Alan Lodge's Blog

nATo show in manchester,

Just got back in. Flood and destruction, over the mountains in the Peak District. But I coped! Weathers Aweful!

Well, it is only July…..

Left Nottingham this morning, to go and collect pictures and frames from Jai’s studio, near the old Hacienda Club in Manchester.

they only broke just one frame!

It was a complete miricle that the show happend. He said we had at least 3000 through the doors, and further more, they ‘dithered’ and spent a longer time than you would have expected.

The space owners, tried to pull out of the contract, when they realised they had been hoodwinked on the content. HeHo!!

Jai seems quite up for doing something arain, and his little face lite up, when i sited the ‘Velvet Revolution Tour’. All about the CJA etc and the protest leading up to the law changes ….

this is the link to details about the show ……..

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_07_tash_lodge_archive.html#78897980

Representation

There was some discussion, at the last Lacket Video meeting, back in April, around issues concerning ‘representation’ of subjects by our images.

It does matter greatly, since the way people are represented, frequently has an effect on the depicted subjects’ lives…

It is with this in mind, that the Save the Children Fund, had produced a set of guidlines for image-makers, who supply them with work. I discussed some of this in my Paper for My Photography Degree in Nottingham. I thought it helpful, if I offer the chapter, dealing with this.

* * * * *

Presenting a Positive Image

I don’t suppose that I can consider my work as `objective’. It is the product of a view on the world that not many outsiders get to see.

When they do, it is sometimes through the pages of the tabloid press, in a less than complimentary way. Hardly objective either. Positive stories could be covered more frequently, but this would often conflict with a publications `house style’, which sells it.

There is plenty to say at other times, even when there isn’t fighting with the police. If there was a genuine interest in portraying this community, then features could be included say on how children are successfully bought up “on the road”. How three unemployed youths repaired, renovated and made a mobile home from a 1947 vintage London double-decker bus. Or how a number of new travellers had formed travelling shows and circuses that now do fayres all over Britain, Europe and beyond. Supporting themselves and not being on the dole any more.

These are positive stories. They are true; perhaps interesting. Negative aspects of life can include for example, poor access to health care provision for thousands, being “vigied” (beaten-up and vehicles damaged by local – vigilantes). Having your home wrecked during evictions. These are serious matters that if applied to house dwellers, I think would make a `splash’. There is however, only the odd feature in the `qualities’.

Because of this then, a few of us got together and started a magazine called Festival Eye to promote alternative ideas. Something I still get in trouble for now! More of this latter.

Shelter, the housing aid agency recently produced an issue of their magazine `Roof’ devoted largely to travelling issues, homelessness and access to land.

I helped research some of the material and supplied a number of pictures.

In a project for college earlier this year, I produced a leaflet designed to promote the Travellers Aid Trust, when I have tried to put into practice, some of the principles learnt.

It is obvious then that some thought be given to representation and analysis of what can be considered as `good practice’.

* * * * *

Save the Children Fund: Guidelines

The Save the Children Fund have a Gypsy Liaison office, that is concerned with provision of help and services to travellers in this country.

A representative of the S.C.F. sits as an advisor on the committees of Festival Welfare Services, the Travellers Aid Trust and the Travellers School. Their work is concerned with New-Age Travellers as well as more traditional gypsies. They also feel that children can very often best be helped by enabling their parents.

For some time now, I have been taking pictures that these charities have found useful in their promotion.

It is an easy trap to fall in, when taking photographs of people at disadvantage, to reinforce stereotypes. With poverty, race or disability, images which reinforce dependency contribute to discrimination that can deprive people of their rights and identity.

The main thrust of their work is to be involved with projects that help people to help themselves, rather than to be dependent on continual hand-outs.

Because of a shift in attitudes, it is now felt to be `good practice’ to be positive in approach when dealing with their promotion. To show what can be done by people for themselves with assistance, rather than negative images of doom that are supposed the `pluck the heart-strings’.

The S.C.F. then, have recently published a set of guidelines, intended for use throughout the organisation and by contributing freelances. I summarise them briefly here:

(1) The dignity of the people with whom Save the Children works, should be preserved. People SCF work with may be seen as helpless recipients of hand-outs. Poverty and dependence are not characteristic of communities.

(2) Images and text used must be accurate and should avoid stereotypes and cliches. Material selected for its shock value, can trivialise, distort and misrepresent its work.

(3) People should be represented as active partners in development. Not just recipients of aid.

(4) Disability takes many forms. Disabled people are an integral part of the community and should be seen this way.

(5) Ethnic groups, women and disabled people should not be excluded from photos and text that involve them.

(6) Patronising, sentimental or demeaning material should not be used. Not only factual accuracy is important, but also tone.

(7) People should be identified as individuals wherever possible. Except if they wish to remain anonymous.

(8) Elements within text and images should strengthen each other in the proper context.

(9) Images which caricature or diminish the subject through bad photographic process can cause offence. Images should not be cropped or edited in a way that distorts an accurate situation.

(10) Where possible, material should accurately convey the diversity of S.C.F’s work. Elements of self-help and long-term development should be emphasised.

* * * * *

My own, and other examples

I show you a few examples of my attempts at creating a positive image of some of the travelling people and their children. Bearing in mind the Save the Children guidelines, and other advice, I have been able to place some of these images in articles, information packs, and Annual Reports. Many different types of applications (slides 18 – 53).

I believe on the whole that they do present a positive image but I know that some can find it quite threatening. Care, should of course, be exercised in making pictures, in having a regard for the intended audience. For we all bring a certain amount of “intellectual baggage” to any interpretation of an image or some writing.

In his paper, “Questioning Documentary” in Aperture, Brian Wallis points out that:

“Although documentary photographs insist on their direct relationship to material forms in the real world,they are in fact cultural constructions that “create” reality according to a conventionalized language. Further, that this creation of meaning and reality does not stop with the taking of a photograph, but continues as it cropped, captioned, ordered, classified, categorized or filed. Each new context reframes its meaning”.
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Summary of the discussions held on filming or photography at protests in Conway Hall, London.

Here is the feedback from the Legal Observer Group that discussed the role and possibility of video activism within Legal Observing and the protest movement. Please do not hesitate to give me any feedback on this as the debate is in no way closed. With apologies for the delay.

Please note that you have not been added to the general Legal Observer Group meeting mailings. This group will continue to meet until around June in order to discuss the issues necessary to drafting a formal proposal to set up a permanent funded legal observer group for England and Wales. This proposal will then be put to a wider meeting sometime in June or July at which any final decision as to whether to film as part of legal observing will be taken. If it is taken then, in addition to the Legal Observer Project, it is also hoped that a Video Activism parallel project will also be set up. I will let you know when this meeting will take place nearer the time. However, you will not receive any further details of the other issues. If you wish to do so, then please drop me a line.

Summary of the discussions held on filming or photography at protests

Utility of filming/photography

The utility of filming and photography in the context of legal observing was not in dispute. To recap on what was said in the discussion piece and reiterated at the meeting:

Filming, and to a lesser extent photography, provides one of the best sources of evidence to be used in the defence of protesters charged with criminal offences. More importantly, perhaps, film is also one of the best sources of evidence for use in complaints or litigation brought by protesters, where the burden of proof is then on the protesters. The presence of cameras therefore also has a deterrent effect on the Police. Equally important, exposure of the abusive use of power or of the law through the media, the Internet or more selective channels of communication can be effective in discrediting the Police and countering some of the anti-protest propaganda.

Proposal

To set up a group with the aim of acquiring footage from protests to assist in the defence of protesters, in civil claims against the police or similar actions and in exposing the abusive use of power and the law in the repression of protest and protesters through the media, mainstream or otherwise.

The group could both act as a liason between and central contact point for the legal observer group and those with footage of protests, as well as trying to obtain footage of its own. Given the risks of the project, it would operate independently of the legal observer group but would work closely with it.

Problems & Suggested Solutions

Police Harassment

The police have various powers to stop, search and confiscate items, both under the existing Stop & Search Laws and under the proposed Terrorism Bill. The experience of many journalists however is that they will arrest people and confiscate equipment or film regardless of their actual powers. The perceived intention is to prevent journalists meeting their copy deadlines and to discourage and prevent potentially unfriendly coverage. This poses the added problem for those filming in order to assist with Legal Observing that any incriminating footage seized could then be used by the police.

There are a number of ways in which camera operators can minimise the risks of police harassment or the consequences of it:

1. Using a look-out, such as a legal observer, both to look out for incidents to film and to look out for possible trouble from the police. Such an individual could also act as an independent observer in case of any harassment. An alternative is for camera operators to cover each other. One camera operator goes in close whilst another one stands further back away from the police in order to gather any evidence of any harassment of the first operator by the police. Both techniques can be effective but are of limited value since they rely entirely on their deterrent potential. Although they also enable subsequent legal actions to be brought for wrongful arrest, criminal damage and trespass to goods this does little to address the problem outlined above.

2. Concentrating on filming the police rather than protesters. Legal Observers, and therefore those that film in that capacity, effectively act as evidence gatherers for protesters. Their attention is consequently focussed on the Police. However, it would be naïve to think that they would therefore be able to avoid catching action that incriminates protesters altogether. In addition, the context of any arrest or illegal action by the police is important material evidence for use in civil claims or criminal defence. Consequently, although legal observers can, to a limited extent, provide the required contextual evidence, for video evidence to be effective in Court it ideally needs to record the actions of protesters as well.

3. Using runners or bikers to get film away or, better still, micro-waving film immediately off-site. With the use of digital cameras & mobile phones, micro-waving isn¹t particularly technologically challenging though it is somewhat expensive. The advent of GSM2 phones, capable of sending digital data as micro-waves over a number of Œlines¹ will significantly bring down the cost and ease with which this can be done. For getting film away from the Police this is by far the best technique though even micro-waving still carries some potential risk of interception. Data encryption using strong encryption would make the process secure but it may not be legally possible to use it for much longer. Nevertheless, since the primary aim of the Police is not so much to use the footage as to prevent others using it the actual risk of micro-waving may be incredibly small.

