At 15:00, on the Friday 1st July, 6 police officers paid a visit to the Dissent! Info Shop (Leith Walk). They stood outside for 30 minutes, pjotographing people and taking notes before going away at 15:30. Here are 2 statements from Dissent! volonteers staffing the space:
Statement by K.
I was working at the Office at 3pm when I received a call from a volunteer staffing the Dissent Infopoint. This person informed me that there were police taking photographs of people and that we should come at once. Myself and my office colleague briefly discussed the situation and he immediately cycled there while I phoned for more support and to call the legal team. After a few phone calls, I went there as well.
On the way I was passed by two more police cars with the sirens on. Upon arrival, I saw four police officers, and I took digital photos of all of them. A local person later told me the officers were from the Forward Intelligence Division. According to another person, their numbers were: A4280, 2058, 2863, 8593.
The officers left at 3:30 and said they would be back in an hour.
Statement by L.
written at 16.24 on Friday 1 July
I observed two groups of 3 police, 3 of whom were standing outside the door taking extensive notes and occasional photos of people. I asked them what they were doing and why they were here, and they said that it was because the space was promoting demonstrations. I asked them on whose authority they were here, and they said we are the police and we don't need anyone's authority.
After awhile they said they were going away and didn't know if they would come back or not and one made a joke about whether we would be getting ID cards or not. Then I went back inside and then one opened the door, stuck his head in and said they would be back in an hour or two.
I was working at the Office at 3pm when I received a call from a volunteer staffing the Dissent Infopoint. This person informed me that there were police taking photographs of people and that we should come at once. Myself and my office colleague briefly discussed the situation and he immediately cycled there while I phoned for more support and to call the legal team. After a few phone calls, I went there as well.
On the way I was passed by two more police cars with the sirens on. Upon arrival, I saw four police officers, and I took digital photos of all of them. A local person later told me the officers were from the Forward Intelligence Division. According to another person, their numbers were: A4280, 2058, 2863, 8593.
The officers left at 3:30 and said they would be back in an hour.
Statement by L.
written at 16.24 on Friday 1 July
I observed two groups of 3 police, 3 of whom were standing outside the door taking extensive notes and occasional photos of people. I asked them what they were doing and why they were here, and they said that it was because the space was promoting demonstrations. I asked them on whose authority they were here, and they said we are the police and we don't need anyone's authority.
After awhile they said they were going away and didn't know if they would come back or not and one made a joke about whether we would be getting ID cards or not. Then I went back inside and then one opened the door, stuck his head in and said they would be back in an hour or two.
