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Scotsman Reports Bans Requested For G8 Protest in Derby on 17th March

M hor | 16.03.2005 07:43 | G8 2005 | Ecology | Globalisation | Repression | London

The Scotsman in a PA news article has reported that police and councillors in Derbyshire have requested bans on G8 demonstrations which are planned for tomorrow - thursday 17th march - alongside G8 Environment and Development Ministers meeting. Home Secretary Charles Clarke will today consider meansures to be imposed.

Below the article is reproduced for note:

Clarke May Crack Down on 'Challenge Anneky' Summit Protest
The Scotsman
Tue 15 Mar 2005 10:52am (UK)
By David Stringer, PA
 http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4257668

Home Secretary Charles Clarke is today expected to approve a security crackdown on protesters aiming to bring chaos to a rural village where Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett will host an international summit.

Police and councillors in Derbyshire have requested bans on demonstrations in four locations amid fears an anarchist group will use the meeting as a warm-up for disruption of the G8 conference in Gleneagles, Scotland, in July.

Officers have already calculated policing the talks in Derbyshire, at which G8 environment and development ministers will meet senior officials from the United Nations and the World Bank, will cost around £2 million.

The Dissent protest group has called on supporters to gather in Derby on Thursday, the day of the meeting, before marching across the city and through local villages to the Breadsall Priory Hotel, where the delegates will hold their talks.

It has arranged a Challenge Anneky day, themed on Anneka Rice’s TV show, and is offering spoof prizes to anyone who hurls a pie at a G8 minister, or plants a skull-and-crossbones flag in the 18th hole of Breadsall’s golf course.

A meeting of Derby City Council’s cabinet has called on Mr Clarke to approve special measures to counter the threat, including a ban on marches through the city centre from noon today until noon on Saturday.

Council leader Maurice Burgess said: “Police intelligence suggests there could be trouble and disruption if the protesters were allowed to leave the Market Place and process through the city and up to Breadsall Priory.

“We want to avoid that and enable the protesters to have their say peacefully. This is the first time we have had to seek such an order and have not taken this decision lightly.”

A protest will be allowed in the city’s Market Place, but with a limit of 3,000 people.

Police said fewer than 500 activists were expected to attend.

Neighbouring Erewash Borough Council has also asked for a ban on protests and gatherings in three villages surrounding the summit site, Little Eaton, Morley and Breadsall.

A Home Office spokesman said the requests are being considered today.

Prime Minister Tony Blair will host George Bush, Vladimir Putin and fellow G8 leaders in Gleneagles from July 6 to 8.

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See also article in The Herrald about a crackdown on persistent criminal offenders ahead of the G8 Summit in July:
 http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/35225.html

M hor


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