4. Filming covertly or from a sufficiently inaccessible vantage point overcomes some of the problems of police harassment but is subject to problems of its own. Filming from an inaccessible vantage point can only be effective in certain rare circumstances: where the protest is more or less static, where a vantage point gives good views of the action, where the camera operator has a sufficiently powerful zoom and where the footage can be got away safely. The main disadvantage with covert filming is that it loses its deterrent effect. In addition, it is not something to be undertaken without the complete trust of the protesters.

It may be that these techniques used in combination according to the circumstances provides the best response to police harassment.

Use of Incriminating Material in Court

Whether it be as a result of disclosure in a Court case or as a result of a Court Order it may be difficult to prevent incriminating footage falling into the hands of the Crown Prosecution Service.

However, there currently exists a mechanism for putting material at risk out of the jurisdiction of the UK Courts and it is suggested that any problematic footage be dealt with in that way:

All rights to the footage should be assigned to the International Federation of Journalists in Brussels and sent there.

Discovered the progress of ONE WORLD in monday’s Media Guardian

Reality bytes

Forget Big Brother and the endless celebrity exposés- the true home of reality TV is on the internet. John Plunkett on the web technology that aims to bring home the issues that matter

http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,7558,764719,00.html

OneWorld TV

is a collaborative project, a continuously evolving body of stories created by you. The following pages provide the tools you need to upload your own clips. You can create new stories or use other peoples clips to develop existing storylines. Introduce new evidence, personal testimonies or a different perspective.

http://tv.oneworld.net/

OneWorld TV involves many layers – you can watch, explore or create stories, join the discussion forums, share ideas and tips and help build a vibrant online video community. Please tell us what you think so we can make these help pages as useful as possible.

background

One World International has been developing its use of video on the web over the last 12 months, in the belief that it represents a powerful tool for amplifying a diversity of voices. However, we realised that people do not want to watch 30 minute documentaries on their computer screens. So we have tried to develop a way of presenting video more appropriate to the net and more effective in communicating for social change. One World TV takes an innovative step beyond simple webcasting by providing an interactive forum for collaborative storytelling on a global scale.

http://tv.oneworld.net/

http://www.climatechange.tv/

“NO PHOTOGRAPHERS”

BLOODY HECK.!!

Am I journalist or an activist? I don’t know now. I thought I was being active on an issue. Silly me! I’m just trying to do my very moral best.

My photography grew from my concern and activism, trying to be more effective in furthering our case. The first twenty years was with free festivals and travellers. And so rearly did I have a problem in my own tribe. They , all of them, recognised that we were trying to help. Good god, that’s is why we won the beanfield trials and onwards. And managed to get some! public symaphy for OUR case. You see, I’m one of us. 🙂

You know from the content of these pages, that I know all about the issues involved, but e-mail cirulation with this content, is beginning to poison the atmosphere. I and those like me, don’t deserve it.

Nothing any of you can do about it of course, just wanted folks to know that there is an issue here! Heck, why is this starting to be an increased problem now? Even after the judge threw out the police application from j18, because the police had not made adequate photographic efforts themselves!!

That ruling should have made all photo-journalists, on this side of the fence, safer.

What I’m really about here, is a plea.

I come from a hippy/ traveller/ free festival background. Because I cared greatly about my community, with others, helped to form outfits that provided welfare, help and advice to those who weren’t getting any! This is the founding of the Festival Welfare Services and the festivals branch of ‘Release’. We felt real progress for some years before the forces of darkness started to gather. Public Order Act etc….. It started splitting families, harassment and hitting us with sticks.

Release, FWS and Festival Aid soon found the balance of the work we did, shifted by the distress caused by the police and the rather partial application of the law. Next to my work with the charities, I have been taking photographs since the late 1970’s. I felt I could be of use, in trying to gather evidence of the abuses that we said were occurring, but at that time, were unable to demonstrate and were not believed.

I say, that by making the police aware there were other eyes about, other than their own, then it frequently moderated their actions. Police and state treated us as if we were just a bunch of crusties! and could therefore behave to us as they pleased. However, many of us stared to bring civil action in the court, and with evidence, won many cases. Police operations against us were much moderated by this deterrent. They became more careful in their dealings. Perhaps saved a few broken heads.

I see many aspects of entertainment and protest today, with rootes in the time I have just mentioned. To me, as a geezer in his late-forties, it all goes round again. For photography though, it has been different.

My community encouraged me in what I was doing then. There are a few who clearly do not now. Use of pictures in the poll-tax riot were perhaps the turning point. I acknowledge the risks and am up to pace with the issues.

But if, in future, guy’s like me are prevented by activists, (I’m used to police objection), then, with the advent of miniature ‘undercover’ cameras.

The only cameras present at a scene will be the oppositions!

Surely we can’t mean that?

I was first hit with a stick by a policeman in Windsor Great Park, 1974, when they broke up our festival. Ten years latter, another policeman hit me with his stick in the Beanfield near Stonehenge. With the occasions in between, this is what I’m use to, and expect.

HOWEVER. In recent times, while trying to photograph people getting trampled by a police charge in Trafalgar Sq ‘Reclaim the Future’, I ended up with a broken ankle resulting from a lump of concrete , thrown be a drunken protester next to me. To be fair, he was aiming at the police.

But drink has played a part in two other aggravations towards me. I lost most of my teeth at the N30 bash, Nov ’99 outside Euston. People falling on top of each other (and me) during one of the charges. A couple of very young “warrior” types, found my distress highly amusing, then kicked me! Community, I thought, bleeding and lying there on the pavement!

With such dangers, why do I/we bother.

I am concerned for community and issues. I learnt my art / craft to help more fully to express OUR case. From this side of the fence.

It is why I am particularly cross with some of the content of e-mail circulating earlier in the year saying

CAMERAS AND PRESS: This is an activist gathering not a press event, so if you are coming as a journalist then you are not welcome. Also please respect the wishes of some people not to be photographed by leaving your camera at home.

+ + + + +

30 years photographing at festivals and look were its got to ……

Well, I’m all confused now.

Was it all a waste of time?

Am I journalist or an activist?

I don’t know now.

I thought I was being active on an issue.

Silly me!

Difficulty in taking photographs. http://tash.gn.apc.org/photo_difficult.htm

Photo-Journalist ‘Hassle’ list http://tash.gn.apc.org/journo_hassle.htm

Assorted Legal Hassle http://tash.gn.apc.org/legal_assortment.htm

Misc Legal adventures

NO CAMERAS

Referring to the media, Ch Supt Davies of the Mets Public Order Branch says:

“Like all forms of modern protest, experience has shown environmentalist to be highly organised and media friendly. It is almost standard now that the media will give protesters cameras, both video and still, to record a protester’s eye view. This would almost certainly result in a significant propaganda victory for the protesters as they are selective about what they release”.

(Police Review 21st March 97)

Well, I never! Would you say the positioning of the screens at the eviction of the road-protest site at Birmingham was anything other than ‘selective’?

Police are increasingly using various legal `devices’ and violence, to remove photographers from the scene of actions were the police feel that they may be portrayed in a less flattering light! Arrest on a spurious ‘holding’ charge, later to be released without charge, having missed deadline is a favorite one:

Aggro list …….

Alan Lodge see the rest of my web-site for details: from Stonehenge, the Battle of the Beanfield resulting in civil case, Reclaim the streets, Operation Nomad and yet another civil case., and bloody onwards …!

Ben Gibson of the Observer: Arrested for obstruction at the `Battle of the Beanfield’ near Stonehenge. Charges later dropped.

David Hoffman freelancer: Frequently arrested (and assaulted) by the Metropolitan Police. Welling east London, Poll tax riots, Dockers/Reclaim the Streets etc), Has been awarded damages against them.

John Warburton freelance on job for Daily Telegraph, working with New Age Travellers in the SW England. Arrested while covering traveller site evictions.

Nick Cobbing freelancer: Arrested and removed from scene while trying to cover the eviction of environmental protesters at proposed site of Manchester Airport. Again at an Animal rights demo, Oxford

John Fraser Williams HTV producer: sustained two broken ribs after being truncheoned while reporting on the Manchester Airport

Roddy Mansfield of `Undercurrents’ recently arrested for the sixth time while recording events at a street party by the group `Reclaim the Streets’ in Bristol. Again at an Animal rights demo, Oxford

Simon Chapman (photographer) Arrested after covering a protest against genetically modified crops at Totnes , Devon. Deadlines missed, later released without charge.

Ben Edwards (i-Contact Video) Arrested after covering a protest against genetically modified crops at Totnes , Devon. Tapes seized at time, deadlines missed, later released without charge.

Ursuala Wills Jones writer and photographer ? details.

Paul Smith photographer protest at proposed site of Manchester Airport. Charges latter dropped.

Campbell Thomas daily mail freelance. Bilderberg meeting, Scotland 1998. charges dropped.

Martin Palmer video journo from portsmouth. Hillgrove Farm, anti-vivsection protest. Tapes seized and returned 6 months later no explanation or charge.

Maggie Lambert mature student at Newport College, charged with conspiracy to trespass while photographing anti-motorway protest at Twyford Down.

John Harris and Neil Plumb photographers charged with trespass under Aviation Security Act after arrest at demonstration against veal export at Coventry Airport, Charges later dropped, compensation awarded.

Rob Todd photographer raided for photographs of hunt sabs, Police used improper warrant (ignoring police and criminal evidence procedure for journalist material). When challenged, they gave him a choice of giving them what they wanted, or having ALL his film and equipment seized.

David Sims freelance photographer: detained for 11 hours, being arrested for breach of the peace at Greenpeace demo against arrival of genetically modified soya beans into Liverpool Docks. Was arrested in spite of repeatedly showing his NUJ card. Police returned camera, but kept roll of film.

