London Critical Mass 30th September 2005

Bill | 01.10.2005 11:29 | Repression | Social Struggles | London

Last night at the 30th September 2005 London Critical Mass a letter was distributed by cycle police to participants before the start of the ride. Here is a transcription.

Last night at the 30th September 2005 London Critical Mass a letter was distributed by cycle police to participants before the start of the ride. Here is a transcription.

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Metropolitan Police Service
CO11 Public Order Branch
New Scotland Yard
Broadway
London
SW11 OBG

Your reference: -
Our reference: -
Date: 29/09/2005

Critical Mass Cycle Demonstrations

Organisers of public processions are required by law to notify police at least 6 days before the event occurs of the date, time, proposed route and the name and address of an organiser. Failure to do so makes the event unlawful

Demonstrations within a designated area around Parliament must also be notified, and anyone taking part in an unauthorised demonstration commits an offence.

Police can impose conditions on processions, demonstrations and other assemblies, and participants render themselves liable to arrest if they fail to comply with those conditions.

These cycle protests are not lawful because no organiser has provided police the with the necessary notification. Your participation in this event could render you liable to prosecution. Police policy in facilitating these events is currently under review.

If you intend to organise a future similar event please refer to the Metropolitan Police website, www.met.police.uk for details. It is preferable for all parties if a lawful event can be safely facilitated, rather than the Police having to enforce legislation.

[signed]

Super intendent Gomm,
New Scotland Yard

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Bill

Comments

Hide the following 18 comments

i fancy a bike ride with some friends down an unplanned route

01.10.2005 17:52

preferably before next month, but certainly then as well!!

who fancies joining me?

how the fuck can that be illegal?????!?!?!?!?

baffled cyclist

illegal cars meeting

02.10.2005 10:19

how comes that every day I see so many dangerous cars on my way blocking the roads that I can't even go throu with my bike! There must be a law regulating this traffic jam, a law that allows everyone to go around safe and free,and breathing some clean air.
we are not blocking traffic,we are traffic.

so NOW: ride dayly, celebrate DAYLY

rosa
mail e-mail: arancione35@libero.it

October Crit Mass

02.10.2005 10:45

Should we expect some kind of police tussle over our Cycle Tumult next month then?...I suppose it's not surprising these days that everything wacky and an alternative is sucked into the Disciplinary Machine and given detention and a hundred lines. Should be a good spontaneous coincidence ride next month...Better be there then eh?

Velo Rutionary

Reply to the cops... please print and distribute

02.10.2005 11:33

A cyclist
The road
The city
This country
Metropolitan Police Service
CO11 Public Order Branch
New Scotland Yard
London, SW11 OBG

Date: 01/10/2005

Critical Mass Cycle Rides

Thank you for your letter of the 29th in which you raised your concern that perhaps as cyclists we might be breaking the law by organising public processions. However, your concern is misplaced and since our monthly community ride is not a procession or indeed a protest. Critical mass has not route and no organisiers and doesn't aim to be a demonstration.

While new draconian laws now prohibit democracy around Parliament without prior notification this really has nothing to do with the monthly critical mass bike ride which is an ongoing event and nothing new - just like Brian Haws constant vigil.

Police may like to impose conditions critical mass and arrest participants not complying to such conditions. However, nobody involved in the ride is in a position to negotiate with the police as the event is by nature, unorganised and without leader.

These cycle rides are not lawful even though no organiser has provided police the with the necessary notification and our while our participation may render us liable to wrongful arrest we are certain that we would be victorious in court and well compensated for the assults and unlawful detention resulting from such an action.

If you intend to review police policy in 'facilitating' these events please refer to the dozens of critical mass related websites. It is preferable for all parties to be aware of Human Rights Acts so that unlawful acts by the police can be avoided, rather than wasting court time on overturning bad legislation.

[not signed]

A Super Cyclist,
London

cyclists

WHY NO FUSS SINCE 1994 - WHY NOW?

