Alan Lodge's Blog

“Draconian” legislation to criminalise live music

Another info burst on the progress of the Licensing Bill, Labours very own CJA

Some if this info has been posted before. However, the progress continues …

There has been further debate in the Commons with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport being questioned. And, an “Early Day Motion” opposing the “draconian” provisions on music licenses has been tabled by John Whittingdale MP and signed by more than 100 MPs

Although we’re making a fuss about it all, the fact that there will be longer licensing hours etc, will get the headlines.

But music provisions and the Inner City Noise / raves / clubs, provisions, and DJ’s being included, and well as musicians at large, being liable under the act [rather than the license holder as is the case now], will largely go un-noticed, until its too late !

They say were getting upset about nothing. I say they DO mean it.

A summary from Statewatch

http://www.statewatch.org/news/2003/feb/06music.htm

In November 2002, the UK government produced a much heralded Licencing Bill, fulfilling manifesto pledges to allow longer drinking hours in pubs by repealing closing-time restrictions imposed during the Second World War. Also in the Bill, though unreported in the mainstream media, are far-reaching changes to the music licencing regulations.

At present, a music license is only required if three or more musicians are performing – in the 90 per cent of pubs in the England and Wales that do not have a license one or two musicians can be perform legally. This so-called “two-in-a-bar” rule has long been criticised by performers and venues alike; the new proposals are reviled as “none-in-a-bar”. Nightclubs are also covered and the new laws could apply to DJs who were also previously exempt.

The Bill introduces a new criminal offence, punishable by 6 months in prison or a £20,000 fine, for playing music at unliscensed premises. If the penalties are severe, the provisions on scope and liability are astonishing. Under Clause 188, any location where live music is played will be covered: e.g. churches, schools and colleges, community centres and potentially even parties and weddings in private homes and gardens. Clause 134 makes the musicians themselves liable for prosecution if they play in unlicensed premises.

Music licenses are not easy things to obtain and premises must first be approved by Police, Fire Service, Environmental Health Department and local residents. For their part, the police and local authorities tend to take licensing laws very literally and have, in many areas, enforced existing laws rigorously.

The proposals have been compared to the Conservative government’s notorious 1994 Criminal Justice Act which criminalised unlicensed “repetitive beats”. The attitude of the Labour government, despite its relentless promotion of the “Cool Britannia” tag and music industry links, appears equally intolerant with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport arguing that music and dance are associated with noise and drugs culture. Campaigners counter that revised health and safety, fire, and noise regulations mean live music does not need to be licensed at all – like in Scotland and most other countries.

The Bill has almost finished its passage through the Lords with few meaningful amendments and will shortly be sent back to the Commons. An “Early Day Motion” (EDM 331, 10.12.02) opposing the “draconian” provisions on music licenses has been tabled by John Whittingdale MP and signed by more than 100 MPs.

Licensing Reform: Parliamentary Questions 4 Feb 2003

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/cm030204/text/30204w21.htm

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how the Government intend to differentiate in the Licensing Bill between live music used as part of a religious service and live music used to entertain in places of worship; [88250]

……. and so on!

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the Licensing Bill [HL], as introduced in the House of Lords on 14th November 2002.

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200203/ldbills/001/2003001.htm

Copy of the bill here [all 184 pages of it!]

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200203/ldbills/001/2003001.pdf

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Early Day Motion, Tabled by John Whittingdale MP

http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref%3D331

EDM 331 LICENSING OF LIVE MUSIC 10.12.02

Whittingdale/John

That this House expresses concern that the Licensing Bill proposals to make the performance of live music licensable in pubs and clubs, in places where alcohol is served, in churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship, in schools and colleges, in community centres and village and parish halls, and in private homes and gardens where private parties and weddings may be held will have an enormously detrimental effect on musicians and live music performances; fears that the raising of money for charities by musicians will be seriously compromised; considers it will seriously impinge on the folk community including folk music and traditional folk activities such as morris dancing, wassailing, &c; believes that the penalties for breaking the law of a six month jail sentence of a £20,000 fine are far too draconian; considers it grossly unfair and inconsistent that live music will not be licensable in Scotland but will be in England and Wales; regrets that the Government has decided to replace the anomalous two in a bar rule with a none in a bar rule which will catch all live music performances; believes that the requirement for the provision of entertainment facilities to become licensable which will ensnare music shops, music and dance studios and teachers, represents a totally unacceptable regulatory intrusion into mainstream activities; and calls on the Government to amend the relevant parts of bill in order to remove the iniquities faced by musicians and the music industry as a whole.

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Licensing Bill Extent: England and Wales – REGULATORY IMPACT ASSESSMENT. Prepared by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

http://www.culture.gov.uk/new_responsibilities/ria_licensing.pdf

I PURPOSE AND INTENDED EFFECT

1. The Licensing Bill will reform and modernise the existing arrangements for licensing the sale of alcohol, the provision of public entertainment, including music, dancing and indoor sports, theatres, cinemas and the provision of late night refreshment between 11.00pm and 5.00am in England and Wales. The existing arrangements involve two separate licensing authorities: magistrates and local authorities. The Bill will integrate these diverse arrangements under the control of a single licensing authority – the local authority – and establish clear objectives for the regime. In general terms, the reforms should have a significant deregulatory impact and produce savings for the hospitality and leisure industry of £1.97 billion over the first ten years of operation and increased savings thereafter, while introducing greater democratic accountability for people directly affected by the decisions of the licensing authorities concerning sales of alcohol.