Terry Kane freelance photographer. Arrested covering animal rights demonstrations at Shamrock Farm near Brighton in January 2000. Arrested under section 14 of the Public Order Act. Police deliberatly ignored NUJ press card. Was held for 9 hours and released at midnight, thus missing his news deadlines. Case later dismissed after the police own video evidence discredited their version of events. Will now be starting civil action against Sussex Police.

Mike Taylor Sec of Bristol NUJ Branch Arrested at Heathrow Airport, at demonstration against the deportation of Iraqi Kurdish asylum seeker in August 2000.

Andrew Wiard & Jess Hurd freelance photographers & a TV camera Operator, all prevented from filming at Heathrow Airport by police. They were informed that they were on private property and that it was an offence to be there, unless travelling! Waird said, “treatment is unprecedented. Press photographers frequently take picture at Heathrow, without anyone’s permission”. TV operator carried on working and was promptly thrown in back of police van, though subsequently released after a period. Not charged, just inconvenienced!. They pointed out, press card is recognised by the met police, reply: “oh, but we’re Heathrow Police”. (who are or course, part of the met police. Hay ho….)

· Adrian Arbib freelance photographer. Had his camera taken away, and was assaulted by Kent Police. He went to photograph the recently ‘banned’ Horsemonden Romany horse fair. On photographing a roadblock at the huge police operation. Was told not to photograph as it was “against the law.” He continued, and was arrested. He did not resist, however they continued to assault him. He has complained.

· Zoe Broughton – video-journalist Following a tip-off, the freelance video reporter accompanied Greenpeace activists as they occupied a waste incineration plant in Sheffield. May 2001. The first day went as planned; Broughton’s footage of the occupation made the regional television news. Wanting to cover the action in its entirety, however, she returned the next day as the activists prepared to leave the plant following a court order demanding their removal. After being allowed to film them being arrested and put into police vans she too was suddenly arrested “despite making it very clear that I was a freelance reporter”. Broughton was held in custody while her house was turned upside down by police and her camera equipment seized. She had returned to police stations twice since her arrest in May as they continue to consider charges of “conspiracy to cause criminal damage”.

Well, good grief !!!

It seems OK then, for the police to go undercover as demonstrators etc and film activists in action covertly. They then get to use that material in prosecutions and intelligence with their ‘spin’, as they see fit with little restriction.

However, they appear to find it convenient to think that a photographer covering an action or demonstration where they may feel their work might be critical of police, might in fact be an undercover demonstrator! Police say the media is sometimes a cover for activist. To form this opinion is, of course, a useful ploy.

Press credentials are, not accidentally, but deliberately, being ignored by police. It suits their purposes you see. Without outside prying eyes looking into their activities, they can feel free to be that bit rougher with the citizens protesting on an issue, than they would be if ‘eyes’ of different persuasions were watching.

Precisely, of course, why investigative journalism is supposed to be allowed in a free society. Keeps everyone on their toes. For an example, watch the national news on TV when there is a story concerning, say a human rights demonstration in south-east Asia. Watch the reaction of the police to the presence of a camera while their buddies carry on behind them. The embarrassment is obvious, followed by the inevitable violent assault on the cameraman and the grab for the film! Many of us have seen exactly the same expression through the viewfinder, here

Grief encounter

Andrew Wasley reports

The Guardian Monday March 6, 2000

Covering the anti-World Trade Organisation rally at London’s Euston Station on November 30 last year was nothing out of the ordinary for Express journalist Danny Penman. He’d reported on Britain’s protest movement since the early 90s and seen everything from peaceful treetop occupations at the Newbury bypass to full-scale riots in the capital. The “N30 event” – as it was dubbed by the organisers – was to prove different, however. Just after 7pm the police moved in to clear the station concourse, resulting in considerable disorder. Penman found himself herded into a nearby park, where he claims he was viciously attacked by police in riot gear. “I suddenly found myself being repeatedly struck with batons. I made it clear that I was a journalist, and I couldn’t believe it when they continued hitting out at me. I was only rescued after the BBC’s Kate Adie intervened.” Penman suffered cuts and bruises and a broken arm, the bone so severely shattered it required a steel plate and a dozen bolts to hold it together.

The incident mirrors the experience of TV researcher Andrew Browning, who claims he was attacked and intimidated by police while photographing last summer’s anti-capitalist riot in the City of London. “I’d shot half a film of the barrage of missiles coming from the protesters and of the retaliatory baton charges by police, when I saw two riot officers swing towards me. Ducking around a wheelie bin, they struck me with their batons across the shoulders and grabbed my camera. I shouted that I was a journalist and asked what on earth they were doing.”

Browning says the police demanded all the films in his possession, threatening him with arrest for violent disorder if he didn’t comply – “totally ridiculous as I was simply taking pictures.”

On the same day, Nick Cobbing, a freelance photographer, says the police deliberately damaged his camera after seizing it during a baton charge. “I’d dropped it, but was told I’d have to make a statement to claim it back,” he says. “When I did recover it, the damage was criminal – shutter punctured, the hood and filter missing – far more than would result from it simply dropping to the floor.”

Penman is attempting to sue the Metropolitan police for assault with the backing of the National Union of Journalists, and Browning and Cobbing have lodged formal complaints with the police complaints authority, seeking to recover the considerable costs of repairing and replacing equipment. Another journalist arrested at the protest, freelance Charlotte Wilcox, is also considering legal action after being held overnight without charge and having her video camera and tape seized. All four are part of a growing list of reporters to fall foul of the law while covering political dissent.

Since environmental activists first resorted to direct action at the Twyford Down anti-bypass siege in 1992-93, protests have attracted media attention like never before. With this, however, there has been an alarming increase in the number of journalists reportedly assaulted, harassed and even arrested by the police at such events.

Those covering road protests, hunt sabotage and action against genetically modified crops claim to have been targeted most frequently. Some say they have been arrested as many as seven times, others that they have been beaten by police, their houses raided and equipment seized. All say their press card credentials have been systematically ignored, in spite of a police-operated PIN number identification scheme.

Some journalists argue that it represents a deliberate and organised attempt on the part of the police to intimidate campaign-sympathetic reporters and to “manage” the news. Others maintain that it is simply a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time – journalists covering illegal protests should expect to encounter problems with the law.

Most of the journalists harassed or arrested while covering protests have never been charged. Nick Cobbing has the dubious honour of being one of only two known reporters to have been convicted – he was found guilty of obstruction after reporting from the trees at the 1997 Manchester airport eviction – fuelling speculation that the primary motive of police is not to criminalise journalists outright but to prevent compromising material from being broadcast or published.

In July 1998, Ben Edwards, a freelance video journalist, was accused by police of being “the propaganda arm” of a group of environmental activists arrested after destroying a field of genetically modified crops in Devon. He was held in a police cell for more than 24 hours while police raided his house, seizing his computer, files and even documentaries taped from television, although he was never successfully prosecuted.

The NUJ says it was the case against Edwards that helped kick-start a campaign to push the issue on to the political agenda – a dossier outlining key incidents and calling for an official policy on the subject has been handed in to the Home Office. The organisation also claims to have identified a police officer who, they believe, has been responsible for intimidating journalists at political demonstrations.

Observer photographer Andrew Testa was stopped by the officer at two separate demonstrations, at a Reclaim The Streets event in Birmingham and a vivisection protest in Oxfordshire. “On both occasions he said he had seen me at other political events, implying that this was somehow illegal. He also pointed me out to a police cameraman to ensure they got a decent shot.”

The NUJ is cautious, however, about supporting everyone who claims to be a journalist and has suffered police harassment. “We will intervene where there is a clear case of a bona fide reporter being prevented from carrying out their job,” says spokesman Tim Gopsill. “But we can’t – and do not attempt to – get involved every time someone with a video camera is arrested.”

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan police says: “Everyone who carries a video camera or uses the internet calls themselves a reporter these days, so we advise our officers to use their judgment in establishing whether an individual is legitimate or not. We are aware of the allegations of news managing, but can categorically say that this is not the case.”

Hugh Lawrence, who has been researching press freedom across Europe for a forthcoming book, is more sceptical: “Although there has been an increase in the number of cases of harassment, I don’t think it in any way amounts to an organised attempt to stifle reporting of the news.” He says many of those targeted place themselves in compromising positions by “taking part” in actions and producing articles that amount to little more than incitement to protest. “Most of those who’ve run into trouble with the law are young freelancers who are often sympathetic to the aims of the campaigners, not established journalists working for an established publication. The police perceive the two groups, perhaps rightly, as very different.”

o The full version of this article appears in the current edition of the British Journalism Review. Copies from BR&D Ltd (01702 552912) at £4.95

each. Subscription details from the University of Luton Press (01582 743297), or by visiting their website at www.ulp.org.uk

Below this point for a few pages, are tales of the continued stress, that some young folks endure. Just trying to gather like they do, elsewhere in the world. I have an idea it won’t be like that forever.

“The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoyes several times the same good things for the first time.”

Friedrich Nietzche

‘Collected link’s to some recent projects Mutant Dance Party Bust – Bristol

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_21_tash_lodge_archive.html#79299422

Spaces I’m watching, re: this party http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_21_tash_lodge_archive.html#79308743

Rabid Press piece and efforts [devon events] http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_07_tash_lodge_archive.html#78653843

“Battle of the Beanfield” on Radio 4 called “In Living Memory” http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_21_tash_lodge_archive.html#79296253

This is a tale of trying to get ‘Location Data’ from communication companies

on the use of a mobile phone. http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_14_tash_lodge_archive.html#79031925

Surveillance of Party, Festival and Protest: http://tash.gn.apc.org/surv_10.htm

Mutant Dance Party, Bristol :> Stories and Links from all over the place, but have prepared a selection to be seen from :>

Have collected text and links, to many stories, advice and stuff about the Mutant Dance Party at Bristol 21st July.

the collected links of a lot of stuff that seem related, I’ve put together at :>

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_21_tash_lodge_archive.html#79486300

Tash is sorry to hear of events after Ashton Court, over the weekend.

