From today's Guardian newspaper:
"The ability of UK police to use "arbitrary" counter-terror stop and search powers against peace protesters and photographers lay in tatters today after a landmark ruling by the European court of human rights.
"The Strasbourg court ruled it was unlawful for police to use the powers, under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, to stop and search people without needing any grounds for suspicion."
Read more at Guardian.co.uk...
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Report from vigil for Ian Tomlinson
The vigil for Ian Tomlinson in the City of London last night brought together friends and family of Ian as well as some of us who have campaigned for justice to be served.
Julia Tomlinson, Ian’s wife, said at the vigil, “All we want is a proper investigation… We will not give up until we get it.”
The following weeks will especially difficult for the family as they cope with their first Christmas without Ian.
Alongside family members, those who gathered heard from John McDonnell MP and Vivian Figueiredo, Jean Charles de Menezes' cousin.
The road to finding justice still has far to go. The family are currently awaiting the CPS decision on how they will respond to the IPCC dossier into Ian’s death.
The United Campaign against Police Violence will support the Tomlinson family however we can in the tough months ahead, and they should know that ourselves and the organisations represented in our campaign are with them.
The protest was covered widely on the evening news, click here for reports from BBC News and the Evening Standard.
Julia Tomlinson, Ian’s wife, said at the vigil, “All we want is a proper investigation… We will not give up until we get it.”
The following weeks will especially difficult for the family as they cope with their first Christmas without Ian.
Alongside family members, those who gathered heard from John McDonnell MP and Vivian Figueiredo, Jean Charles de Menezes' cousin.
The road to finding justice still has far to go. The family are currently awaiting the CPS decision on how they will respond to the IPCC dossier into Ian’s death.
The United Campaign against Police Violence will support the Tomlinson family however we can in the tough months ahead, and they should know that ourselves and the organisations represented in our campaign are with them.
The protest was covered widely on the evening news, click here for reports from BBC News and the Evening Standard.
Pictures and video from the vigil will follow shortly - watch this space. Check out the Ian Tomlinson Family Campaign website and the Harpymarx blog for more information.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Vigil for Ian Tomlinson - Tuesday 1 December
Candlelight vigil to remember Ian Tomlinson
Royal Exchange by Threadneedle Street, London, EC3V 3LL
Tuesday 1st December
6pm - 7.15pm
The United Campaign against Police Violence would like to encourage all our supporters to come along to this vigil for Ian Tomlinson on Tuesday. It has been called by the Ian Tomlinson Family Campaign.
It is important that we keep Ian’s memory alive and continue the fight for justice, I hope as many people can come as possible.
Speakers include:
Ian’s family
Samantha Rigg David - Sean Rigg Justice & Change Campaign
Deborah Coles - INQUEST
John McDonnell MP
The Ian Tomlinson Family Campaign said:
"Ian died in tragic circumstances, an 'innocent passerby' trying to get home, after a police assault at the G20 protests on April 1st 2009.Eight months on, our family are preparing for our first Christmas without him and still waiting for justice.
"We have been grateful for public support this year and would like an opportunity to hold this public memorial gathering to remember Ian, with our friends and supporters around us.We ask that those who attend please wear black as a mark of respect and remember that this is peaceful event.
"PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING so we can estimate numbers and please send messages of support - a number of these will be read out at the vigil.
"RSVP to iantomlinsonfamilycampaign@gmail.com"
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Notting Hill Carnival policing (continued)
Anyone who was at Carnival this year would have seen another great event, with around a million people celebrating together.
The police were out in force, as anticipated, and spent much of the day walking in single file through the crowds, dividing groups of people street partying, setting up a series of what looked suspiciously like checkpoints, and stopping young black men as they came out of Tube stations.
According to the "Notting Hill Carnival News" section of the Metropolitan Police website there were eventually 139 arrests on Bank Holiday Monday. The report also talks of mass arrests at Victoria station (quoted below).
More details as we get them. UCAPV has also put in a Freedom of Information request to the Met Police querying the number of people searched, their ethnic background, how many of these were arrested and how many charged. This should take a few weeks but the results will be posted here when we have them.
The following is from the Met Police website, "Notting Hill Carnival News":
19:20hrs - 40 arrests at Victoria station
A total of 40 people have now been arrested at Victoria mainline station. They were arrested in order to prevent a breach of the peace at the Notting Hill Carnival.
At 1510hrs today, police contained an initial group of 25 people who we believe had travelled by train from south London. They were stopped based on intelligence to suggest that the group was going to the Carnival to commit disorder.
Of that 25 people, two were arrested straight away after police recovered body armour and a knife. The remaining 23 were arrested on a case-by-case basis.
As the group were being dealt with at Victoria, more people arrived at the station associated with the initial group. These 15 people were also arrested to prevent a breach of the peace on a case-by-case basis.
All 38 people will be taken by bus to a south London police station. They will be held until police are satisfied that there is no longer a risk they will commit disorder at Carnival.
The other two arrested are in custody.