And onwards ….

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Hobnobbin Magazine http://www.hobgoblin.com/hobnob/index.html

They’re keeping an active watch on all this. Check back with them from time to time

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Earlier in Tash’s blog:

Two in a bar to none in a bar – the Licensing Bill

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2003_01_05_tash_lodge_archive.html#87056601

Licensing Bill 2003 – a threat to live music

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2003_01_05_tash_lodge_archive.html#87123542

Pub music scene ‘under threat’ : licensing bill 2003

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2003_01_26_tash_lodge_archive.html#88219744

Undercurrents meets Saddam

A co-producer of Undercurrents alternative news, Roddy Mansfield helped bag the worlds most exclusive interview. Currently on assigment in Baghdad, Roddy is working for the new Arab TV (ATV) satelite channel.

Writing from the potential war zone Roddys ask the public to-“Check a copy of the Guardian and read story in the media section about how we scooped the world with the interview with Saddam.”

ATV who?

With the US and Britain hurtling towards war with Iraq, last week’s TV interview between Tony Benn and Saddam Hussein was a huge coup. So who pulled it off? Not CNN, not the BBC, not even al-Jazeera, but a tiny satellite news channel that had been running for a month. By Roddy Mansfield. Monday February 10, 2003. The Guardian

http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,7558,892203,00.html

Stonehenge Touring Exhibition: ‘Stonehenge Belongs to You and me’

This is how we did it, last century 🙂 If you want to argue a case, mount an exhibition!!

After the ‘Battle of the Beanfield’ this was exactly what we tried

In colabouration with Professor Barbara Bender, professor emeritus, University College London, the author of Stonehenge: Making Space and Landscape: Politics and Perspectives

Contributed and created a touring exhibition titled: ‘Stonehenge Belongs to You and me’

It is about contestations and appropriations and about who gets to be heard. It’s got all different voices – Free Festivalers, Druids, Locals, ‘landowners, archaeologists.

English Heritage were going to put in their bit, but they backed off a week before the opening…

The exhibition has stuff on media distortion, on legal and police action, and on government legislation.

The exhibition had support from Liberty, Charter 88, and Save the Children. We went to a number of locations around the UK. We started in London, and then continued on to the Exeter Museum, Bristol Museum and Salisbury Museum, causing a fair amount of public debate about access to the monument and around the issues raised. I am glad, it was the point of the excercise.

She added: “I hope very much that anyone who come and see the show is affected – there are lots of good photos by Tash and John Warburton.” – Barbara Bender Dept of Anthropology, University College, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT

‘What Past? Whose Past – Who Owns Stonehenge?

University of Reading: School of Continuing Education: Reading Town Hall Lectures 2003: 17 March 2003

This is one of the many lectures, organised by the University of Reading: School of Continuing Education, spring Season

Have contributed the use of a photograph of ‘stonehenge and barbed wire’ for use in the publisitity for this event. Flyers posters etc.

I am so glad that there continues to be such debate about these subjects. Our heritage is under continued threat, from those authorities that feel we have few rights over antiquaties and ‘ OUR ‘ history.

The blurb says: “Professor Barbara Bender of University College London and author of ‘Stonehenge: Making Space’ and ‘Landscape: Politics and Perspectives’ will discuss how the study of key sites, including Stonehenge, can lead to conflict or, sometimes, reconciliation in ‘What Past? Whose Past?”

For more details about this event, I’ve included at:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2003_01_26_tash_lodge_archive.html#88213458

Stonehenge: http://tash.gn.apc.org/stones1.htm

Battle of the Beanfield: http://tash.gn.apc.org/sh_bean.htm

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

‘Operations Notes’ 1988 http://tash.gn.apc.org/shenge_diary1988_1.htm

Court Injuction Papers: http://tash.gn.apc.org/stonehenge_papers.htm

Stonehenge Photo Gallery: http://tash.gn.apc.org/gal_ston1.htm

Stonehenge – Solstice Ritual [htm] http://tash.gn.apc.org/solst_0.htm

Stonehenge – Solstice Ritual [pdf] http://tash.gn.apc.org/solstice.pdf

Travellers: http://tash.gn.apc.org/trav1.htm

A History – The Story so far: http://tash.gn.apc.org/history.htm

Broadband and access in more ‘remote’ communities

MediaGuardian.co.uk: Guardian Special Reports http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadband

Revolution? It’s all go on the western front

Frustrated at the slow roll-out of broadband access, people all over the UK are clubbing together to do it for themselves in the hope of building a free network for all. David Cohen reports – Saturday February 8, 2003 – The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian_jobs_and_money/story/0,3605,891166,00.html

&

Bringing the net to Eden

Broadband for rural areas? BT says there is not enough demand. Now villagers living deep in the dales aim to prove them wrong, writes Ben Hammersley. Thursday October 3, 2002 – The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,803023,00.html

The Travellers’ situation

“I like living in a caravan,

am I such a terrible thing.