Keep yourselves informed and up-to-date. All not very ‘fluffy’ I know! But i think that there is such a think as ‘Legal First Aid’, and with a bit of practice, when we get damaged, it doesn’t hurt quite so much.

Here are some assorted links to stuff I offer, and think may be of use when pursuing the police for damage done.

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_21_tash_lodge_archive.html#79299422

you can see some press work from earlier in the month. I’ve always believed that the severity of news stories , directly relates to the level of violence, displayed against us. So, here is the story of trying to do something about it, but run in the sand, for want of witnesses and attenders to take it up. System doesn’t allow other to complain on their behalf.

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_07_tash_lodge_archive.html#78653843

some of my own ‘legal adventures’

http://tash.gn.apc.org/legal_assortment.htm

bust advice

http://tash.gn.apc.org/bust.htm

sound advice

http://tash.gn.apc.org/sound.htm

CJA relevant sections

http://tash.gn.apc.org/cja_act.htm

Seizure

http://tash.gn.apc.org/seizure.htm

Desert Storm in Bosnia – for a sense of perspective

http://tash_photo.blogspot.com/2002_06_30_tash_photo_archive.html#78627645

All Systems – what we’ve done about it in the past

http://tash_photo.blogspot.com/2002_06_30_tash_photo_archive.html#78615960

For those in need of legal advice from these matters, I suggested folks use Release http://www.release.org.uk/ as they have a national network, and can recommend someone ‘more suitable’, and thus, with experience that can be useful to numbers of arrestees

NaTo – Northern Arts Tactical Organisation – Art Show for the political underground:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_07_tash_lodge_archive.html#78897980

Cannabis Law – Press Coverage [starts at:>]

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_07_tash_lodge_archive.html#78828166

BBC360

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_21_tash_lodge_archive.html#79262915

comprising

Own BBC360 ‘front page’ within thier set up, can be seen at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/U196996

My ‘articles’ page, is at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/MA196996?show=25&type=2

This is a test on saturday at 15:40 an experiment to see if i can write into my personal Blog! from a mobile WAP phone. This is it.. Tash

WAP to Blogger interfacing.

WAP interface to Wapblogger

http://www.ubique.ch/wapblogger/

Wapblogger FAQ

http://www.ubique.ch/wapblogger/faq.html

wapblogger is a WAP interface to popular weblog tools Blogger, LiveJournal and any other weblog-style tool supporting the XML-RPC Blogger API.

Post to your weblogs with a WAP enabled cell phone!

This is the URL ‘form’ as a guide :>

http://wap.ubique.ch/wapblogger/wb.pl?u=USER&p=PASS&b=BLOGID&a=post

blog info :>

USER username

PASS password

BLOGID blog number [7 digit]

Got back from seeing kids and family in Bath UK, everything getting bigger…….!

Spaces i’m watching at the moment:

On the Bristol Party Bust

FOL Yahoo Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fol-network/message/150

FOL Yahoo Group Mk2:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fol-network/message/161

also, now added to Guilfin at :>

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1226

Guilfin Mk2

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1263

Dirty Circus

http://www.dirtycircus.com/board/replylist.asp?TID=3496&recordno=0

Urban75

http://urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=18b0f89770b374e451d05a32c17787c3&threadid=14584

Urban75 – Tash’s Mark II advice

http://urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15057

Tash’s space on the BBC 360 site :>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/U196996

and thread in the surveilance piece there :>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/F84769?thread=191008&skip=20&show=20

the BBC360 issue on Guilfin yahoo Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/guilfin/message/15624

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fol-network/message/148

and Guilfin are currently having a discussion about whether to have a fluffy picture on the front of the website, or a ‘real’ one. Really interest to know how this works out. You can check on progress from :-

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/guilfin/message/15690

List is how my Lacket Blog poll, is getting along, Oh! , like pushing a train…………

http://lacket_video.blogspot.com/2002_07_21_lacket_video_archive.html#79230400

Articles by Tash on the BBC site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/MA196996?show=25&type=2

Show Edited Articles | Show Articles

From 360: A785874 6 / 6 Some of the story so far . . . . . . . The aftermath (Last Week)

From 360: A785856 5 / 6 Some of the story so far . . . . . . . Police Surveillance (Last Week)

From 360: A785847 4 / 6 Some of the story so far . . . . . . . Raves, Dance Parties etc… (Last Week)

From 360: A785838 3 / 6 Some of the story so far . . . . . . . Further trouble and the Public Order Act 1986 (Last Week)

From 360: A785829 2 / 6 Some of the story so far . . . . . . . Stonehenge and the `Battle of the Beanfield’ (Last Week)

From 360: A785810 1 / 6 Some of the story so far . . . . . . . Intro (Last Week)

From 360: A785801 Some of the story so far . . . . . . . (Last Week)

From 360: A771996 On Being Watched – for having concerns for the planet (4 Weeks Ago)

From 360: A771987 ALAN LODGE: PHOTOGRAPHER (4 Weeks Ago)

From: “George Todd”

Date: Tue Jul 23, 2002 11:27 pm

Subject: Re: [guilfin] 360 is the BBC’s community-based, positive news website that features your solut

Tash as in Alan Lodge? Free Party Tash of the many pictures?! =0

You’re my hero man!

Spent many a Sunday wandering though your site, fine work as it is: http://tash.gn.apc.org/

Ashton Court Party Violently put down.

here, all about it. on personal blog ‘collected’.

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_21_tash_lodge_archive.html#79299422

Gosh! That was a bit energetic -)

Have just banged off the following at speed as asked. Sorry its all happened again. If I’d gone, might have even been able to ‘moderate’ their behaviour, with the use of a camera eh? Can’t be everywhere, but have suggested for about 20years now, that people really should document it all, as is goes one. You’ll know I’ve proved it works! and have been successful in cases.

So most of what I’ve just put together has come out as a ‘what to do if it happens again’. If folks can be contacted , its nearly always best to that suggest folks contact the same solicitors in the region, makes it all stronger as a team.

Anyway. Hope this is what you mean, and useful. Let us know.

Send me URL etc, so I can watch the thread.

I put sommat on the other day, saying I was using to BBCsite, for a bit of window, for them out there, on us. Have suggested others wade in also. My space there, starts at :> http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/U196996 please comment as you like, but add your own stuff.

Very best

tash

================================================================

Tash is sorry to hear of events after Ashton Court, over the weekend.

Keep yourselves informed and up-to-date. All not very ‘fluffy’ I know! But i think that there is such a think as ‘Legal Frist Aid’, and with a bit of practice, when we get damaged, it doesn’t hurt quite so much.

Here are some assorted links to stuff I offer, and think may be of use when pursuing the police for damage done.

bust advice http://tash.gn.apc.org/bust.htm

sound advice http://tash.gn.apc.org/sound.htm

CJA relevent sections http://tash.gn.apc.org/cja_act.htm

Seizure http://tash.gn.apc.org/seizure.htm

Desert Storm in Bosnia – for a sense of perspective

http://tash_photo.blogspot.com/2002_06_30_tash_photo_archive.html#78627645

All Systems – what we’ve done about it in the past

http://tash_photo.blogspot.com/2002_06_30_tash_photo_archive.html#78615960

First, if arrested, have “Nothing to say”!

I know the caution has changed.

But I’ll say it again, “Nothing to say” until you have taken legal advice. Got it!

The reason fore this is that you do not / cannot know enough of the law to all of what is naughty, thus, I wrong statement from you about what you thought you were doing at an event, is very hard to ‘row-back’ from. They have to prove cases against you, it is hard sometimes for them to do that. Please don’t help them 🙂

Next Lawyers are and absolute must. I suggest contact with the National organisation, called Release. They have a network of ‘like-minded’ solicitors across the country, who are likely to have a clue about these matters.

http://www.release.org.uk/

If simple arrest, then keep in touch with your lawyer, charges frequently dropped, they only arrested to keep you out of the way at the time. But, if injured, please get some evidence at the time. I hope you saw doctors, and got assistance, soon after events. Evidence is all, or you might have tripped over, crossing the road, earlier in the day, yea right!

The ‘carrot’ for you to do something about it, is that if you can prove wrongful arrest, assault etc, then you might get a cheque for a few thousand pounds. but I digress!

Write notes straight after things happen. Because we have proved policemen to lie in court in the past, [many times :-)], then they are less believed now. It means your own notes, taken soon after stuff, carry great weight in court. Believe me. true!

So, perhaps all this a little late, for what has just happened to some, but it will happen to you all again.

Have noticed the reticence of some to ‘become involved’, thinking it will ‘attract attention’ to themselves and their ‘other activities’. I’ve found it the other way round, ‘mess with me, and I’ll file your desk with paper for 5 years. Always thought the ‘community’ should be thinking like that. Just us, as individuals, won’t influence that much by ourselves, but laws do get changed, if there is increasing pressure, and civil actions and complaints by groups, is one method… Hope to set examples!

There is an issue though, that all should be aware of at this stage.

There are two tracks to consider, in taking action. One is a complaint against the police. The other, a civil action. The complaint can take a while, so can the civil action! But, if you have already given a statement to the police regarding the complaint, you will then have for-warned the police, on the ‘likely tack’ of your civil action, thus giving them info and time to prepare.

I’m always in favour of complaint. However, my past advice has been to ‘register the complaint’, with the briefest outline. Make clear you’ll be taking advice regarding civil action, then make a full statement of events to your representing solicitor. A this time, you can ask for advice on what more you can tell the police with respect to the complaint, and point out you want to pursue that as well.

It just so happens, that when the police are notified of the civil action, the complaint goes on hold, till after the case. So no process is held up.

I suggested folks started to use Release http://www.release.org.uk/ as they have a national network, and can recommend someone ‘more suitable’ sometimes, and thus, with experience that can be useful to numbers of arrestees.

