Vans travelling to Scotland: WARNING!

Police are hassling van drivers travelling up to Scotland in advance of the G8 protests.

A message for peeps entering Scotland in vans full of tat: - in case you
were planning an easy ride!Our van was stopped driving up the motorway in Scotland by Strathclyde police T division (support division -traffic).
They'd been following for a while and gave their reason as 'curiosity'.
They followed us for about ten miles and we still hadn't entered their
patch by the time they stopped us.

Once they'd stopped us, they looked for reasons to get the driver and van
off the road. A sniffer dog van was nearby and stopped but didn't search
the van - too packed I suppose. The plan seemed to be to stop the van,
hold the driver for long enough for the MOT inspectors to arrive. Seems
they want to get drivers and vans off the road. Though the van looked a
bit 'unsusual', we reckon they knew the G8 connection before they even
flagged us down. They were following for long enough to chat to the DVLA
and Met to fish for info.

When the driver was arrested, they held him over the weekend and brought London political cops (Special branch? NCIS? > FIT? > >we don't know) down from Glasgow. The local cops were well chuffed at geting the first G8 arrest in, thought they'd arrested the big man and everything.

So this message is just to warn you. It's not too early, the police (local
police most likely) have got their eyes out for vans, and (we guess) want
to take out the drivers too. Though there's a lot of vans on the motorway,
think - does yours stand out? If pulled, they'll look for the G8
connection and give it a better going over than the last time it was
MOT'd. If everything is above board, make sure you're carrying the MOT
and insurance - we hadn't got the cover note through, which was all they
held us on. Probably the best plan is to take small roads through
Scotland - motorways have number plate recognition cameras and traffic
cops, and particularly - are the expected route for entering Scotland from
England.

Good luck

resistG8

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Comments

Hide the following 18 comments

Tracking you !

19.06.2005 18:17

I tried to explain this a while ago but "some" techhead with a "little" 1990's technology tried to talk it down, well this is 2005.
When you protest the police set up a laptop with a Celline connection, this celltracker software grabs all imei numbers from phones in the small area, then they can track your phone anywhere anytime in the country, even down to the house number, this may soundlike 1984 with tracking devices disguised as everyday objects we carry, but trust me, this shit really works.
Note the 1900's tech head...get up to date man, this is the 3rd millenium !!

If you want a demo of a "LOWGRADE" version try .www. followus.co.uk
for a "highly" watered down phone tracking service.
the plod use celltracker-MV+ v7.9 which looks like a laptop with a wifi antenna on the side.
Once they Have your mobile, they have you, every second of every day, even if you change your simm.

Advice. 3 points
1. when traveling take the battery out, don't assume it is off when you think it is !, it's like a TV on standby
2. swap phones as often as possible with a group of freinds, they track the imei number not the sim, this really pisses the system up
3. remember your phone can provide a back reference of all your movments, if in doubt+ MISS OUT
leave the friggin thing at home

Lord Nelsons Trousers

serves you right you hooligans

19.06.2005 18:59

Yeah well you're probably planning violent black block actions, you probably want to smash everything up. I know all about you anti-globalisation protesters, I've read about you in The Times. Bunch of vandals the lots of you.

anti-vandal

My, my, what big egos you have!

19.06.2005 21:47

You guys obviously think rather a lot of yourselves. The Met ? Special Branch? Polictical Cops? You've been watching too much TV mate. It'll be local cops working under orders from afar, doing us all a favour by keeping dodgy vehicles off the road and detaining the great unwashed vandal contingent.

Can you really, really not think of a better way to contribute to society?

While we're on the subject of activists .........yaawwwn ..........(continued page 94)

SR Made Real

again...

19.06.2005 22:03

Your statement seems to be making out that I am trying to denounce your advice. This is untrue. Just because I have researched the issue beyond finding software manufacturers and have looked into the actual functionality of the system we have in place doesn't mean I am bad. It just makes you sound like a knee-jerk reactionist. Do some research.

I am not 'some techhead'. I do believe that the police are tracking us, instead I was just informing you that you are confused/mistaken with your technological analysis of the situation.