I dare to be different.

Now that is a terrible thing”.

If only this was true, all of the help, advice, and support groups would not be required. However, in the real world, now, sadly it is ……

if you like it, can download a bigger printable version, [right click and save] from these links.

http://tash.dns2go.com/FTP/jpg/setaside_travellers_spoof.jpg

http://tash.dns2go.com/FTP/pdf/setaside_travellers_spoof.pdf

Traveller ‘HELP’ contacts: http://tash.gn.apc.org/trav_help.htm

Friends, Families and Travellers Support Group: http://tash.gn.apc.org/trav_fft.htm

New Travellers less harassed in Europe than UK: http://tash.gn.apc.org/trav_x-uk.htm

The Travellers’ situation: http://tash.gn.apc.org/trav1.htm

Nottingham University – Cold Winters Day

Thought I would make a short photo-essay, of a pleasant afternoon.

SSSSOOOO cold! but such a sunny day. The lake at the front of the university was frozen, ice all over, a couple of inches thick.

Canada Geese coming into land on the far side of the lake. They seemed a bit surprised on landing, that they just kept going, well balanced ice skaters, with no brakes.

Diggers and Dreamers

Diggers and Dreamers website. If you’re interested in joining or setting up some kind of intentional community then this is the place for you. On this page you’ll find news and elsewhere many other useful resources including a fully searchable version of our database of communities in Britain.

http://www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk

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and another couple of links on ‘alternatives’, just in:

Roger – Vegan Organic Life: http://www.telinco.co.uk/roger

Ru’s Pages: http://www.roo.squaremail.co.uk

Research in Nottingham Libary Regarding the police use of weapons

I went to Nottingham City Library this morning, to look up previous instance of the previous loss of ammo and weapons by police in the county. I know of instances in 2001 with the loss of another magazine and 1995 when they lost five hand guns out the back of a van. The doors were open, while they drove along, ‘cos it was hot, apparently!!

Checked back though their cuttings archives and nothing was there. I asked an assistant about it, and , apparently they only keep ‘important cuttings.’

I composed myself, and asked to speak to a senior archivist. She said; we mainly keep cutting of ‘policy changes’ rather than ‘incidents’. And “Yep, I agree, it does seem we’ve been ‘kind’ to the police!”. She also remembered the story from the time, [thus if she remembered 8 years later, chances are in might have been important!]

As a senior troublemaker, I told her there and then, that I would be grateful if that policy could be changed immediately, to take into account, what are self-evidently serious matters, that should result in ‘important cuttings’ and would be taking it up with the Nottinghamshire Senior Librarian next week. [watch this space].

Oh god!! I mean, bloody heck, my whole life is like this. So there’s another couple of hours next week, to account for all this .. .. ..

So, in my previous blog entry: “Gun Crime and Police response – Collected Links”

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2003_02_02_tash_lodge_archive.html#88756662

where all what I’ve found out so far and links discovered, I’ve bundled together there. This is all a bit outside my usual subjects.

But hey, It needed doing.

Hope you all find it useful. No doubt the police will find my interest in all this, ‘interesting!’

Gun Crime and Police response – Collected Links

Last Saturday, there was a protest march and meeting in Nottingham. In common with many other cites, there has been a surge increase shootings and gun crime in general. This last week, I’ve been looking further into the situation. Both the reports of the shootings, mostly ‘Black Youth’ and the police response to it.

So much has been written, and I’ll add my ‘nine-pence worth’ in due course. But I have collected these links together as a set, to give an idea of the scale of the developing situation. Read, and be depressed!

American readers, might of course, wonder what all the fuss is about. Shooting folks is normal, ain’t it?

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Gun law : Britain’s police are famed for walking the streets armed with nothing more lethal than a truncheon. But now, for the first time, bobbies on the beat in two violent districts of Nottingham are carrying guns. John Kampfner asks, is this the shape of things to come?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,406343,00.html

US-style gun law comes to Britain – Nottingham police on armed foot patrol after rise in shootings

http://www.guardian.co.uk/gun/Story/0,2763,386622,00.html

Operation ‘Real Estate’ [Nottingham]

http://www.eskimo.com/~efialtis/nottingham.htm

Operation ‘Real Estate’ Nottingham response to gun crime: Police Review 17th November 2000

copwatcher

http://www.copwatcher.freeserve.co.uk/armedpolice/index2.htm

Metropolitan Police – Force Firearms Unit (SO19)

http://www.met.police.uk/so19

Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)

http://www.acpo.police.uk

They have produced guidelines and have released the first six chapters of the Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms. available here as PDF

Chapter 1 Introduction

http://www.acpo.police.uk/policies/Chapter1.pdf

Chapter 2 Use of Force

http://www.acpo.police.uk/policies/Chapter2.pdf

Chapter 3 Issue and Carriage of Firearms

http://www.acpo.police.uk/policies/Chapter3.pdf

Chapter 4 Command

http://www.acpo.police.uk/policies/Chapter4.pdf

Chapter 5 Use of Firearms

http://www.acpo.police.uk/policies/Chapter5.pdf

Chapter 6 Investigations and Remedies

http://www.acpo.police.uk/policies/Chapter6.pdf

Facing Violence: The Response of Provincial Police Forces

A Report of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Inspection 1995

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic/fvrppf.pdf

INQUEST’s statistics on fatal shootings can be found at: http://www.inquest.org.uk/policeshootings.html