The behaviour of policemen Locals and farmers, is really heavily ‘coloured’ by what they read in the press. This has caused me loads of stress in the past, from the Beanfield, and bloody onwards.

You might like to know that there had been a ‘splash’ in the west country and Devon papers about smeathope / Glastonbury alternative……..

When articles are written about us, or about locations and event we’ve attended, it is possible to read about it all in the papers and have no idea that they’re describing the same event! It is of course why journalists are frequently shunned at events. A recent piece that illustrates this can be seen at “This is Devon”.

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=77707&command=displayContent&sourceNode=77259&contentPK=2039166

[this link is long & may wrap, make sure you grab all the characters]

If this piece was produced, describing other racial or minority groups, it would break half-a-dozen laws! But all ok when talking about this group of people. It is sometimes as a direct reaction to such stuff, that the vigilante tendency has taken it as a ‘green-light’ to apply force and violence against such folks before, and hence my concern, now.

You understand that policemen read newspapers, and I know that the way we are sometimes treated, is as a direct result of believing some of the garbage that get in print. No excuses here, just an explanation.

=====================================

another thing you can do is …… what I’m doing ! trying to put a case, in front of the public.

My ‘Personal’ Space http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/U196996

My Articles Space http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/MA196996?show=25&type=2

I added to this board , yesterday at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fol-network/message/148

to say that that many folks reading this will know from some personal experience what it’s like for them. The BBC site i mention, It’s called DNA 360 and it’s at :>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/

If your inclined, will you look at some of what I’ve put up, and comment,

agreeing or no. Because I’m outnumbered.

Also, and mainly, can you put up your own stuff on their site, to ‘balance’ the community there. Since, in the pre-amble’ what they say they’re doing, and what the site is for, I reckon we’re doing.

Take a look and see what you think, seems a useful opportunity to me.

Very best

Tash

—–Original Message—–

From: Chris (feeling-of-life) [SMTP:chris@dubb-it-up.com]

Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 12:19 PM

To: tash@gn.apc.org

Subject: Tash any advice would be greatfully needed mate

Hiya Geeza

Dont know if you knew what happend the weekend with cockneys birthday party

etc.

But there are allot of peeps that recived injuries from the Police due to there britality.

Any way I think it would be could if you could spare 5 minutes to write somthing that could be posted on the Dirt Circus forum, as your are a much resected person on the scene and some words odf wisdom and advice would not go astray mate?

Hope this is ok for you as I know how busy you are. If you send me somthing then i post it up on the message boards and on my lists

Cheers Tash

Chris

FEELING-OF-LIFE

(UNITED WE STAND OR DIVIDED WE FALL)

also, now added to Guilfin at :> http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1226

BBC: Police break up illegal rave (Mutant Dance)

this is the ‘official’ version … we’re hearing lots of different versions, involving the police physically attacking partygoers and causing injuries.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_2142000/2142512.stm

Police break up illegal rave olice moved in to break up an illegal rave which had set up near an organised festival in south-west Bristol on Sunday.

Complaints were received after more than 300 people gathered at the site, near the Ashton Court Festival.

Police wearing protective clothing and accompanied by the dog unit moved onto the site beneath the A370 Brunel Way bypass and seized sound equipment and generators at 0600 BST.

Two officers received minor injuries when they met “violent resistance”, police said.

‘Significant risk’

A police spokesman said: “In excess of 300 people had gathered on parkland under the A370.

“They had a substantial amount of stereo equipment and two generators with them and they were intent on holding an illegal rave.

“It was clear that a rave at the location would pose a significant risk of harm to those attending and of disruption to the local community.”

Five people were arrested and the A370 inbound was closed for half an hour while the police broke up the event.

Re:BBC: Police break up illegal rave (Mutant Dance)

Here’s a note on the party in Bristol on saturday night, a bit boring perhaps but I’m trying to be complete. Here are the events of the night as I saw and remember them.

I arrived at at the party at approx. 2.00am, having spent the day at the festival. There were two systems running underneath the A38 flyover, with about 300 people dancing, wondering around or sitting around a fire. Directly above the systems, parked on the flyover, were a number of police vans and cars, (when I left I counted nine vans and two cars). The police at this time were just waiting, some of them blocking the stairways onto the flyover, most of them just watching from the flyover balcony and refusing to reply to any attempts to make contact with the people below. Later a group of about 20 police gathered roughly 100 yards away towards the river, kitting up with helmets and shields. Up to this point I witnessed no violence or vandalism of any sort amongst the partyers. The crowd was internally very friendly, but I felt a slightly edgy atmosphere develop, and some people did take the piss out of the assembled police – no response. The Noise Pollution crew (the nearer system to where the police were preparing), playing acid techno, were keeping an eye on things and eventually requested that people form a ring around the system, stand together and otherwise behave in a peaceful but resolute manner. Some negotiation may have taken place, because at this stage the last record had been played, although the other system, (playing drum and bass) continued. The ring duly formed around the system, but not the two generators. These were situated directly below the flyover balcony, behind the vans and system. Earlier, I watched the police identify these from the flyover balcony as one of their objectives. Eventually the police moved towards the system at a jogging pace, heading towards the undefended generators, (from where I watched events unfold; other groups of police may also have moved in at this stage, but I couldn’t see from where I was). Roughly 15 of the police had shields, a few others ran ahead, along side and behind. There was a scramble of party-goers around the side of the system to reach and defend the unguarded generators. One policeman managed to unplug one of the generators and then retreated as perhaps 30-50 people flooded into the space by one of the system trailers and the generators. Around 10 people jumped on top of the larger of the generators to prevent its confiscation; shortly they began to complain that it was rather a hot thing to be sitting on, and someone manged to ease their situation by turning the thing off. As this was occuring, the police with shields moved into the crowd and started to push people, some of them against the van, and asked the crowd to move back. For perhaps 20-30 people there was nowhere to move back to and we pushed back. Most of the sheilded police applied pressure more or less evenly, but two of them, nearest the trailer, seemed to become agitated, and repeatedly beat foreward members of the crowd with their shields. One of these was thrown back into the crowd, beaten down and then dragged through the shield-wall. These two shield police had their lower faces covered and would not respond to requests for some kind of identification. Also at this stage a group of police appeared to try to get the doors of the trailer open. A man trying to stop this was thrown aginst the side of the trailer repeatedly, and when sufficiently subdued was dragged away. Cries of “you need a warrant” were shouted and this group of police backed off. All of these events were filmed from behind the shield wall by at least two police using hand-held video recorders. A stand-off developed; the pressure from the shield wall continued, though things calmed down a little. Some partyers, upset, voiced their complaints about the police behavior, some insulted the police, but calls for calm were made from within the crowd. I think one more man was grabbed from the front of the crowd during this time. This continued for some 10-15 minutes. Eventually the crowd began to sing “Happy Birthday”, appropriate for the occasion, and I think proving that the crowds’ intent was not violent. At this stage the shield wall began to recede, giving people a little breathing space. Eventually the police moved all the way back to their starting point some 100yards away. As dawn began to break the police held back, although for some time they appeared to be preparing for another foray from their assembly point. Some people began to leave, but most moved over to the other system to continue the party and discuss events. I didn’t see what happened to the other system, although when I left at about 4.30am the music was still playing, and a ring of metal railings had been erected right around the system and dancing area.

My [his!] story..

…I was stood behind the speakers, aware that a line of brightly shiney cops were advancing for a second time on the left flank of the party, ravers were moving to counter this. Then out of the blue what seemed like 20odd blacked out piggies injected themselves into the small space behind the decks and started pilling in, I saw them charge in an endless stream bringing dogs in the final lines. I moved away shitting bricks because 1) a friend of mine was mixing at the time of the attack a looked like he was first in the firing line and 2) I had his bag containing his gubbins which I didn’t want to get caught with.

I moved out towards freedom, cursing the very sun that was rising in front of me. Then turning, forgetting the contents of my bag I went back for a closer look. Where the soundsystem was, was now a ring of beasties, most with balaclavas on underneath their riot shielding. Surrounding them was a ring of ravers, I think even though the piggies had armour, dogs, sticks ulimited resources and no numbers on their sleeves they were a bit scared (I am not surprised after what they hed just done). I got close enough to hear the breaking of glass and the crunch of wood and metal. I thought they were ripping everything to bits.

I went to sit by a tree, close enough but far away to skin up and reflect. The police all scarpered, leaving the pieces of the party they had just wrecked for the distraught to pick up. That is what I saw and remember, I am still very shook up.

These people have no respect for humanity and will not know the concequences of their actions on their valuable police force army thing. I myself managed to stay SAFE at that do, but I know people who had no choice but to be on the front line.

As newage travellers and ravers, we may face the same opression as jews, blacks and gays and have to fight the ame timeless battles. But how can we fight when hammered on substances unknown and faced with such an evil force. I’m gibbering now sorry, I’m still upset. The party was just geting cooking. Sectioned, I think that record you played with the throbbing boom blah, upset them a bit.

genXmk113

Bristol Evening Post want witnesses of Police Action on Mutant Dance party

this is from a reporter on Bristol Evening Post … they can’t write anything unless people tell them what happened. If you were there, *please* contact them …

————————

I’m Sarah Feeley, a reporter on the Bristol Evening Post (the one who interviewed Penelope Pitstop). My telephone number is 0117 934 3336. I can call you straight back to save your phone bill. I need to hear as soon as possible from eyewitnesses who saw the clash between music fans and police at the event in Bristol last weekend. I’ve read your comments with great interest, but I need names and more details before I can print. Legally, our newspaper is on very very dodgy ground quoting people anonymously, especially with an ‘alleged police brutality’ story. But if people come forward and are prepared to tell me their name and their experiences, I can put together a body of evidence in a news story (within the law) and the police will be asked to comment publically on it. The sad fact is, unless more of you like Penelope Pitstop are brave enough to come forward and be identified, I can’t write the story which you all are complaining has not yet been published. We don’t make these rules, but if we don’t stick to them, we’d get sued and so would you. Help me help you. Speed is of the essence. I can be reached on 0117 934 3336 until 5pm, and then my colleagues will be on 0117 934 3331 until 11pm.

