the Daily Mirror, Chief Inspector Stephen Lee of the Metropolitan Police Firearms Enquiry Teams warned a Home Office official: 'The integrity of the police force cannot be put in such an invidious position and as it stands, I will be asking Firearms Enquiry Team officers to enforce the law, either through prosecution or demanding the removal of the exhibits'."
Phew. If true.
Someone will be dropping the Met a note suggesting that
whever the Home Office pisses them around that much,
they should simply refuse to arrest anyone outside
either :-)
Whatever, expect DSEi 2005 to be held in tents at Foulness.
or Glen Douglas, or somewhere...
Oh, and the Mirror ran a pic of the TSquare fountains, and
unlike Ceefax (to which it was alll a puzzling mystery...
police hunting two mystery people) and the Press Association
(which studiously ignored it, online at least) managed to
quote someone who may have done it.
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12.09.2003 18:57
Sep 12 2003
EXCLUSIVE
By Gary Jones And Justine Smith
ARMS dealers are selling bombs, guns and tanks illegally at a controversial arms fair sponsored by the Ministry of Defence.
Dozens of the 1,000 companies touting for business at the exhibition are unlicensed.
Scotland Yard has issued a blistering rebuke to the Government and handed out warning letters to the illegal exhibitors.
But the Government has ignored police concerns over security and insisted no action be taken against companies breaking the law.
It means hundreds of arms dealers from around the world, including notoriously unscrupulous companies from unstable regions, have been allowed to ply their trade without even cursory checks on their credentials.
And police have ignored the law being broken inside the Defence Systems and Equipment Inter- national exhibition in London's Docklands while outside they have arrested more than 130 anti-arms protesters.
An incredible array of weapons is on display, from tanks and rocket launchers to missiles and machine guns.
A senior Home Office source said: "It is staggering that at a time when a terrorist attack is considered inevitable, an unknown bunch of arms dealers can turn up and flog weapons without anyone knowing a thing about them.
"Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein could be behind companies selling arms in London this week and we wouldn't have a clue."
Police chiefs initially wanted to shut down the arms show, which is costing the taxpayer £1.5million.
In a document leaked to the Daily Mirror, Chief Inspector Stephen Lee of the Metropolitan Police Firearms Enquiry Teams warned a Home Office official: "The integrity of the police force cannot be put in such an invidious position and as it stands, I will be asking Firearms Enquiry Team officers to enforce the law, either through prosecution or demanding the removal of the exhibits.
"I do not relish the prospect of either of those two courses of action, knowing that the consequences of alleged 'heavy handedness' could bring adverse publicity to the exhibition organisers, HM Government and police but I am left with no alternative."
But police were issued orders from "ministerial level" to ignore the law being broken."
The source said: "The bottom line is that the Government has invited officials from a number of countries to the fair and feels it would be hugely embarrassing at this prestigious event - which the MoD helped organise - to have police going around arresting and charging people.
"It is clear hypocrisy and double standards to have thousands of police stopping peaceful protests about the fair while allowing all manner of crimes to be committed inside."
He admitted the Government was aware of the "considerable alarm" over companies dealing in prohibited weapons at the fair, which ends today.
Less than 50 of the 1,000 firms from 28 countries applied for proper certification, and police estimate at least 300 are selling prohibited weapons. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon welcomed delegates at an opening ceremony on Tuesday as 20 firearms officers handed out "letters of warning" to 300 dealers with weapons on offer about the next exhibition in two years' time.
The letters said: "It is clear that a significant number of exhibitors have committed such offences as those outlined above. A repetition of this in 2005 will not be tolerated." But no further action will be taken against those breaking the law after Scotland Yard was forced to back down. Martin Hogbin from the Campaign Against the Arms Trade called for Mr Hoon's resignation over the scandal.
He added: "I was told by a police officer that it was politically important this arms fair continues."
Outside the ExCel centre 2,600 private security guards and police have been drafted in over fears of a riot from anti-arms industry protesters.
Campaigners accused the Labour Government of abandoning its 1997 pledge to clean up the industry and putting profits before ethics to pump arms into nations plagued by war and poverty.
The fair is run by Spearhead Exhibitions, but taxpayers are picking up the £1million security bill and £500,000 to host delegates invited to browse.
Under UK law prohibited weapons require Home Office authority under Section 5 of the Firearms Act and a Firearms Dealers Certificate from the police. A Section 5 licence requires special dispensation from the Home Secretary and is only granted under "extreme and special circumstances".
Police first expressed concerns about the missing certification last year and warned the Home Office exhibitors had missed the last deadline to obtain a licence weeks before the show opened.
Asked to issue a certificate for a South African firm bringing in arms and munitions, an officer wrote: "Owing to limited time before the opening the checks cannot be completed."
While some of the giants of the arms world, including the UK's BAE Systems and America's Lockheed Martin, have obtained the proper documentation, most have ignored requests to do so.
The MoD which organised the fair with Spearhead, said: "The event is run by the company and not by the MoD.
"In putting together their list of invitees the company is expected to take into account embargoes and other restrictions on defence exports."