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Heckler & Koch MP5-Series submachine gun

http://www.waffenhq.de/infanterie/mp5.html

Walther P990 Pistol

http://www.impactguns.com/store/walther.html

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“Cops gun for trouble: Police lose pistols from van” – Nottingham Evening Post – 3 August 1995

“Missing police bullets found” – Nottingham Evening Post – 17 January 2001

“How I found police bullets” – Nottingham Evening Post – 19 January 2001

“Probe after police lose 15 bullets” – Nottingham Evening Post – 3 February 2003

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There are two previous blog entries about all this.

Tash Blog – Mums Against Guns protest and meeting

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2003_01_26_tash_lodge_archive.html#88374768

Tash Blog – Gunshot Surveillance / Location Systems

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2003_01_26_tash_lodge_archive.html#88387459

It was only last week that there was a demonstration by ‘Mums Against Guns’ http://www.mothersagainstguns.net

There has been a rise in the number of shootings lately, both in Nottingham, and British cities at large. It is terrible, and, something must be done! This was the objective of the march and the public meeting.

However, from some of these notes; you might see that the police themselves are more than fallible, in their dealing with the situation. Further, the amount of firepower currently deployed is scaring the blue-blazes out of many of us. Hence I offer you these links, to give you an idea of the scale of difficulties that they, and we are under.

All this is not at all, perculiar to Nottingham. Just as a sample, here are a couple of links to some similar stories on Bristol Indymedia UK http://www.bristol.indymedia.org

top cop speechless as ‘lost’ police handed over [6feb03]

http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3271

Guns in Bristol: [17jan03]

http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=2995&group=webcast

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Drug dealer gets £3,000 from police

// Thought I would include this piece, since it shows the difficulty, the authorities can get themselves in, regarding the surveillance of the citizen Vs the citizens right of privacy. Even in ‘crime’ this is not easily settled //

A convicted drugs dealer has been awarded £3,000 compensation for invasion of privacy.

Sean Taylor-Sabori, 40, from Bristol, was jailed for 10 years in 1997 after police found ecstasy worth more than £260,000 in an armed raid on a vehicle driving on the M4.

The European Court of Human Rights awarded the costs and expenses after the police cloned Taylor-Sabori’s radio pager and intercepted his messages. The court ruled that the actions violated Articles 8 and 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin joined a chorus of protests, telling a national newspaper that the ruling was ‘pure Alice in Wonderland’.

A National Crime Squad press officer told BBC News Online: “What we are saying is that this man’s conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 1998, and the criminal cases review commission. This is important.

“Ten years ago, the legislation was not as stringent as it is today. We can still do what we did then, but have to apply to the Home Office first.” Taylor-Sabori was released from prison last year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2728009.stm

National Crime Squad http://www.nationalcrimesquad.police.uk

Eisenhower on peace

“I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments.

Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Condoms outside my door.

I live in an inner city area of Nottingham.

Prostitute sell their wares in the streets, around and about. So, nothing new there then. However, got back from town this afternoon, went to open my door, looked down and ……

Oh my god! Look, a used condom!!

firstly, someone is littering in my front porch.

But really, its worthy of note, since the temperature outside at the time was -5 degrees C. I mean, can you imagine? eeeech! did this bloke really get his £20 quids worth?

anyway, thought you all might want to know. Me, I’m shocked 🙂

Mobile masts- part of the way ‘location data’ is administered.

Since , having just been involved with trying to get ‘location data’ from O2, particular to my mobile phone, and the article have just refered to, in todays Guardian, I thought I would show you a few masts, with their associated equipment.

Not only are these neccessary for the functioning of the mobile phone network, but, i think, are now part of the ‘network of surveillance’. It is, of course, by the signal strength, and triangulation of position, that your whereabout is continually known.

A previous blog entry: My story [so far] of trying to get the ‘Location Data’ associated with the use of my mobile phone: It’s hard work …….

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_14_tash_lodge_archive.html#79031925

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Anyway, it was a nice day, very bright and sunny [but, fucking cold] and I came over all ‘ Graphical’ …….!

For any photographers out there, check out the work of Russian Photographer, Alexander Rodchenko from the 1920’s & 30’s.

‘Constuctivism’ and a Dynamic Style, Structures, Industry, Power etc]. …. and you’ll see ‘were I’m coming from!

..

Alexander Rodchenko: Biography – Artist Russia

Born 23 Nov 1891 :: Died 3 Dec 1956

http://www.artsworld.com/art-architecture/biographies/p-r/alexander-rodchenko.html

Alexander Rodchenko: Modern Photography, Photomontage, and Film

http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibits/rodchenko

&

Alexander Rodchenko: The Constructivist Aesthetic

http://www.schicklerart.com/html_exhibitions/aleksandr_rodchenko/rodchenko_main.html

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Anyway, from ART, back to the SCIENCE!

If you want to know more, about these masts and equipment in your area, check out the government Radiocommunications Agency, that have responsibility.