Guilfin at :> http://www.guilfin.net/reviews/?id=rwINET1223

Re:Mutant Dance Free Party (Saturday 20th Jul, 2002)

More info required by new persons collecting info Call Ben 01179514129 or Kebelle Cafe they are after info on violence witnessed and injuries sustained to help other victims of the police brutality. Please help if you know anyone who was there or got injured please pass on these numbers.

Also we still need photos or video of what happened please pass on to me Matthew 01380 860994 home or 07977657469 mobile (doesnt take answer messages) home does take answer messages.

I am collecting all photos and video and going to edit together to show to news media and others. If you need a copy to help fight your case contact me. Also on tape is BBC Bristol report on the incident which shows Mike (the chef) who had a broken hand and Seyonide Simon with bruise marks on his back and legs.

We need to keep moving on this to stop the police getting away with it.

A good idea is to write a letter of complaint. The police were bragging that nobody had complained to them abou the nights activities. Just wait I say… those complaints are in the post! Dont be worried about complaining, I have done it before now and won my complaint. If you need advice on complaints procedures from me feel free to call.

Matthew Williams (lighting for Animators and Noise Pollution) email: truthseekers@ntlworld.com

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1250

Bristol party attack – ‘official complainants’ needed

from DirtyCircus

http://www.dirtycircus.com/board/replylist.asp?TID=3516&recordno=0

Having been at the party Sat 20th, “Cumberland Beirut”, a number of my “co-conspirators” (eh!!!!!)& I have been trying to find out who was arrested, what for and details. So far only two have come forward out of the five. We need all of you. It seems that the only people entitled to view the police video footage are those arrested, and only if it is to be used as evidence. We need to check this out in more detail so if you have reliable sources of legal information, or are a lawyer etc. etc. please help us out with your knowledge! You will not be implicated or identified any more than you wish, but we really need your account of the brutal heavy handed attack the police instigated. We have been speaking to a “duty inspector” who informed us that the only way anything will be investigated, is for an official complaint/complaints, (the more the better!), to be made. Therefore, anyone and everyone present that night, please send an official complaint to:-

Chief Constable, Steve Pilkington, Avon & Somerset Constabulary, P.O. box 37 (are they scared of us knowing where they live?????!) Valley Rd. Portishead, BS20 8QJ also if you could send a copy to the following in case the rednecks club (ouch) together:- Police Complaints Authority, 10, Great George St. London, SW1P 3AE

Also… could you help re this query???! To my knowledge, a white cross on a green square means “first aid”??? but it seems that training in, erm how can I say this, “healing” isn’t exclusive to dishing out the damage in the first place!!!! We are currently in touch with a large amount of the media bbc htv and the local and national papers. They are genuinely very interested in our side of the story but, without really good damning evidence of the police[thugs] hitting kicking headbutting us, then their [media] hands are tied. However they are still going to possibly run with more coverage at the next significant date[can’t divulge when at this time,keep your ear to the ground]. However, if anybody has photos, moving or still, of Saturday, can we please see them because they may be bright enough for the newspapers to use, or might have better more accurate or detailed imagery… (it just takes one good snapshot)

Above all don’t let it stop you partying, (as if), stick together… stay fluffy but firm… No violence, but no silence!!! Defence not attack… Protect yourselves! Take camera/ dictophone, helmet, padding, motoX mask, womble suit, first aid kits (anaesthetic!!!!!)etc. etc. etc…. DISARM but DON’T HARM!

Please contact Nicky, (cosnic), telephone/text 07775838549 or email Jon.E … moonbasemaya@orange.net

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1249

Mutant Dance party – yet another story

another story from DirtyCircus:

http://www.dirtycircus.com/board/replylist.asp?TID=3496&recordno=0

This is what I saw: (thanks to Battie BTW)

The police planned the violence completely. They lined up guys with torches on the flyover overlooking the crowd. Then underneath the flyover the riot squad moved in. They grabbed one person from the front of the crowd and dragged him behind their line and started to beat him up. The crowd went mad and started shouting and some even pushing the police line of riot shields. They were angry at what was being shown to them by the police. This was a deliberate tactic by the police, because then the torch lights on the flyover went on and this event was surely filmed by the police from upstairs to show that the crowd were rowdy. However after the lights went off the guy was no longer beaten up and was cuffed and taken away.

This shows how low the police are. The crowd werent being violent so they had to spark it off! This is one of the things I am going to mention in my complaint. The other involved the use of cameras and video to stop the police hitting extra people indiscriminately. The use of cameras and video helped stop a lot more people getting hurt. These sly pigs were very aware not to be caught on camera hitting people, however some of it was caught. Thats why we need more photos of bad stuff if we can get it, to prove how much there was going on from the police towards the crowd.

The whole thing could have been avoided totally by a couple of coppers giving a deadline for the system being turned off. The organisers were quite prepared to comply…

I saw the police letting people in to the rave minutes up to the time they actually went in with the heavy riot squad. One riot pig said just before they went in “It doesnt matter if you turn the system off, we are going to get you anyway”.

When we asked the normal coppers if they wanted the system turned off they said “No we are packing up and going now”, which wasnt true because 10 mins later the riot squad came in full force. So what exactly were the organisers and party people meant to do, fucking mind read? There was a major breakdown in communication from the police to us, and that needs to be mentioned. It didnt take 50, 60 or 70 officers to stop that party. 3 could have done it easily and with no agression needed!

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1252

Mutant Dance party – still more stories

http://urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&postid=288631#post288631

by Bob Pilchard

Yep, I was there that night, at said free party. The police were there (about 10 – 15) of them from the very beggining, and I tried to hood wink myself that they were there `for our own good` and there purely to keep an eye on proceedings `cos of ..er..the Ashton court festie that had just finished for that night. No such luck. I think that most places can be costrued as `silly` places to hold parties. I`m not sure if local residents could here the music that night (if so, I`m sure they prefer the sound of the busy traffic on the road on which the `illegal rave` was held under..), but it was a bit stoopid to light a fire underneath. So more police turned up and were generally not helpful with our queries, loitered furtivelly and looked mean. One of them refused to tell me the time. We took lots of photos, as they appeared to get more and more on top, shining powerfull flood lights on people from the road above, etc. I don`t think that they liked the idea that all these free thinking anarchist types were having a laugh just around the corner from the local police equestrian and dog handling centre. Also, someone managed to sneakily place some scaffolding against the side of the fly-over and climb up and – just in time – steal a riot shield, which naturally sent everyone bonkers with mirth, teehee. Ten minutes later or so it was returned, good humouredly. Maybe. As mentioned, and to cut a long story short, the riot police turned up in force at 5ish that morning and trashed the fucking place, damaging and/ or stealing equipment, frightening, hurting and generally attacking anyone and everyone who tried to rescue friends or belongings. They were trying out what looked like horrible U.S. style mini social contol experiments, attacking here and there, retreating, huddling into funny formations,etc, etc. The most distressing point for me was when they fought their way to the decks (as music was still playing) and started trashing everything. I`ll never forget the sound of baton on vinyl… So how draconian are they going to get? It`s like something from the middle ages. Why don`t they go and catch some criminals? I`ve never experienced such blatant violence on behalf of the police at a free party before – sending in thugs to snap records, honestly. I think it`s really duff, but I shall certainly make the effort to go to future parties – with a better camera this time – if I feel that I want to enjoy myself with me mates. Fuck the 2008 `City of Culture` bid – free parties are part of our culture and yet (again) it`s exactly what the authorities want to stamp out (quite literally!) The last thing that i want is to be zapped with negative energy by the police or end up in nasty confrontations, but I refuse to be intimidated like this, by jumped up bully boys employed by the law.

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1259

Police Attack on Mutant Dance party – more accounts

taken from bristol indymedia- http://bristol.indymedia.org/

———————————-

http://bristol.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=1443&group=webcast RIOT COPS ATTACK FREE PARTY

A free party was viciously attacked last weekend by over 50 riot cops. Partygoers arrived just after midnight at the site in Cumberland Basin, near Ashton court. Two soundsystems started up soon afterwards, as more people arrived from all directions to join the dance and have a laugh together. At that time there was a minimal police presence and no sign of trouble. All this changed with the arrival of a police helicopter and around a dozen riot vans shortly before 2 o’clock. The partygoers just got on with partying, but it soon became clear that the police, tooling up in riot gear, were preparing to come in. The word went out from the sound systems that the police were intending to seize sound equipment and stop the party. What happened next was totally inspiring. People surrounded the crews and their systems, some linking arms, to protect them, and to resist police attempts to close the party down. As the riot cops moved in a big defiant shout went up and people got solid. There was no order to disperse or discussion of the law. The cops were there simply to mete out a bit of traditional British Justice, and when asked to think it through for themselves and not to start unnecessary conflict, gave no response. There were blank expressions at the question “where’s the muggers, officer?”. Most wore masks to cover their faces and no numbers, to ensure no comeback. Scuffles broke out as people stood their ground in the face of attack, and by determined resistance and force of numbers, forced the cops to beat a retreat. One sound system turned off, but another kept going for 4 hours until around 6 o’clock in the morning, when the police returned complete with police dogs in force. Again they stormed in with no warning, to baton charge people whose only “crime” was wanting to dance together without being ripped of by profiteering clubs or corporate culture vultures, and organising for themselves. Crime against the state? Apparently yes. Police boots and batons closed the party down at sunrise in an operation that any fascist dictator would be proud of. There were six arrests and many injured. Predictably enough the Evening Pest spouted out the police version of events under the headline “Officers hurt in rave attack”. But people are not going to let media lies or police intimidation tactics and violence go unchallenged, and nor will it stop the free parties.