The police need no such hardware/software set up. All they need to do is contact the phone operaters in the area and demand the info. This is far less costly, far easier to implement (no training etc...). I (in the last year) gave a presentation on this very issue, so have researched it fully.

Mobile phones do not just randomly broadcast their IMEI numbers to all and sundry - as they are 'supposed' to be 'secure' and 'unique'. They are sent via various levels of encryption through GSM (do a little research and you will find this out) to a base station - the nearest one. The system is designed to accept any mobile phone using the correct protocols to connect to it - sending IMEI numbers prior to encryption is not in the protocols as it would be dangerous and insecure.

It is VERY easy to track mobile phone movement (they used them as targets for cruise missiles in iraq) via triangulation of signals to seperate towers. I am not trying to discredit people being secure, instead informing them that no special set ups are needed - thus making them more aware. All they need is a phone - to call the phone company.

The police are smart - giving the impression of being stupid. People should be very careful.

I know I am being watched, I also know that they don't need laptops and special software - just a quick word with one of the phone co's.

Once again - don't say anything you don't want heard via a phone, email or any trackable system. Don't take a mobile with you to a demo unless you don't mind being tracked.

fredrico
mail e-mail: musteatvegan@yahoo.co.uk

and more...

19.06.2005 22:08

Doing a bit of research into the software you mention (and the site) brings up the following:

A network rollout specialist (for mobile phone companies)
A mobile phone tracking company - for people who register (the same as most similar services mentioned previously by myself and others here on indymedia)
A sourceforge, open source phone tracking software that requires registration.

So, in order to substantiate your claims regarding these mobile phone tracking laptops, could you provide us with some useable information - such as manufacturer, supplier or other such info...

Sigh...

19.06.2005 22:12

I don't seem to be able to leave the site tonight...

The terms mentioned above (Special Branch etc...) are not really appropriate.

A discussion recently that was overheard at a local court mentioned that every police area of the country has a special 'team'/division set to monitor activist activity. And now SOCA the new police agency is also going to be dealing with such activities through its remit of stopping financial damage to Animal Research companies etc...

It is not big headed to mention that there is definately tracking of activists. Instead it is re-iteration of messages that have been passed around for a LONG time.

Trolling is a very boring job - why not seek something more enlightening - join the police (unless you already have).

oops forgot

19.06.2005 22:19

Sorry, forgot to mention that celline is nothing to do with mobile technology (unless used to connect toa PABX - aka a internal switchboard). It is a liquid used for cell cultivation...

http://www.bdbiosciences.com/discovery_labware/Products/cell_cultureware/celline/

I think you meant cellular - which indicates that you are not British or involved in technology in the UK. So instead of handing out information about yourself on a public website, why not research it...

Keep your mouth shut

19.06.2005 22:56

Turn mobiles OFF when you don't need them ... don't blab on the phone if you use it ... use PGP (pretty Good Privacy) to email (even then keep it to a minimum of info) ... 'No Comment' if arrested ... You know the score.

Eyes and ears everywhere

SneeRing made real asked:

20.06.2005 07:25

"Can you really, really not think of a better way to contribute to society?"

Why don't you tell us what you think we should be doing?

Or are you just here to be unpleasant?

ftp

Fredrico

20.06.2005 09:48

Frerico, I know from you previous posts you have long believed you are being followed and monitered but it seems your posts here indicate you have reached a new level of paranoia. In theory what you say about cell phone tracking is true but the technology needed to achieve it is not widely available and you must face the fact that you are just not enough of a threat to the state for them to bother with you.

For God's sake let's not get carried away, yes the Police monitor what we do, yes they read sights like this but they have real threats to deal with and we do not fall into their radar

Active

sods law

20.06.2005 12:04

to be honest, most actions I've been on no matter how careful or secritive or how open you are about it, it still depends on whether by chance a cop will drive round the corner. If you get too worried that you don't tell anybody anything except in code then you end up with most of the folk on an action not actually knowing whats happening. its amazing what you can get away with sometimes. if they are using all this technology, the info isn't trickling down very well since a lot of people do a lot of damage and get away with it.

Be careful, but do it sensibly.

paranoia...

