UK UK Newswire Archive
Florence, Italy – Anarchists arrested - video
09-05-2011 18:04
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwYw7pcpLU0
ATOS Origin protest in Triton Square
09-05-2011 17:55
Branch Secretary Anna Owens speaking at the ATOS Origin protest in Triton Square (next to Euston Tower) on 9th May 2011.
attribution: http://www.youtube.com/user/pcseuston
Met police compensate 'Samaritan' they abused
09-05-2011 17:46
Metropolitan Police make four-figure payout to "Samaritan" abused by a Camden officer, after his complaints were not upheld by the Met and IPCC.Dispersal orders: Information for resistance
09-05-2011 16:55
This is an attempt to collect some relevant information and analysis to help resist dispersal orders. It is focused on the situation in Nottingham as a campaign has sprung up recently to resist the order imposed on Forest Fields.
The law
The police powers to impose a dispersal order are contained within Sections 30-36 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act (2003). A Police Superintendent or higher ranking officer may make a written Authority if s/he has "reasonable grounds for believing that members of the public have been intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed in public places in a specific area (referred to as the Relevant Locality) and that anti-social behaviour is significant and a persistent problem in that area". The consent of the Local Authority (Nottingham City Council, in this case) must be obtained. Dispersal orders can be made for a maximum of 6 months although they can be renewed at the end of that period.
During the period specified a Police Constable or Police Community Support Officer may require a group of two or more people to disperse immediately or by any time specified in any manner specified, if they have "reasonable grounds for believing that the presence or behaviour of a group of two or more persons in any public place in the Relevant Locality has resulted or is likely to result in any member of the public being intimidated, harassed alarmed or distressed". If the person does not live in the designated area they can be ordered to leave the area for up to 24 hours. Children under the age of 16 can be taken home.
Breach of a dispersal order is a criminal offence under S 32(2) of the ASBA punishable by up to 3 months' imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.
Research
An investigation into the impacts of dispersal orders was published by Crawford & Lister in 2007. The authors found that 'Where targeted at groups of youths, dispersal orders can antagonise and alienate young people who frequently feel unfairly stigmatised for being in public places.' They noted displacement effects, where problems were shifted to other places, sometimes just for the duration of the order. The report concluded that 'dispersal orders constitute a 'sticking plaster' over local problems of order that affords a degree of localised respite but invariably fails to address the wider causes of perceived anti-social behaviour'.
Interestingly, the study found that the use of dispersal orders did not correspond to 'victimisation risks' and that 'certain communities and businesses are able to influence dispersal order authorisation, primarily as a means of drawing police resources into an area.' This may be the case in Forest Fields given the history of CCTV introduction, which was championed by particular businesses on Berridge Road.
Dispersal orders were seen by young people as a factor in increasing intergenerational conflict and were thought to unfairly target youths. They were seen as giving the message that all youths are problematic:
Dispersal orders potentially criminalise youthful behaviour on the basis of the anxieties that young people congregating in groups may generate among other people. As such, the power is potentially less concerned with the agency of individuals than the assumptions that are made about what they might do.
Dispersal orders can emphasise the view that young people are a risk whilst hiding the extent to which they are at risk.
Sampson & Raudenbush (2004) suggest that concentrated disadvantage is a major predictor of urban disorder. Anti-social behaviour, then, may be 'a symptom of wider neighbourhood inequality, degraded public spaces, failing schools and poor local institutional infrastructures'. According to Farrall et al. (2000), much of what surveys measure as 'fear of crime' is linked to 'wider personal feelings of well-being, self-assurance and a sense of control', all of which may be lacking in disadvantaged areas. Anti-social behaviour and fear of crime can be seen as the products of social inequality and atomisation.
Resistance
I managed to find a couple of examples of resistance to dispersal orders in the UK. In Being young is not a crime a member of Revo describes an attempt to organise against an order in Leeds in 2006. A dispersal order had been imposed to remove groups of youths who had been hanging around outside the Corn Exchange. The group organised a stunt involving dressing as police and handing out spoof ASBOs as well as cordoning off an area. They also organised meetings with anarchists and made connections with youths resisting a dispersal order in Wakefield.
A report by the Bristol Radical History Group describes a campaign agaisnt a disperal order imposed on College Green in 2007. Youths from the area had a 'demonstration or two and an active media campaign protesting against the order' although it didn't sound as though the local authorities were moved to act.
Other dispersal orders in Nottingham
A dispersal order was imposed in Radford last May 'to move on groups hanging round and causing problems in Alfreton Road' - problems such as 'drinking, committing minor damage or ...swearing.' The order was extended until 26th Nov.