Spearhead was unavailable for comment. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A written warning has been given to the exhibitors who have not complied with UK licensing laws."
Scotland Yard later claimed only 47 of the 1,000 arms firms were dealing in weapons and that 27 did not have the proper certification. It said temporary licences were issued for the duration of the fair.
The Metropolitan Police said the Crown Prosecution Service was consulted but decided no action should be taken. The Home Office said last night: "We are investigating our position."
__________
BUYERS AND SELLERS IN DEATH TRADE
Indonesia
Links with al-Qaeda. Decades of human rights abuses in East Timor. Now violently suppressing Aceh independence movement at a cost of 12,000 lives. BUYING: Since 1997 Labour government has approved 377 arms export licences to region. UK-built Scorpion tanks and Hawk jets being used in Aceh, breaking contractual agreements.
Pakistan
Al-Qaeda known to operate in Pakistan. Offered undercover journalists anti-personnel landmines after meeting at DSEi 1999. BUYING: Despite conflict over Kashmir with nuclear rival India, British government approved military sales worth £15million, while also arming India. SELLING: PM Pervez Musharraf recently admitted Israel was only country he would be reluctant to sell arms to. Pakistan Ordnance Factory makes landmines, bombs, grenades, machine guns and rifles.
Israel
Despite breaking dozens of UN resolutions in conflict over Palestine, Britain doubled defence contracts to £22million in 2001. BUYING: In 2002, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw bent UK regulations to allow sale of parts for US-built F16s used in attacks on Occupied Territories. SELLING: Israel Military Industries sells cluster bombs, sub-machine guns, machine guns, missiles, mortar ammunition. IMI was asked by MoD not to display cluster bombs this year but could still tout for future business. Pressure group GlobalSecurity.org claims Rafael's Haifa operation is site of a nuclear weapons design lab.
Syria
Invited by government but declined to attend. Labelled rogue state by US because of suspected illegal chemical weapons programme and links with terror group Hezbollah.
Bulgaria
More than one million Kalashnikovs left Bulgaria after Cold War, ending up with some of world''s most brutal armies, militants and gangsters.
A 1999 Human Rights Watch report called country''s defence industry an "anything goes weapons bazaar"." Allegedly broke UN embargo on selling weapons to Sierra Leone in 1998. SELLING: Arsenal Co. makes assault rifles, grenade launchers and anti-aircraft guns.
India
BUYING: British government approved military sales worth £118million to India in 2002, when country was teetering on brink of nuclear war with Pakistan over Kashmir.
Saudi Arabia
BUYING: British arms exports to Saudi were worth about £63million in 2002, despite abusive regime.
China
Long suspected of selling weapons on to rogue states, despite a partial arms embargo. SELLING: Norinco make rifles, sub-machine guns, machine guns.
Turkey
Turkey remains key military ally in the Middle East, despite appalling human rights record against Kurds. BUYING: Human Rights Watch reported weapons sold to Turkey by UK, US, Germany and Russia were used to commit atrocities. Also suspected of selling on UK military technology to rogue states. SELLING: MKEK, makes ammunition, small arms, rockets, hand grenades, pistols, artillery rockets and explosives, multiple launch rocket systems and chemicals for arms production.
Morocco
Al-Qaeda known to operate in Morocco. War on Want has called for ban on weapons which could be used to support Morocco''s armed occupation of Western Sahara, such as gun parts sold by Britain in 2001.
Belgium
SELLING: FN Herstal, Rifles, machine guns, small arms ammunition. In 2002, company won contract to export 5,500 machine guns to Nepal.
Romania
SELLING: Despite Britain''s ratification of anti-landmine Ottowa Treaty in March 1999, Romanian defence firm Romtechnica openly used DSEi that autumn to promote its anti-personnel landmines.
South Africa
BUYING: Currently spending more than £3.5billion on major defence contracts with European firms, including 24 BAE Hawk jets. SELLING: Thirty-six South African companies will have stalls at fair including Dene which makes missiles, infantry weapons and ammunition. Secured £18million deal with Algeria in 1998 when government there was involved in conflict with Islamist opponents.
Tanzania
BUYING: The British government approved a £28million BAE contract to sell an air traffic control system in 1998, opposed by Chancellor Gordon Brown and the World Bank.
United Kingdom
SELLING: BAE Systems, Britain''s biggest defence firm has been caught up in controversy over its high pressure sales tactics, boardroom antics. It has been forced to issue stern denials of bribery in deals with India, the Czech Republic and South Africa and against UN allegations it broke sanctions to sell to Robert Mugabe''s regime in Zimbabwe. Best- known for Hawk jets, naval vessels and missile defence technology, but also sells artillery, small arms and mortars to 50 countries through subsidiary RO Defence. Heckler & Koch has factories in Nottingham and sells under licence in Pakistan, Turkey and until recently, Iran and Myanmar. Rifles, sub-machine guns and machine guns in use in 90 countries. Alvis, UK sold Scorpion tanks to Indonesia which were deployed in violent suppression of independence movement in Aceh, breaking restrictions placed on their use in a Labour- government backed 1997 £100million contract.
mhor