'Rebel' bulletin - The Nottingham Sparrow - May 2007 - no.2

a couple of nights ago.Next to me was an old guy about 65.He had a coat with the hood up,it was raining.When a camera police van stopped full of shaven heads and told him to pull his hood down.I thought they must be looking for someone and want a look at his face.But after he pulled it down and they went to drive off he pulled it back up and they stopped and said you've been told no hood.take it down or your getting arrested.The guy protested saying it's raining but he pulled it down.Seems you can't be videod wearing a hood.What else can it be?

All the more reason for us all to wear hoodies and ignore the cops. As far as I'm aware, unless there are certain laws in force for reasons of public order there is no requirement to show your face to the police.

answaring back to a van full of them shavenheads.You get nicked for whatever they say,and your solicitor tells you to plead guilty and not to upset the magistrate by calling the police liars or it will be worse for you.

Nottingham Defy-ID is bringing people together who want to organise against ID cards and the surveillance state, plus we want to help each other understand want the authorities can (and can't) try and make you do. We meet most Wednesdays at the Sumac Centre from 6pm until 7 (definitely tomorrow) and we'll be speaking and running a stall at Nottingham's Mayday event as well so anyone who's interested can come and talk to us there.

Comments above also remind of an earlier Notts Indymedia piece about Community Protection Officers not having powers to make you give your name & address etc. but pretending that they do ...
"A true story of everyday life for Nottingham town folk"
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/03/364864.html

This is a good one......

Talking CCTV cameras accuse wrong person, Guardian newspaper 12th April.

"Britain's talking CCTV cameras are to issue their first apology for embarrassing a blameless passerby on the day the government announces plans to extend the anti-vandalism scheme to 20 town centres.  http://society.guardian.co.uk/crimeandpunishment/story/0,,2055057,00.html

"Middlesbrough council, which has had inquiries from across Europe and the US about the "bossy cameras", said the incident would be investigated. Four council staff operate nine talking cameras out of 150 which keep an eye on the town."

Sadly the person accused apparently said they were still in favour of the cameras. Makes you despair sometimes.

What a very 'British' way of surveillance...terror state by embarrasment. If i laugh at something while out and about i wont be surprised if i get asked to 'share it with the rest of the 'community'' by one of these things. Im sure that were all agreed upon the most mature and sensible way to handle this; answer back.