There will be legal action against Avon and Somerset Constabulary and benefit gigs for sound equipment trashed or confiscated by the police. Anyone arrested or assaulted on the night please contact us. You could have a good case against the police and we can you put you in touch with good solicitors. We also need witnesses for those arrested and assaulted. Any camera/video footage will be very important. It is worth jamming up the police complaints authority, and this will help those suing the police to have a better case. Let’s make them pay. Stay solid, and carry on partying.

Contacts : 07810601703 0117 9514129

————————————–

http://bristol.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=1444&group=webcast

Account by woman beaten up by cops at free party by unstoppable 7:44pm Mon Jul 22 ’02 disruptive@dangerous-minds.com Police violence against free party – an account from a woman on the receiving end of “public order policing”

Account from woman beaten up by police at the free party on 21st July.

Got to party around 1:30 –2am. Walked from Coronation Road to Hotwells under the motorway. On arrival seen police on top of motorway but as they were at a distance I did not pay much attention to them. As the day had been very chilled and relaxed at Ashton court I decided to totally enjoy myself and went straight to the sound system for a dance. Shortly after arriving at the party someone said the police were going to come and take the sound system. I stayed dancing and didn’t see any police so I presumed the party was allowed to go ahead. Very pleasant evening. Nice people. Nice music. No trouble. As it was getting bright word had it that the sound system was going to be taken. I didn’t pay much attention again as rumours had been going around all night. Then all of a sudden they were everywhere. I was standing behind the system. A police man came up and told me to get out of the way. I ignored him and stayed standing where I was. He pushed me and I fell to the ground. Then two of them began hitting me on the legs with their batons. This made me extremely angry. Even though my legs were aching I stood back up with the rest of the crowd. At this point I was quite loudly saying stuff like “ You can’t make me stop dancing”, and just dancing while the police began to retreat. They backed away down to one corner of the park which the motorway runs over. At this point I thought they would just leave it but they didn’t. Instead they charged at the crowd. I don’t remember much apart from being knocked to the ground and repeatedly hit on my calves, thighs, stomach and chest. As I was at the front of the crowd I did not see what happened to other people, but I do remember standing up and seeing a girl near me on the ground getting the same treatment. I was in shock at this stage so I wasn’t paying much attention to what the police were doing after this. My feelings about the incident are not good. I do not think I posed any threat and definitely did not deserve the beating I got from fully equipped riot policemen. I am eight and a half stone and it should not take three heavy weight policemen to control me. If I was doing wrong why didn’t they bundle me into a police van and place me under arrest. As far as I could see they were determined to give people a beating. They were not civil and they weren’t doing what we pay them to do, which is supposedly to protect us from danger.

http://bristol.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=1457&group=webcast

Response to Evening Pest misreporting of police attack on free party. by LynneColes 3:06pm Tue Jul 23 ’02

The Evening Pest was told what to say about it by the police. Here’s another version.

A response to the lies of the Evening Post in the article of Monday 22nd July ; “Officers hurt in rave attack” (page 3). This was sent to the evening Pest. Let’s see if they print it! We encourage others who were there at the free party to write and hassle the Evening Post about their journalistic standards (?) :

I was disgusted to read such a biased and distorted account of events, whilst still recovering myself from such a horrific display of police brutality. There was an attack and that was by the police, dressed in full riot gear, armed with batons and shields, on a group of unarmed young people as they were dancing. If the police wanted to end the ‘illegal rave’, they had the perfect opportunity to do so without violence or confrontation at the beginning of the evening. Police officers were present when the two vans containing the sound equipment arrived on site, before partygoers had arrived. So why was no action taken then? There were only two small sound systems and there is no residential housing in the area. How could holding a party under a motorway flyover cause a public nuisance? Police have let parties go ahead at this site on previous occasions. No attempt was made to end the party peaceably. Despite continuous police presence throughout the night there was no communication with the crowd, no warning of what offence was being committed or of what action would be taken. Around twelve riot vans parked on the flyover overhead. One individual approached the police and was told that the owners of the equipment would not be allowed to pack up and leave, that they were going to go in and confiscate the equipment. Police Inspector Mike Anderson is quoted as saying that “it was clear a rave at this location would put a risk of harm to those attending…’ I fail to see what possible risk there was in dancing under a motorway flyover on a piece of recreation ground with a bunch of friends.

How can a supposed “risk of harm” justify police baton charging a group of unarmed, unsuspecting youngsters, thereby turning a “risk” into a bloody certainty? When people are attacked by officers in riot gear, bashed around the head, chest, legs, and arms with batons, trampled to the ground….should we be surprised if some try to defend themselves and their mates? There are worse offences than wanting to carry on partying after the successful Ashton Court festival. While the police spent the evening beating up young kids, I wonder how many other violent crimes were being committed.

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1231

Mutant Dance party – another story

Right then Dancing by the rig when I notice about 15 riot police walking up. Carry on dancing and the next thing I know I’m getting pushed and hit on the back of my head. Turn round to be confronted by a copper with full body armour faces covered up to their eyes and riot shields. Everyone starts to hurl abuse at them and some push and shove ensues with me in the front line and my face either being pushed or hit buy their shields. Then see people including a friend getting grabbed by the police manage to drag some back into the crowed (Guess it might have been u Batties) but my friend gets set apon get a few good punches to the head and a headbut for good measure. I don’t actually see him get dragged off as the police start to force the issue and get the generator. Incidently the poor bloke spent 2 hours handcuffed in the van, followed by another 18 hours in the station, to be eventually charged with Violent Misconduct and Possesion, According to the police he was running at them whilst kicking and punching???

Later just as the suns coming up they set up this huge floodlight and you here the dogs barking and about 20? riot police with dogs come over to join the party. Basically from this moment on it all goes fucking crazy The police try to smash the sound system (Which they manage partially) whilst everyone tries to stop them, I’m a bit more sober now and as such I’m holding back The Pigs have not idea what they are doing and they eventually just turn it into a brawl, Loads of people getting kickings and a few getting arrested.

That’s my story

Greg

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1236

Mutant Dance – official Police version

http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news_room/voicenews/NewsArticles.asp?id=594

Police arrest five at illegal rave in Bristol 11:37 – 21/07/2002 Police received complaints from members of the public that in excess of 300 people had gathered on parkland under the A370 Brunel Way, near to the Cumberland system in Bristol, at about 11.45pm on Saturday July 20 2002.

They had a substantial amount of stereo equipment and two generators with them and were intent on holding an illegal rave.

It was clear that a rave at the location would pose a significant risk of harm to those attending, and disruption to the local community. The decision was therefore made to use powers under Section 63 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 to bring the event to a close.

District officers, supported by the dog section and support group officers moved onto the site at about 5.30am on Sunday July 21 2002, wearing protective equipment.

Despite encountering violent resistance, they succeeded in seizing the generators and sufficient amounts of equipment to bring the event to a conclusion.

A total of five arrests were made for offences including conspiracy to commit a public nuisance, violent disorder and public order offences.

Two officers received minor injuries.

For safety reasons the A370 was partly closed while the operation was carried out, ending at about 6am when the revellers dispersed.

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1227

Police Attack on Mutant Dance party – another account

from DirtyCircus http://www.dirtycircus.com/board/replylist.asp?TID=3496&recordno=0

OK Here goes, our big bus arrived at about 1:30am at the party. We parked in the Mega Bowl because there was already a van parked on the bridge. We walked over to the party and basically started having fun, as you do at parties. Myself and a couple of mates wanted out ti the grassy bit to the left of the party, where a large gathering of police were staring down at us from the bridge. Peolpe had already started saying that this party was going to stopped. A few more vans arrived and a long line of police had lioned themselves on the bridge looking down.A few police had wandered down to the party and it seemed that they were just chatting to a few people, obviously about the fact that it was “illegal blah blah” This went on for a about 45 minutes to an hour.Then out of nowhere a long line of police descended down to the grass patch adjacest to the party and stood in a line, kitted out in full riot gear, what the fuck!!!!!One of the sound systems quickly packed up and I have to say fair play because I have never seen a system packed up so quick, well done. Verbal abuse insued against the police and poeple were going head to head with the police asking them why they were dressed up like a fucking sas swat team, was Bin Laden here, or maybe Sadam??, highly unlikely Ithought just a few hundred people enjoying themselves. People then started sitting down right infront of the police and I joined in this protest, surly they wouldnt just trample all over us…..It was then that the whole line of police simultaniously got there batons out and started tapping their shields, people started dancing, because it sounded quite tribal!! That was then out of the blue the advanced kicking and whacking people everywhere, I was kicked and hit on the arm and I kicked out in defence and they tried to drag mke behind the line I was luckily dragged back by some peeps, thanks for that , but not before sustaining nasty cuts up my arms. people were running back form this onslaught, people were throwin bottles and stones and I dont blame them. We were then told to get around another system, I think the tossers before another wave of police on the right flank burst in smashing equipment, people, anything they could get their hands on, this also include dogs, what the fuck! It had started to get light by now and the police had erected a bloody great spot light on the bridge, derrr it was light!! The police then retreated to the back end by the railway tracks and stood in a line there for ages, they had nicked some speakers and left them by a van, myself and a couple of peeps managed to nick em back and take them back to where they belonged. My friend was taking pictures of the coppers right up close and one of them smacked him in the face and split his ear right open, this caused more bottles and rocks to be trown, it was general mayhem. Then they suddenly all just piled in there vans and fucked off leaving people battered bruised and generally stunned at the brutal force the police had taken. What I find astounding is that there have been 4-5 parties there in the last 4 months and the only police presence has been a lonely cop car coming down in the MORNING to say be gone by midday etc!! I do have other accounts that I saw but I hope this is a start. I am pretty damn sure fuck all will happen but the police I’m sure know they were OTT but will they admit it, surly!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1235

