Police pay out again for false imprisonment

The following info comes from London Animal Rights and was dated 22 April 2009. Once again the cops have been caught out falsely imprisoning people after stopping them attending a protest. The case has marked similarities to the Fairford coach action, which started back in March 2003, and where claims for civil damages are still ongoing (although the individual that started that case has received a payout already). Given the large number of stupid & pointless arrests arising from the G20 and the Nottingham alleged climate protest, we can expect quite a few more payouts from the cops in future. The Fairford website has some useful info and lists of ok solicitors if you fancy a payout!

Cops out of control (whats new?) and the legacy of Blair Peach

The sudden media obsession with police misbehaviour, since the G20 protests and death of Ian Tomlinson, may lead you to think that the cops are normally very nice people who only help old ladies across roads and catch naughty youths stealing apples. In fact the cops have a very long, and to them proud, history of brutality and repression.

Some have raised the similarities between Tomlinson’s death and that of Blair Peach back in April 1979. Beyond the brutal deaths themsleves however, there are other reasons for those new to police violence to look back to Peach and the related histories of the late 70′s and early 80′s. In the interests of relevant history, and popular education, we therefore reprint below an article ‘The Political Legacy of Blair Peach’, published as a ‘comment’ piece on the Institute of Race Relations website on 23 April 2009.

EDO Decommissioners solidarity & related events

This weekend is exactly 3 months since the Bristol-based EDO Decommissioners entered and wrecked the EDO/MBM ITT factory in Brighton, in an attempt to prevent greater war crimes occurring in Gaza and elsewhere.  Since then there has been solidarity with them in Bristol – benefit gigs, meetings, petitions, graffiti, flyposting & flyers, a prison solidarity picket at Bristol prison, and unconfirmed reports of property damage against weapons manufacturers and the state. Down in Brighton the Smash EDO campaign continues apace, alongside solidarity with defendants including fundraising and attacks on property.

Prisoner support meet & G20 protests

Thanks to all who attended the recent Big Greek Benefit gig on 28 March. Money raised at that gig, and a previous one in February, now totals almost £1000 and will be sent to groups in Greece supporting defendants and prisoners.