02.10.2005 12:48

Critical Mass in London has rolled on since 1994 without police threatening to use the POA to impose conditions. They've had the POA to hand all that time - why invoke it now when there's been no need up to now?

This is another overreaction from a force that still hasn't arrested anyone for the Stockwell murder. Why are they wasting time threatening innocent cyclists? Surely it is time to clamp down on murderers in uniform and the killers in cars.

Let's hope for a massive turn out on Oct 31st to show solidarity with a traditional monthly ride.

Banjo

nice reply to the police above, but bit of an own goal typo i think

02.10.2005 13:04

in paragraph 4 of your letter TO the police, you wrote "These cycle rides are not lawful even though no organiser has provided police......."

erm, shurely you mean "These cycle rides ARE lawful even though.........

otherwise nice idea and i hope the met receives plenty of copies of this letter before next month's ride just so they know not to behave like silly buggers.

i trust october's mass will be the biggest, most life-affirming, celebratory, and spontaneous mass ever.

see you all there

baffled cyclist

rejigged reply without typos

02.10.2005 13:11

with all due respect for an excellent idea, i've rejigged the above reply a little and corrected some typos. please read, make up your own additions and edits, feel free to use whatever letter you prefer, and let's send them in to the cops so they know what to expect in four weeks time.

Metropolitan Police Service
CO11 Public Order Branch
New Scotland Yard
London, SW11 OBG

Date: 01/10/2005

Critical Mass Cycle Rides

Thank you for your letter of the 29th in which you raised your concern that perhaps cyclists might be breaking the law by organising public processions. However, your concern is misplaced since the monthly community ride is not a procession or indeed a protest. Critical mass has no route and no organisiers and doesn't aim to be a demonstration.

While new draconian laws now prohibit democracy around Parliament without prior notification this really has nothing to do with the monthly critical mass bike ride which is an ongoing event and nothing new - just like Brian Haw's constant vigil.

Police may like to impose conditions on critical mass and arrest participants not complying to such conditions. However, nobody involved in the ride is in a position to negotiate with the police as the event is by nature, unorganised and without leader.

These cycle rides are lawful even though no organiser has provided police the with the necessary notification and while participation may render one liable to wrongful arrest i am certain that we would be victorious in court and well compensated for the assaults and unlawful detention resulting from such an action.

If you intend to review police policy in 'facilitating' these events please refer to the dozens of critical mass related websites. It is preferable for all parties to be aware of Human Rights Acts so that unlawful acts by the police can be avoided, rather than wasting court time on overturning bad legislation.

[not signed]

A Super Cyclist,
London

baffled cyclist

Actual letter?

02.10.2005 22:12

If anyone has any additional information about this, including contact information for someone who has an actual paper copy of this letter they could .pdf, please contact me privately at

gideon@oliverandoliverlaw.com. Thanks.

[Reposted from NYC IMC. Gideon is a lawyer representing many of NYC's Critical Mass cyclists.]

Gideon
mail e-mail: gideon@oliverandoliverlaw.com

pdf flier available for next critical mass

03.10.2005 08:03

some kind soul has designed an A5 flier to publicise the next critical mass and these issues. it can be downloaded and distributed widely. there are no organisers, we are all organisers.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/324881.html

concerned cyclist

Reply to cops?

03.10.2005 09:10

Thinking of past actions where the police have given out warnings: Do we really want to acknowledge the fact that we have been warned?

Dont know if many people have seen still we ride - search for it for more info.

why do the authorities want to do this? it my view that it is because they get nowt from cyclists no licence fee, no MOT, no fuel tax, no road tax, no parking fees, bikes are not registered. the only time commerce or government benefits is when bikes are first boudht from shops - many people self service (& build) their bikes. my bike is 18 yrs old cost £55 have since had tyres brake blocks & cables - a comy seat - rechargeable batteries & panniers - I guestimate that Ive rode it 50 - 60 thousand miles for £150 TOPS? (wont go into health benefits)

I cycle to work every day and laugh inwardly at motorists who sit there for ages in queues as I roll past at my unenergetic speed. I've never been on a critical mass but will go on the october one.