‘Sitefinder’ Mobile Phone Base Station Database http://www.sitefinder.radio.gov.uk

Radiocommunications Agency

Wyndham House

189 Marsh Wall

London. E14 9SX

020 7211 0211

sitefinder@ra.gsi.gov.uk

http://www.radio.gov.uk

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You can ring, but you can’t hide Thursday November 29, 2001. The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,608434,00.html

More than half the population of this country carries a tracking device. Its records can be accessed by police officers, intelligence authorities, customs officials and Inland Revenue inspectors. Crimes, unpaid taxes or government dues can be investigated using this information. The data is held for several months: in some cases, for several years.

We carry these devices voluntarily. They are called mobile phones.

Mobile Phone: Crime, Theft and ‘Location Data’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,889292,00.html

Nicked and useless

Police are clamping down on attempts to reprogramme mobiles, but with most stolen phones heading overseas, a global approach is necessary, writes S A Mathieson Thursday February 6, 2003. The Guardian

At midday on Wednesday last week, more than 30 police officers raided the Matrix mobile phone shop on Alum Rock Road in Birmingham. About 10 officers entered the shop, followed by two experts from mobile network Orange.

The officers found one mobile plugged into a computer running software capable of reprogramming the handset. Under the Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Act, passed in October, altering a phone’s serial number can lead to five years in prison and an unlimited fine. The West Midlands force believes this is the first significant action under the new law.

By checking mobiles’ 15-digit serial numbers – also known as international mobile equipment identifiers (IMEI) – over the phone with staff at T-Mobile, police found three handsets reported stolen. They seized mobiles, laptop computers, software and other electrical equipment for forensic IT examination.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of theft, handling stolen property and reprogramming mobile telephones. They were later released on bail, to reappear before police in a few weeks. Officers had been visiting mobile retailers across the West Midlands, warning them of the law banning IMEI changes.

“There aren’t that many places that reprogramme them (mobiles), and they have to be widely known to make money,” says Inspector Steve Rees. That makes them difficult to hide. The new law was passed to support the central equipment identity register, which opened on November 1 and holds all the IMEIs of stolen and lost phones in the UK.

It was used by the West Midlands officers to check which mobiles were reported stolen. Previously, such a phone could be barred by only three operators, and only on that network. By changing the removable subscriber identity module (Sim) chip, the handset could easily be used on one of the others. But now, a phone reported stolen or lost to one network will not work within 24 hours on any.

The aim is to make stealing mobile phones, which the Home Office says are involved in 28% of robberies, a nearly pointless crime. Handset manufacturers agreed in 2001 to introduce phones with hard-wired IMEIs, but it will take time before everyone has one. Existing phones hold the IMEI on a rewritable Eprom chip, hence the new law. But there’s a problem.

“We don’t believe that people know that network providers are able to stun a mobile phone and make it useless,” says Detective Chief Inspector David Walker of the West Midlands police.

He adds that street crime in the force’s area fell 23% between April and January, but that it can fall further – if the message gets across. So next month, the industry is funding a £2 million advertising campaign called Immobilise. Possible slogans include “If it’s nicked, it’s knackered.”

“We’ve got the most powerful anti-crime mechanism you can imagine,” says Joe Garner, marketing director for mobile phone retailer The Link, who is helping set up the campaign.

“The under-30s are our target audience,” says Jack Wraith, executive secretary for the mobile industry crime action forum (Micaf). Teenagers are disproportionately the victims of mobile phone theft, he explains, and under-30s are more likely to forget their phone in a pub, club or restaurant. Publicity should help. The Metropolitan police publicised the database in London late last year, and “there has been some impact” on the number of thefts, says Detective Superintendent Steve Gwilliam. But why has it taken so long for a central blacklist to appear? Two of the networks, Orange and T-Mobile (as well as Virgin Mobile, which uses T-Mobile’s infrastructure), have been blocking phones through IMEI numbers since they opened in 1994.

The other two, Vodafone and O2 (formerly BT Cellnet), had no blocking system – to the annoyance of other networks. “Until BT Cellnet and Vodafone see fit to upgrade their systems, the solution to the increasing problem of mobile phone theft will remain largely unsolved,” said Virgin’s Richard Branson in January last year. “Vodafone got a kick up the pants,” says David Nunn, editor of Mobile magazine, which is involved in the Immobilise campaign.

However, “its attitude over the past nine to 12 months has been excellent. It was the first to come aboard the Immobilise initiative.”

“It was partly to do with subtle differences in the technology,” says John Cross, head of corporate security for O2 UK. “These gave Orange and One2One [now T-Mobile] additional functionality that we didn’t have.”

Cross adds that the IMEI tracking was for business reasons. Vodafone and BT Cellnet had many handsets connected by third-party airtime resellers, whereas Orange and One2One sold directly, using the IMEI to ensure only their phones were used on their networks.

“It was as much about controlling the handsets connected to their network, than anything to do with theft,” says Cross. The networks now stress they are working together. The blacklist only works within the UK. Jack Wraith, from Micaf, says that industry executives met representatives of European countries late last year at the Home Office, and discussed expanding the database to other countries.