In November 2008 a dispersal order was brought in in Sneinton, following 'complaints from residents and businesses that groups are congregating in and around Sneinton'. Interestingly these groups were also described by a police officer as 'often seen drinking, committing minor damage or heard swearing'. This seems to be Nottinghamshire Police's operational definition of anti-social behaviour. A local resident was quoted by the Evening Post as saying 'There are a lot more girl gangs now. They just scream and shout and cause havoc.' The order was extended until November 2009.
There is also mention on this police page of a dispersal order covering the Wells Road/Ransom Road area which came into force on 2nd Nov 2009 for 6 months. It was re-applied for and will run until 16th May 2011. The police intend to renew the order.
In the Nottingham Post article advertising the Forest Fields dispersal order, there is mention that a dispersal order was introduced in Long Eaton town centre in March and will run for 6 months. A police sergeant described the problem as 'groups of teenagers congregating in public areas'.
Conclusion
Dispersal orders are part of the draconian legislation introduced by the former Labour government to tackle 'anti-social behaviour'. They cause rifts between the young, who feel unfairly victimised by them, and older generations. Dispersal orders give Nottinghamshire police the power to disperse any group of people they suspect might be planning on 'drinking, committing minor damage or swearing', but in practice this only seems to be directed at marginalised youths. The order will be in place for 6 months but it is very likely that the police will ask for it to be extended.
'Anti-social behaviour' seems to be a mixture of the normal activities of youths and minor criminal acts born out of frustration and boredom. Both the lack of other opportunities that inspires anti-social behaviour and the excessive fear that drives the authorities to crack down on it, are products of a capitalist economic system. Dispersal orders will not solve our problems.
Palestine Today 05 09 2011
09-05-2011 15:41
Demonstrate for Justice For the MOVE Family
09-05-2011 15:00
DEMONSTRATEOUTSIDE
US EMBASSY GROSVENOR SQ LONDON W1
FRIDAY 13th May @ 5-7pm
FOR JUSTICE FOR THE MOVE FAMILY
MURDERED BY
THE CRIMINAL US STATE BY
BOMBIMG THEIR COMMUNE
AND KILLING 11 PEOPLE INCLUDING
FIVE CHILDREN
CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF OUR MARTYRS
Nottingham's cops are getting away with it
09-05-2011 13:55
Lovely quote from Steve Evan's of the Police Federation in the Daily Mail today:
'I know which forces I'd rather be in if I was in trouble. What is gross misconduct, and therefore a sacking offence in Derby might be simple misconduct in Nottingham.'
Says it all really doesn't it.
Bike tour of Migrant 'Jungles' , July 2- 14th
09-05-2011 13:20
For the second year, the bike Jungletour will link different placeswhere refugees have to stay, and they themselves call "jungle". Its aim
is to strengthen the relations between the associations involved with
them, to raise the awareness of the population and to challenge policy
makers on the living conditions of refugees and respect for their
rights.
Review: Whatever happened to the anti-globalisation movement
09-05-2011 13:08
My account of Sunday's film screening in OARC - the Oxford Activist Resource Centre.Opportunity for Bristol residents to get involved with local cause
09-05-2011 11:55
Local charity Bristol Debt Advice Centre (BDAC) is celebrating its 21st anniversary of its work to relieve and prevent poverty in the south west. To mark this milestone BDAC is creating opportunities for local residents to get involved and help alleviate poverty in Bristol.Based in one of the most deprived area of the city, BDAC is now in its third decade of working with vulnerable people on low incomes and has helped thousands out of financial difficulty and on with their lives through free advice and advocacy services. Carol Alexander-Reid, BDAC’s Manager said:
“21 years on, problem debt remains a huge contributor to poverty in the UK. The root causes of debt are complex and widely misunderstood. Debt problems affect individuals, families and children and often stem from unexpected life events such as ill health and relationship breakdown. We still see people every week who are unable to afford regular meals or are at risk of homelessness, making life a constant struggle.”
“We are asking Bristol residents join the cause against local poverty by taking just a few moments to visit our new online site ‘The BDAC Wall’ - a unique way to give support to those who need it most http://www.bdac.org.uk/wall/. Or by sponsoring Team BDAC; help our Bristol 10k runners meet their fundraising target by the 15th May! Just visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/bdac. Within a few minutes you really can help us make a difference within Bristol. We have more exciting events planned for later in the year including an exhibition and talks, watch this space...”
BDAC is also always interested in hearing from people who would like to volunteer time, please contact mail@bdac.org.uk. You can find out more about BDAC at their website (see below), on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @BDACBristol.
Autonomy for the UK
09-05-2011 11:44
On 1st May 2011 the UK Indymedia Network forked into two autonomous projects, running two different websites, UK Indymedia and Be The Media. Also, a snapshot of the UK Indymedia site as it existed on the date of the the fork was created as an archive.