22:40hrs - Those detained at Victoria released
The thirty-eight people arrested at Victoria mainline station to prevent a breach of the peace were released at 22:00hrs.
Those arrested were taken to a south London police station. The time they remained in custody was kept under constant review
until the opportunity for them to commit a breach of the peace had passed.
Where we identified juveniles we arranged collection by a guardian or responsible adult.
The police were out in force, as anticipated, and spent much of the day walking in single file through the crowds, dividing groups of people street partying, setting up a series of what looked suspiciously like checkpoints, and stopping young black men as they came out of Tube stations.
According to the "Notting Hill Carnival News" section of the Metropolitan Police website there were eventually 139 arrests on Bank Holiday Monday. The report also talks of mass arrests at Victoria station (quoted below).
More details as we get them. UCAPV has also put in a Freedom of Information request to the Met Police querying the number of people searched, their ethnic background, how many of these were arrested and how many charged. This should take a few weeks but the results will be posted here when we have them.
The following is from the Met Police website, "Notting Hill Carnival News":
19:20hrs - 40 arrests at Victoria station
A total of 40 people have now been arrested at Victoria mainline station. They were arrested in order to prevent a breach of the peace at the Notting Hill Carnival.
At 1510hrs today, police contained an initial group of 25 people who we believe had travelled by train from south London. They were stopped based on intelligence to suggest that the group was going to the Carnival to commit disorder.
Of that 25 people, two were arrested straight away after police recovered body armour and a knife. The remaining 23 were arrested on a case-by-case basis.
As the group were being dealt with at Victoria, more people arrived at the station associated with the initial group. These 15 people were also arrested to prevent a breach of the peace on a case-by-case basis.
All 38 people will be taken by bus to a south London police station. They will be held until police are satisfied that there is no longer a risk they will commit disorder at Carnival.
The other two arrested are in custody.
22:40hrs - Those detained at Victoria released
The thirty-eight people arrested at Victoria mainline station to prevent a breach of the peace were released at 22:00hrs.
Those arrested were taken to a south London police station. The time they remained in custody was kept under constant review
until the opportunity for them to commit a breach of the peace had passed.
Where we identified juveniles we arranged collection by a guardian or responsible adult.
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Notting Hill Carnival is not a policing operation
For most of us, Notting Hill Carnival represents the best of London life. It is a celebration of diversity, multiculturalism and culture attracting 1.5 million people from all around the world.
While the majority of us come to Carnival to enjoy taking part in Europe’s largest street party, the Metropolitan Police see Carnival is something to be controlled, curtailed and harassed.
This year’s Carnival will see 11,000 police officers on patrol. They will be enforcing a curfew from 6.30pm and ensuring that sound levels don’t pass the “agreed” 135 decibels. If the policing operation is anything like that of 2008, it will also see hundreds of mainly black youths being stopped, contained and searched indiscriminately as they make their way to the celebrations.
Most sinister of all, directing the policing operation will be Commander Bob Broadhurst. He was in charge of policing during April’s protests against the G20 in the City of London, which saw hundreds harassed, beaten and arrested by the police. This was also when we saw the death of Ian Tomlinson, who was struck by a police baton and died minutes later, despite the fact he was not even a protester but was simply making his way home. The fact that Commander Broadhurst is now directing this operation is a scandal.
This year we have already seen raids of “known troublemakers” prior to Carnival, and 150 letters hand-delivered by police to others commanding them not to attend. Can you imagine if this happened in the run up to London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations or the London Marathon?
The police seem to have a very different approach when the event involves the Afro-Caribbean community. While Carnival is a celebration of people coming together, it seems the police are more than willing to stoke racist divisions.
We believe that the Notting Hill Carnival should be a celebration – not a heavy-handed police operation.
While the majority of us come to Carnival to enjoy taking part in Europe’s largest street party, the Metropolitan Police see Carnival is something to be controlled, curtailed and harassed.
This year’s Carnival will see 11,000 police officers on patrol. They will be enforcing a curfew from 6.30pm and ensuring that sound levels don’t pass the “agreed” 135 decibels. If the policing operation is anything like that of 2008, it will also see hundreds of mainly black youths being stopped, contained and searched indiscriminately as they make their way to the celebrations.
Most sinister of all, directing the policing operation will be Commander Bob Broadhurst. He was in charge of policing during April’s protests against the G20 in the City of London, which saw hundreds harassed, beaten and arrested by the police. This was also when we saw the death of Ian Tomlinson, who was struck by a police baton and died minutes later, despite the fact he was not even a protester but was simply making his way home. The fact that Commander Broadhurst is now directing this operation is a scandal.
This year we have already seen raids of “known troublemakers” prior to Carnival, and 150 letters hand-delivered by police to others commanding them not to attend. Can you imagine if this happened in the run up to London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations or the London Marathon?
The police seem to have a very different approach when the event involves the Afro-Caribbean community. While Carnival is a celebration of people coming together, it seems the police are more than willing to stoke racist divisions.
We believe that the Notting Hill Carnival should be a celebration – not a heavy-handed police operation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