O2’s John Cross says the Dublin-based GSM Association, an international club for network operators, was chosen to run the blacklist so other countries’ networks could join easily. He adds that O2 is looking at bringing in its other networks in Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Netherlands and Germany. But this will take time. UK-based Vodafone, the world’s biggest mobile operator, with networks in 28 countries, says it has no schedule for getting its foreign networks to use the Dublin database, although its Australian subsidiary started IMEI blocking on December 31.

“We’re looking at putting together a global register, and we’re certainly looking at implementing this in other countries,” says spokeswoman Libby Pritchard. “However, we have more of a problem here than in other countries.”

But this could undermine the UK blacklist. O2 tried to track several hundred lost phones through their IMEI, and found that 80% were not on any UK network, although some may have been thrown away. A problem is that the biggest markets for stolen phones are thought to be in eastern Europe and China.

“The places where a stolen phone is most likely to end up are the most unlikely to get involved in this scheme,” says Joe Garner from The Link. However, the industry and police hope that the UK-only scheme will at least hit opportunistic and small-scale robbers, who commit most street crime.

When a phone is reported stolen, it is not always switched off by the network: instead, it can be greylisted. It continues to work normally – although calls are not charged to the customer’s account – but the network tracks the location of the user.

“If the police are particularly interested in gathering intelligence, then we do something that ensures the phone isn’t immediately barred. We don’t do anything that impacts on the loser [of the phone],” says John Cross, at O2.

Location data is a contentious part of the infor mation generated by a mobile. The base stations used to make calls are held by networks for at least six months, but are not available in an intelligible form to customers, as I found when requesting such data from Orange under data protection law (see “You can ring, but you can’t hide” – Guardian 29 Nov 2001).

The same happened when Nottingham photographer Alan Lodge asked O2 for his location information. However, police, spies and other state investigators can obtain this data when investigating crime. Mobile phone base stations have a range of up to 22 miles, but this can fall to a few hundred feet in cities where stations are close together.

A process called triangulation can provide much greater accuracy. Imagine drawing circles representing distances, obtained through measuring the time delays in radio signals, around the location of at least three base stations. If the distances are accurate – and they can be thrown out by nearby tall objects – the circles should intersect. “The picture I’ve had is that triangulation is something companies can turn on when they need it,” says Richard Cox, a forensic telecoms engineer and court expert witness.

“I believe it’s a feature the government expects the companies to be able to activate on a per case basis.”

Cox says that he has been involved in cases where triangulation has been used. Rather than just being recorded when a call is made or received, this data can be gathered constantly. He is surprised that tracking is not used more often.

“If someone steals a phone and it’s blacklisted, he will bin it and steal another, possibly injuring someone. If it’s greylisted, he will think it works, but then there’s a knock on the door.”

“The technique is there, but I don’t believe it’s considered resource-effective,” replies Micaf’s Jack Wraith of tracking through triangulation. He adds that it can be used for more serious crimes, but has risks. “It sounds like a good way of doing it, but we would only have to kick the wrong door down_ The technology can’t say it’s in flat 45a on the third floor.”

Marked

· If your phone is lost or stolen, contact your network immediately. It will be barred within the UK.

· Mark your handset with ultraviolet ink: the police can trace you through just your house number and postcode.

· The IMEI serial number can help trace a phone. You can find it by typing *#06# into most handsets, or by looking behind the battery.

· If offered a working second-hand phone, bear in mind that blocking takes up to 24 hours, but changing the Sim, or an unblocking code, will not help.

· Don’t use your phone in crowded areas, or where you feel unsafe.

Comments to online.feedback@guardian.co.uk

* * * * * *

This is the article that set me off on some of this ……

You can ring, but you can’t hide Thursday November 29, 2001. The Guardian

Our mobile phones track every move we make, but we’re entitled to see their logs. S A Mathieson went on a lengthy search for his

Tracked: the call record. More than half the population of this country carries a tracking device. Its records can be accessed by police officers, intelligence authorities, customs officials and Inland Revenue inspectors. Crimes, unpaid taxes or government dues can be investigated using this information. The data is held for several months: in some cases, for several years.

We carry these devices voluntarily. They are called mobile phones.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,608434,00.html

SA Mathieson`s webpage: http://www.samathieson.com

His Article Portfolio: http://www.samathieson.fsnet.co.uk/SAMathieson/portfolio.htm

previous blog entries …. the story of trying to get this data, so far

‘Location Data’ associated with the use of a mobile phone

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_14_tash_lodge_archive.html#79031925

The SchNEWS Annual 2003 Further call for entries

schnews@brighton.co.uk

CALL OUT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS – SchNEWS ANNUAL 2003

The SchNEWS Annual 2003 is in production and we are calling out for material…

We are after contributions of different kinds…

? photos and short(ish) reports of actions, events, etc for positive change, against the usual nasties in the global north/south social/environmental justice – and efforts to stop the war of terrorism.