There was a consensus in the UK Indymedia Network that the project needed to fork, so that Indymedia members with different views could all work on developments they were happy with rather than come into constant conflict. An agreement was made in December to implement the fork on May 1st but the agreement broke down at the eleventh hour. Mayday believed that part of the agreement was that their collective was to have globally recognised Independent Media Centre status at the time of the fork. Be The Media had interpreted this differently and did not see it this way. The consensus that had been thrashed some 4 months before had now snapped and activists, being activists, took action. Be The Media started implementing the changes to the site shortly after midnight on May 1st. Mayday saw what was happening, considered the blocks to have been ignored [1] and felt that if this proceeded it would have in effect shut down the UK Newswire. After several hours of discussion and consideration they agreed they couldn't let it proceed like this and so, in the early hours of May 1st, sleepless techies migrated the entire web site to a new server, thus effecting the fork on the agreed date but not in the way originally planned.
Taunton Two Court Solidarity
09-05-2011 10:55
On 20th May two South-West activists were unjustly arrested and charged for squatting a derelict building in the town of Taunton, Somerset; with the intentions to promote squatting as an alternative lifestyle and provide a centre in which social groups and communities can use. This gives an update and links for more information.
Update! The defendants are to plead not guilty on the 12th May, and the case will then be adjourned to a later date. Support shown on the 12th May will be appreciated, and help to promote solidarity for any other cases in the near future. Thank you to everyone showing support so far, we will keep you updated. Always remember the greater cause, and not the ones preventing it.
Background: On 20/04/2011 two South-West activists were unjustly arrested and charged for squatting a derelict building in the town of Taunton, Somerset; with the intentions to promote squatting as an alternative lifestyle and provide a centre in which social groups and communities can use.
It has been on the agenda to get a Social Centre up and running in Taunton for a while now, being a potential base for Taunton activist collective groups, and even more importantly being open to those of which squatting is a necessity.
The police broke into the secured building using angle grinders, and even arrested one of the activists on the street, acting as a legal observer. The activists were charged with the intent to cause criminal damage, burglary and abstracting electricity. The lack of evidence to support these charges further incriminates the police for unnecessary use of force and intimidation to evict the squatters from their rightful home.
The case has an indirect impact on the South-West Anarcho-Punk scene, with a member of Anonymous Promotions coming under attack. This could be a potential threat on the non-profit organisation and even the increasing Anarcho-Punk movement itself. Full Article....
Taunton squate case | Soldarity with the Taunton Two blog (wordpress.com) | Facebook page | Court date event | Taunton Activist Collective (wordpress.com)Iraq Occupation Focus Newsletter :: No.172
09-05-2011 10:17
The Iraq Occupation Focus newsletter is a digest of the latest news about the occupation of IraqWhat's happening with Indymedia UK?
09-05-2011 10:14
You find it where it always was, it looks the same and uses the name, but it no longer is Indymedia UK.On 1st May 2011, Indymedia UK had it's name and URL taken over by a number of volunteers calling themselves the ‘Mayday collective’. Although the site looks and feels like Indymedia UK, it is no longer the same project. It is now under the sole control of a faction of Indymedia UK admins. The volunteers from Indymedia London, as well as Bristol, Northern England, Nottingham, and other Indymedia UK volunteers, no longer have any access to it whatsoever, including some people who have helped maintain the UK site for the past 11 years.
Imc Notthingham article:
https://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/1746 Quick intro: What is Indymedia?
Indymedia UK is two things: It is a website, this is probably the part that you are most familiar with. It is also an organisation; the Indymedia UK network, which organises on email list and at network meetings, and makes decisions in consensus. The Indymedia UK network includes local collectives as well as unaffiliated volunteers, who all contribute their time and effort to the project. The UK in Indymedia UK stands for United Kollectives.
What the fuck happened?
On 1st May, the Mayday collective took control of the Indymedia UK url, indymedia.org.uk, and set up an identical copy of the Indymedia UK website (i.e. all the articles, images, everything that you see when you
look at it or publish something) on a different server, against the wishes of the rest of the Indymedia UK network.
In spite of this, it looks exactly like the Indymedia UK site and uses the name of Indymedia UK. Members of the Mayday collective have said publicly that it is their project and they do not wish the rest of the Indymedia UK network to be involved with it.
The United Kollectives are no more. To use some potentially loaded language: Indymedia UK has been hijacked.
International Week of Virtual Protest Against Atos Origin Begins Today!
09-05-2011 09:22
As part of the National Week of Action Against Atos Origin we are calling for a virtual protest to be held across the world!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144607022276752
"Workers Of The World, Embrace!" Homophobia In The French Extreme Left’
09-05-2011 08:59
A Book talk by David Berry - 7pm, 11th May.Another case of intimidation
08-05-2011 23:55
On Saturday May 7th animal charity, Scotland for Animals, was brought to the attention of Strathclyde Police. For what appears to be a peaceful protest within Glasgow City Centre.