Nottinghamshire Repression Newswire Archive

Nottingham Defy-ID are holding a Defy-ID National Gathering on Saturday 25th November 2006 from 11am onwards at The Sumac Centre in Nottingham, to discuss opposition to ID Cards and the National ID Register.

Fundraiser for Nottingham Jenin Friendship Group and to support work of Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.

On top of ID cards and the move to NHS electronic records, another major government plan with a potential for hideous invasion of privacy and loss of personal freedom comes out of the Children Act (2004). The new Act allows the setting up of incredibly invasive databases by the Secretary of State and/or children's services authorities in England. At the same time pupils and parents are getting more vocal and organised in their protests against the alarming rate of introduction of biometric systems in schools. These have included fingerprinting (and even iris scanning) of children for school dinners, attendance registers, and use of libraries or ‘learning resource centres’.

Nottingham Defy-ID's third bulletin (August 2006) is now available for download and distribution.

Labour's ID scheme is supposedly on the rocks, but let’s not be overly comforted by this news. There are good reasons to continue to build up the pressure. In particular, passport developments in the UK Identity and Passport Service (IPS) and the European Union could result in alternative identity databases, and since the Act is on the statute books, compulsory ID could start at any future date.

Nottingham edition of STWC Emergency demos flyer,
detailing Birmingham, Manchester & London Demos.

The Nottingham Evening Post [unreliable source] reports (13/JL/06) Tony Blair is to visit Nottingham this month to give a speech.
Details as to where, when and to whom not stated.

An inspirational project set up in Nottingham.

The prison is severely overcrowded. Congestion precipitates the spread of infectious diseases that prevail due to malnutrition and a lack of hygiene, clean water and adequate health care. Prisoners exist in squalor without even the most basic of necessities. However, what the prison is perhaps most notorious for is its problem of gang rape, the existence of which, though frighteningly common-place, is often denied because of attitude towards homosexuality in East African society.

Local activists are stepping up a campaign against a local store with authoritarian policies, after the store manager launched a physical attack on a local activist. Threshers, of 167 Derby Road, Nottingham, is facing a consumer boycott after an individual appearing to be the store owner or manager brutally attacked an activist in the street. The store has been the focus of a campaign against no headwear policies which attack lifestyle choice and persecute religious minorities.

Christian Voice have been organising protests outside Jerry Springer: The Opera all week. At first we protested on Freedom of Speech. These people are much more dangerous - they are Homophobic Bigots of the worst kind.

On Saturday 18th March, photographer and Indymedia contributor Alan Lodge - or Tash - was arrested after taking photos of armed police in public. Tash continued to deny the charge of wilfully obstructing a police officer at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Tuesday the 23rd May. A trial date has now been set for the 17th October

A night of info about the latest US crackdown on radical green activists is planned, for sat 27th May, at the Sumac in Nottingham. Entertainments will follow.

on the 21st of may 2006 the legal support team - 'supporto legale' will be doing a benifit / info evening at the sumac centre starting from 7pm
with film and discussion about the trials that are still continuing to this day

Throughout the world, 3 May serves as an occasion to inform the public of violations of the right to freedom of expression and as a reminder that many journalists brave death or jail to bring people their daily news.

Your one stop shop for resistance to identity theft

We are meeting as usual on Wednesday's at the Sumac Centre at 6-7pm before the regular Scroat Cinema food and film evenings.

All welcome. Now the ID cards bill has been passed, we need to build the local campaign.

In February, the BNP came second in the Amber Valley council by-election in Heanor and Loscoe (see previous items on IndyMedia). They will undoubtedly stand again in the election in May.

On saturday 18th March, on the way to do some shopping and visiting in town, I diverted to follow some police activity, that turned out to be an armed turnout. Helicopter overhead and the heavy mob tearing about near Huntingdon Street and the Mansfield Road, with many guns, here in Nottingham.

Pictures [outside court] thanks to Pete Jenkins

Left: Kevin Stanley, Nottingham Branch secretary NUJ

Middle: Me, with my posh togs on.

Right: Diana Peasey, Nottingham Branch Chair NUJ

As I understand it the police routinely take DNA samples when people are arrested and do not destroy these even if you subsequently released without charge (let alone found not guilty if brought to court). Now see this which has just been reported by the BBC.

Middle East Party - Sunday 19th March, Wax Bar, Broad Street, Nottingham, 4-8pm. An exhibition of drawings, photographs and paintings from Palestine by Paul Gent + speakers. Live music from long Journey Home.