? cartoons, subverts, billboards etc

? people to help sub-edit, do layout and graphics etc

The book has got two themes running through it:

? One is to work heavilly around the graphical and satirical theme of children’s annuals – from Blue Peter to Beano – dressing up crunchy news in funny ways to reach new audiences (perhaps even reaching readers out of the activist ghetto). Added to this will be satire about the events of the year including of course the war. So send us in yer sustainable uses for sticky backed plastic…

? The other is this idea of gathering articles about people who are doing or living projects which are really offering solutions to a sustainable future on a mass scale (so in other words not just one-off right-on middle class projects which involve rambling farmhouses or solar powered toothbrushes!) The theme is ‘…forget yer anarchist and lefty utopias…’ – what are we really going to do about… housing, food production and distribution, transport, education, direct democracy and direct justice? We’ll be looking for stories of grassroots projects out there already addressing these problems.

We are calling-out for articles along both lines, but, with greater time constraints than last year – it needs to be ready for June – there is a possibility that this book will end up two separate projects – if we run out of time to do ‘sustainable futures’ justice we may just concentrate on getting the annual pisstake out for the summer, and finish the other thing later in the year. Still send yer article ideas in soon either way.

If you have feedback on either project please get back to us – the ‘sustainable futures’ idea will happen if there is enough enthusiasm for it.

The deadline for material will be the 15th March 2003 (not long) – but contact us as soon as possible with your ideas and suggestions.

Written Articles Format – on paper or any text or word file format. Please keep the articles as brief as possible, and try to include pics with articles of events. If you want to write a longer article on a specific topic get in touch, but we won’t have many articles over 1800 words.

Pics – either send in paper, or email tifs or jpgs preferrably 200dpi or better, or pdf’s, or ai’s – anything really.

Send to: SchNEWS, 55 Canning St, Brighton, BN2 0EF, England

Phone: +44 (0)1273 685 913

Email: schnews@brighton.co.uk

http://www.schnews.org.uk

Cheers

John & book crew

Speed cameras are being destroyed – there is a ‘movement’.

Gosh! citizen all fed up with surveillance, and taking direct action!

Well, it appears your average motorist has fantasies about damaging and rendering inoperable, speed cameras. Because its costing them millions £ because they speed. But I think if you ask ’em about the kind of surveillance cameras, I’m bothered about, they mostly think them a good idea!

So, I suppose the bottom line is, so long as they catch someone else .. .. .. .. /

* * * * * *

Speed camera destroyed by bomb

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2726571.stm

A speed camera has been destroyed by a bomb planted on the main box. The blast sent shards of metal flying more than 50 feet.

Detectives said that if anyone had been driving past at the time, they could have been killed. Bomb disposal experts are investigating how the sturdy 10-foot-tall piece of equipment on the A605 at Thrapston, Northamptonshire, was wrecked.

The incident is the latest in a series of deliberate attacks on speed cameras across the country, which has been blamed on frustrated motorists. Dozens of cameras have been burned, toppled and driven into, but the A605 camera was believed to be the first that had been bombed. Detective Constable Alison Farr, of Kettering CID, said on Tuesday night: “We are treating this crime extremely seriously, it was an unbelievably irresponsible act. “The force of the explosion forced metal right across the road and had someone been driving past at this time, the occupants would have been seriously injured or killed and we could have been looking at a murder inquiry.” A team from the Explosive Ordnance disposal unit has examined the site and forensic experts have also studied the debris.

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said the incident happened between 0001 GMT and 2225 GMT on Saturday. She appealed for anyone who saw the explosion or anyone acting suspiciously in the area to contact the police.

Seems this sort of thing has happened before: though not ‘blown up’ with a bomb!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2561995.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2541941.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2422527.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2354109.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2713083.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2232193.stm

* * * * * *

and ……..

Speed camera rebels threaten sabotage

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2232193.stm

Motorists frustrated at being caught out by speed cameras are threatening to take the law into their own hands, a civil liberties activist has claimed.

Drivers are upset at “unfair” camera use by police and are threatening to destroy them, according to UKSpeedTraps.com founder John Lockett.

His website reveals locations for about 317 cameras around the UK to help motorists avoid being photographed speeding, and is maintained by a steady stream of tip-offs from drivers. And he says he is now concerned about growing unease about the motivations for speed cameras after the introduction of a policy to give speeding fines back to police forces. And, he claims, many of Lockett’s regional fans are apparently promising militancy. “So far, with the reactions I’ve had around Cwm, Gwent and surrounding areas; basically, they want to destroy them,” he said

“[Many cameras] are not there to improve safety. They are there to make money for the police. “You shouldn’t be caught for speeding if you have got to overtake a bus, let through an ambulance or swerve to avoid a kid. I think it’s wrong. “To place a trap behind a tree, on a very fast corner or down a hill is unfair.”

Susan Beck from the All Safety Camera Partnership – which advises on the placement of the cameras – said the whereabouts of cameras are well publicised. “Cameras are there to do their job, and they do reduce death and injuries on the road,” she said. “These cameras are designed to slow drivers down at recognised casualty hotspots.”

The Department for Transport last year decided to dramatically increase speed camera installations after research showed wider surveillance reduced the number of deaths and serious injuries in pilot areas by 47%. Ms Beck insisted that the cameras help catch motorists who were not concentrating properly and defended the reinvestment of speeding fine cash into police safety schemes.

The government recently floated plans to make speed cameras more visible to motorists – but transport committee MPs warned people would die as a result of speeding outside of camera zones.