20.06.2005 12:09

I am not saying anything different to many of those that say things on this site. All I am doing is informing about the possible implications of technology that people are happy to carry around with them everyday.

We are not just a blip on the radar. We are serious problem that the government is dealing with as harshly as they can:

Anti-Social Behaviour Act,
Harrassment Act,
Serious and Organised Crime Act...

These are very dangerous documents that remove our rights to protest. Animal Rights activists seem to be highest on the agenda with laws specific to them (SOCA contains a section regarding making any 'tortious' act (ie. civil offences) illegal - therefore making things such as ordinary trespass a criminal offence which carries (IIRC) a 5 year prison sentance (maximum).

I agree that the police/government aren't throwing everything they have at everyone they can, instead trying to target 'leaders'

All I try to do is make people aware of issues, and let them make up their own minds - you may see it as paranoia, others see it as reality.

fredr
mail e-mail: musteatvegan@yahoo.co.uk

Forgot

20.06.2005 12:33

The technology to track mobile phones is readily available. Search for mobile phone tracking in google and you will see many commercial mobile tracking services. What I tried to state before (I might have been unclear) is that you do not need special technology. It is already there - the handset connects to mobile phone masts, and these are used to find where the mobile is. This is used for ordinary mobile phone use to ensure that the mobile is using the best suitable mast for its connections.

As stated before, all the authorities need to do is contact a phone company and demand a list of connected handsets to the masts in an area. That takes very little time.

To then track these mobiles is simple, just look through the appropriate network for connections to masts from that handset - done. Again, another quick task.

Don't loose sight of this factoid

20.06.2005 12:57

Gordon Brown said: "People have a right to make a peaceful protest and that is something people should be able to do."

See:-

http://icwestlothian.icnetwork.co.uk/news/nationalnews/nationalnews/tm_objectid=15588375
&method=full&siteid=92284&headline=brown-backs-g8-protest-name_page.html

Not that it'll make a whole lot of difference to plods looking for agro... but why not carry a copy of GB's quote with you - could make a difference, him being a Scot and all...?

Interesting to note how many more govt talking heads seem to be posting their crap on indy these days...we must be doing something right.

Gordon Broon

scaremongering

21.06.2005 12:59

You were unlucky to get pulled.
The M6/M74 has no speed cameras
Theres only one or two police cars which normally deal with speeding etc.
Its a bit odd it was stathclyde (Glasgow) on that strech of road

Not so

21.06.2005 19:21

Several temporary speed cameras have been installed on M6/M74, and since Monday there are a further 15 to 20 cars pulled in from other areas, specifically for the 'risk' that the summit presents.

You will be pulled over if suspected in any way!

a friend

paranoia or caution?

22.06.2005 11:13

It's important methinks that we don't get so paranoid that we can't take action. It's also common for 'us lot' to think we're more important/more of a 'threat' than we currently are, and therefore worth more police expenditure. Perhaps this was truer in the 90s, but doesn't make us 'safe' from their attention now.

And it greatly depends on the action, where in the country you are, and chance, as to what level of secrecy is required to make actions happen. Of course it's annoying that they have to be secret, and this makes it more difficult to get people involved, but it's the reality. People recently on an action we're surprised that it was very pigged before the arrived - the only difference was that it was a different part of the country. Others have been followed by police helicopter as a result of using their (known number) mobile phone, had tracker texts sent to their phones and the police turn up in force minutes later to where they had been (though by that point they'd moved and dismembered their phone), had phones listened in to, been staked out etc etc. You can never be sure but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Be careful, but keep doing actions.

For more info, look at

http://www.activistsecurity.org/

may well be paranoia but might not be

23.06.2005 12:17

There were some people from the north of england who came down to the last DSEi protests in a van. The van was followed by police, and the outcome was that they weren't able to use their sound system at the protests. It wasn't a white can though, it was covered in colourful anti-corporate slogans and stuff, so it was pretty obvious what it was.

Did anyone see the McLibel documentary - she was convinced London Greenpeace was being infiltrated and he thought she was being paranoid but she turned out to be right. These things do happen. Paranoia happens as well though.

mcw

Indymedia Scotland