ILLEGAL RAVERS CRITICISE POLICE

Many thanks to all of you who spared the time to call or email me (Bristol Evening Post reporter Sarah Feeley) and tell me your experiences about the behaviour of the police at Cockney’s birthday party last weekend in Bristol. The story I wrote was over 1,000 words long. But the newspaper’s lawyers cut it dramatically. Their explanation was that – at the moment – legally we can’t print you saying “A policeman at the rave whacked me in the face with a truncheon and broke my nose”, even if it’s true. You could face prosecution and so could we. We have to say thngs like ‘people said they suffered injuries in the confrontation’. But if you make a formal complaint to the police which results in a court case, we can sit in the courtroom and freely report what happens. Until then, there are all sorts of laws which restrict what we can print. In fact, I spoke to loads of people who said they intended to make formal complaints to the police, so if we or any other newspaper printed their comments we may have prejudiced a future trial. In other court cases when this has happened, guilty people have had to be set free because the judge was forced to accept the fact that the jury may have read something in a newspaper months earlier about the case which may have swayed them about someone’s guilt or innocence. This may sound spineless and pedantic, but it’s the law. We didn’t make these rules, but the lawyers who work for our newspaper group (Daily Mail) force us to stick to them, with no exceptions. Believe me, it’s frustrating for us as well, being unable to print this stuff. I had Cockney himself and others in my office on Monday night for a meeting. Our picture editor said the video they showed us (the same one shown on the BBC) was too dark to reproduce in newsprint, regardless of how it was tweaked technologically, so that’s why we couldn’t use it. I’ve kept the long version of my original article, and am keeping in close contact with the Mutant Dance lot. They understand the position we’re in, and know why we printed what we printed. They’re getting a few people together to go to the police and make formal complaints, so I’ll follow the story up when I can, within the law. Just to let you know, I’m a 26-year-old music fan myself. There was no ‘shafting’ involved on my part. I explained to everyone I interviewed the sad fact that regardless what I write, the lawyers will have to cut the story to stop us all being sued. I’ve studied media law but I realise it’s not very well known among the general public what newspapers can and can’t print, so I hope this goes some way towards explaining some of your frustrations.

Remember, some newspapers and TV stations bend the rules and get taken to court or – much worse – spoil the chance for victims to see their attackers face justice in court. Thanks for your time.

Bristol Evening Post : ILLEGAL RAVERS CRITICISE POLICE

Revellers at an illegal rave in Bristol have accused the police of heavy-handed tatics.

Officers dressed in riot gear confronted 500 people at an illegal party on parkland under the A370 Brunel Way near the Cumberland Basin.

Some of the dance music fans say they suffered injuries during the confrontation.

But a spokesman for Avon and Somerset Const says it was an illegal event and officers were met with ‘Violent Resistance’ when they intervened.

Gemma Worth aged 21 from Winterbourne said

‘I was hit in the face and my nose was bleeding. I also suffered bruises on my elbows, arms and wrists.

I accept I was at an illegal rave, but my friends and I didnt go there to cause trouble, we went there because we like techno music and we like to dance’

Greg Hart 25 from Glos road said

‘Some people at the party were being verbally abusive, but I didnt see any physical violence from them’

The rave started at 11.30pmon Saturday night and ended when the police broke it up at 5.30am the next day.

A police spokesman said the officer arrived 4 housr before they broke up the rave.

5 People were arrested for offences including conspiricy to commit a public nuisance, violent disorder and public offences.

Avon and Somerset Const spokesman Paul Breakwell said

‘Police who attended were faced with a violent situation, police were injured and people were arrested. Despite encountering violent resistance, the officers succeeded in seizing the generators and sufficient amounts of equipment to bring the event to a conclusion.

‘We have received no formal complaints’

Mutant Dance Free Party (Saturday 20th Jul, 2002)

Complaints and Discipline Dept. Avon and Somerset Police P.O. box 37 Valley Rd. Portishead, BS20 8QJ

Dear Sirs,

I am writing to make a formal complaint against your force and officers in the way it handled the Cumberland Basin birthday party sound system shut down. Rather than arrange a time for the sound systems to shut down police allowed people into the party giving indications that they were not going to come in and shut the system down. If this is a breakdown in communication then it is a very bad one. One officer told me he was going off soon and the police were going to pack up. This clearly was not true and I was most shocked when the police came in and started beating people up.

I personally witnessed one person get dragged behind a police riot line and the crowd watched in horror as the person was beaten up. However I spotted that this was a situation created on purpose in order to get film footage or the crowds reaction to the beating taking place. I know this because at the exact same time many officers with lights turned them on, above on the flyover, pointing these lights downward. I am sure this was for filming purposes. They only illuminated the area near the crowd and not the beating taking place!

I saw women hit and there were minors in the crowd when the police charged at the crowd. This was sheer lunacy. In fact I am sure that all of this could have been avoided if the police had sent in a few officers to talk to the people organising and given them a deadline time to shut off the sound systems. One friend of mine who asked the police if they wanted the sound turned off was told “I doesn’t matter because we are coming to get you anyway”.

I saw many persons hit whilst they were on the floor, many person hit whilst they were turning away to leave the area and many hit when they were holding their arms up to protect themselves from the moving riot police.

A report in the press stated that the reason police went in was two fold, to firstly stop the illegal party and secondly because people being at the party were at risk. What risk. This is pure nonsense. Was the flyover unsafe in some way? No quite clearly the risk only started when police arrived and started beating people. Such a case of double talk I have never before seen, your force PR should be reprimanded for trying that line on the press!

So my first complaint is that heavy handed tactics were used which were excessive, against people on the retreat.

My second complaint is that children were at risk by the police action.

My third complaint is that negotiations did not take place and no deadlines were set for the sound to go off by.

My fourth complaint is that not all officers were aware of what was taking place and were not relaying accurate information to the people at the party, which increased persons risk of getting injured when the police went in.

My fifth complaint is that equipment belonging to the organisers was smashed rather than seized, and this would seem illegal in itself to me.

My sixth complaint is that far too many officers were involved in this riot style undertaking when no signs of violence were given from the crowd to justify the riot police presence!

I am happy to be interviewed on these matters and await to hear from you.

Yours sincerely

Matthew Williams

http://www.guilfin.net/reports/?id=rwINET1251

Spaces I’m watching …… !!

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_21_tash_lodge_archive.html#79308743

Think they may want to do the “Battle of the Beanfield” on Radio 4 called “In Living Memory”

::>>

Jolyon Jenkins [jolyon.jenkins@bbc.co.uk]

BBC Bristol

Fri 19/07/02 14:19

Hello

I’m making part of a series for Radio 4 called “In Living Memory” in which we revisit events of the not-too-distant past which have been half forgotten, and ask what the aftermath was. I’ve been wondering about doing something on the travellers’ convoys of 1985-7 and maybe the Battle of the Beanfield in particular. I came across your excellent website.

Could I have a chat with you about it? My phone number is 0117 974 2260

Jolyon Jenkins

Producer, network features

::>>

So sorry about this email stuff. It runs faster than I can..!

Have today just sent the tapes you asked for. It turn out, being for the earliest in my collection. That they’re both on the same one.

I forgot to mention our most famous piece we made to describe the situation and the trial I talked about in Winchester, about it all. Its called ‘OPERATION SOLSTICE’. That being the name of the police operation that lead to the Beanfield. Also full of my still work, shame your doing a radio show J

I find it interesting the when we made operation solstice that it was remarked that a lot of news footage of the field on the day, simply ‘went missing’ . Kim Sabido went into all this on the solstice tape. Now, there you are looking for ‘broadcast footage’ , this time, and that’s gone missing also!

Is it paranoia to wonder if someone is trying to re-paint history.?

Anyway, I know you’ve read some of this, but just making sure.

The story so far – history in context

http://tash.gn.apc.org/history.htm & http://tash.gn.apc.org/history.pdf

summary of beanfield bit http://tash.gn.apc.org/sh_bean.htm

My ‘cell notes’ http://tash.gn.apc.org/sh_bean-notes1.htm

diary I kept of my operations later year http://tash.gn.apc.org/shenge_diary1988_1.htm

Photo-gallery of the day in field

http://tash.gn.apc.org/gal_beanf1.htm

Assorted legal hassle, [for context] http://tash.gn.apc.org/legal_assortment.htm

::>>

Jolyon Jenkins [jolyon.jenkins@bbc.co.uk]

BBC Bristol

Mon 22/07/02 15:16

Thanks for your help on the phone this morning. If you could lend me copies

of Open Space and the Channel 4 prog I’d be grateful. My address is: BBC,

Room 1.16, 27/29 Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR and my phone is 0117 942

2260

If you can think of anyone else invovled in those events we could interview

that would be great

Jolyon Jenknis

::>>

TO: Jolyon Jenkins BBC, Room 1.16,

27/29 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2LR

Tuesday, 23 July 2002

Hello

By the time you get this, hope you’ll have received my email with the appropriate links for my site. Hope they offer enough background for your needs.

Thanks for your interest on the subject.

I was present at a small gathering in the car park, at Stonehenge, one morning, after a short session in the stones couple of years ago. When I over heard a conversation between some ‘young’ hippies!. and Inspector Hill. Oh well, he says “you don’t want to believe everything you hear about it, it was as bad as all that!”. I had to stop what I was doing, approached hi, and said “Bloody Heck!, is that what you’ve been telling them all these years”. He looked at me, and then sparkles of recognition dawned on him. “Good lord, Mr Lodge, hello!” and looked very sheepish. I said hello, and shook his hand, as offered. History being re-written in right in front of me. Remarkable after you see the videos, because he was a ‘line commander’ on the day, and knew full well what it was like.

Anyway, find TWO videotapes. One has “Trashed” as the first program, about 30 mins.. See the label, 3 July 1985, with the other ‘missing footage’, isn’t it interesting you cant find it either!!. “May the Force be with you” is three part show. We feature in all bits, in context, but out main description is about 1:30 into the tape.

Return by secure post, and hope you find them useful.

Regards

Alan Lodge