Site has been set up by some aggravated motorists, about all this ….

UK Speed Cameras: http://www.ukspeedcameras.co.uk

‘Kill a Speed Camera’ Game: http://www.ukspeedcameras.co.uk/game/camerakiller.htm

* * * * * *

From the Northamptonshire Police website, http://www.northants.police.uk I found this list

‘ Fixed cameras photographing Northamptonshire’s roads can be found at the following locations.’

A6003 Rockingham Hill

A43 Geddington North

A43 Geddington South

A5059 Rushmere Road, Northampton

A508 Barrack Road (northbound), near Post Office

A508 Barrack Road (southbound), near Racecourse

A428 Harlestone

A508 Near Roade – Courteenhall turn

A605 Thorpe Waterville

A605 Oundle Road Turn, Thrapston [Minus this one now it appears ….!]

A508 Lamport Crossing

A508 Kingsthorpe Road, near Thornton Road (Netto), Northampton

A5123 Towcester Road, Northampton

A43 Green Man pub, near Syresham (northbound)

.. .. .. .. .. >>

Inflatable Systems: inflatable installations for stages, gigs etc ….

I mention these folks because they’ve just written to me ‘cos of mutual interests in art at ‘gigs’. They seem to have quite a professional outfit.

It is with these sort of installations, [only white and lighter coloured versions] that I have done some pretty amazing ‘Slide Show’s. Together with the ‘regulation’ amount of smoke, gives a trippy and three dimensionsal feel to such a show ……

http://www.inflatablesystems.com

Inflatable Systems is a specialist team of designers all of whom share a passion for the inflatable medium.

We create beautiful and visually fascinating sculptures with a keen eye for quality and an insatiable appetite for originality. Our interests also lie in public art, putting our sculptures in empty spaces, transforming the world into a more colourful and creative place.

We maintain a large stock of aerial, ground and stage-based sculpture for hire and replicas of our stock designs are available for sale. Our experienced designers are also happy to work with you to realise your own ideas. Using computer design technology, we are able to simulate accurate three-dimensional models, allowing you to preview working designs.

Our pieces are designed with lighting and projections in mind, allowing them to fit in with existing rigs or stand alone. Inflation of our pieces can be choreographed in time with music or a performance. We have developed exciting new techniques to create weightlessness and uniquely animated movement, which cannot fail to charm and surprise

Inflatable Systems. Bannerman Buildings, Bannerman Road, Easton, Bristol’ BS5 ORR. Tel/Fax: 0117 9393394

Email: info@inflatablesystems.com

Data protection scam

An official-looking envelope was delivered to the offices of the Association of Photographers. It was sent by Crown Data Collection Enforcement Agency. Inside is a Registration form and a statement which says it is a criminal offence not to comply with the Data Protection Register. It also asks for a registration fee of £95.

This is a scam. DO NOT PART WITH YOUR MONEY but do please send all the paperwork, including the envelope in which it was delivered, to your local Trading Standards Office. Look at the official government website for further information http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk and for specific reference to the scam and a list of companies to watch out for http://www.dpr.gov.uk/donotbemisled.html

Gwen Thomas. Chief Executive

The Association of Photographers Ltd

81 Leonard Street

London EC2A 4QS

T: +44 (0)20 7739 6669 F: +44 (0)20 7739 8707

Desert Storm In Nottingham

Yes – part of the posse is still cleaning the tent from the NYE party and others are back in the homelands – achieving anti-war mischief and starting to put on nights again. Here are some details –

Desert Storm Nottingham. Friday 14th March 2003

Blueprint. 509 Alfreton Rd, Notts

10:30 – £3/4

Hamish : My Machines : Glasgow : Daylight Robbery : Smokescreen

http://www.desert-storm.org

A bit of graffiti in the Forst Fields district of Nottingham. “B” I know it’s you man. How much, not to tell the police??

Music I’m listening to, just now ….!

In addition to my usual tastes in music. Like: Rock, Folk, House & Trance Tunes. I’ve been listening to quite a lot of Baroque music from the 18th century. I am one of Handel and Bach’s greatest fans. Have been for years, much to the amuzement of friends, but I don’t care what they think!

Listening to Classic FM last week, I got introduced to a Richard Wagner piece. Not really been interested up to now, ‘large ladies singing in opera’, I’ve thought, and I cant stand opera.!!!

HOWEVER, I think the 8min 14sec of this, has got more momentum than an oil tanker. I find it very affecting. Turn your stereo right up and give it a listen, you might do to.

Have made it available on my server from the link, here: Siegfried’s Death March from Götterdämmerung

It was completed in 1875. Siegfried’s Death March [from Götterdämmerung – Twilight of the gods] was apparently played at Wagner’s own funeral in 1883.

Culture, or what!

[suggestion: I have just checked, on the playing of MP3 files @ 128kbps from a ‘low spec’ computer and it doesn’t load fast enough to keep up with play. So, suggest that if this applies to you, then ‘right click’ mouse, and save to disc first. I could make a lower bitrate mp3 file, for streaming, but a) can’t be fucked, and b). this is a piece of ‘great depth’, so you really do need it at this size] enjoy!