Pete B

fuel protests?

03.10.2005 11:41

I wonder if this is connected in any way to the recent fuel protest 'go slow' on the M4. The public order act was used to enforce a minimum speed limit in that case. I suspect someone has tried to claim that allowing critical mass to take place is inconsistent.

b33k34

Waste of public money and court time

04.10.2005 14:50

If they want to try it, bring them on!

The critical mass is not a procession but even if it was it would now be excempt from their stupid law...

"Notice is also not required if it is a funeral procession or a procession commonly or customarily held. This will include the Lord Mayor's Show in the City of London, the Notting Hill Carnival and other annual local parades, including those organised by religious groups. If a protest march occurs regularly (weekly, annually) at the same time along the same route, then no notice should be required".

The monthly Critical Mass has been going for other 11 years and is not a procession or a protest. The cops will loss and I for one would be happy to go to court to prove it.

pedal power

warning means nothing

04.10.2005 16:29

most of us didn't get their stupid letter and few of the people who join the ride read indymedia so dont stress about this thread doing their work for them. you speak as if you already accept their claims to be true - that the ride is illegal , but it is not!

if they go ahead an arrest people you can be sure that they will warn people again before they do but thst is not the point. the point is whether they have a case or not and they need to arrest some people to find out.

i suspect they will seek to arrest known people, people with placards or banners, people who have taken part in protest motivated rides such as the G8 or DSEi rides. they will hope that such people will provide them with better cases to prosecute and set a precident.

wheel thing

Bike Help

06.10.2005 09:38

Hi!

I don't live in the UK but I will be in London in the end of October.

I will be at the Critical Mass, probably with some friends, but I need your help to know where I can get/rent bikes for free or at a very low cost.

Perhaps you know of some project where people repair/build bikes, maybe some people in contact with the alternative/libertarian scene in London could give some help on this subject.

Celebrate bicycle culture! Critical Mass is here to stay!

xskirix
mail e-mail: xskirix@hotmail.com

Why no Fuss since 1994?

06.10.2005 09:59

Recently, the UN sec general made an announcement to the effect that the emerging (no pun intended) trend towards decentralisation and grass-roots self-organisation is an issue that the UN is concerned about. No doubt national governments are also concerned that people are taking power back for themselves and subverting their 'authority' and power. Critical mass and other ideas that promote self-organisation, i.e. anarchy, are deeply threatening to the establishment and right now I expect they are trying to draft new laws to prevent people taking power back for themselves. In the meantime we can expect to see a lot more police harassment of identifiable but leaderless groups like Critical Mass, Indymedia, et al. Watch your backs everyone.

Alastair

Alastair

Stop the opression, uphold freedom of speech!!

06.10.2005 11:50

This is just another outrageous attack by the police and government on our human rights. Not only have draconian rules come into Britain regarding the export of criminals back to countries known to perform human rights abuses, but the laws have been imposed upon those of us wishing to have our voices heard, speak up for ourselves and live in a free, democratic socieaty.
No protest is allowed to be held within 1 mile of parliament and now this. How can they stop a group of people (who meet coincidentaly to go cycling) trying to reduce fuel emissions and save the rest. It is outrageous.
Keep cycling and if you feel like it, come to parliament square every sunday to protest your rights!!!

Jake

tell them to go...

22.10.2005 23:42

typical stupid cop attitudes. i'd be tempted to tell them to go fuck themselves. sorry to be rude but c'mon...

sime

NYC Salutes you!

29.10.2005 04:41

On behalf of all my fellow New York Critical Mass arrestees, we ride in solidarity with our friends across the ocean. We are right, they are wrong. It's as simple as that. Don't let pig intimidation stop you from riding, or from doing anything else that serves to make this world a better place.

William