[URL= http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/unions-and-campaign-groups-voice-support-for-uk-uncut ]Unions and campaign groups voice support for UK Uncut[/url]
However, in taking the type of peaceful action which UK Uncut routinely undertake on Saturday, targeting Fortnum and Mason on this occasion, they were treated in a political and deceptive manner by the police which sends an ominous message about the right to protest.It would appear activists were misled by the police about not being arrested when asked to leave the Fortnum and Mason building, after which they were held for a significant length of time, their clothing was confiscated and they have been denied the right to protest in the near future.
This situation has now been seized on by the media and politicians to further threaten the right to protest. UK Uncut activists have been blamed for damage they did not cause and this story has become a substitute for discussion of the real issues raised by UK Uncut and the TUC march in general.
This does not represent a consistent approach to policing legitimate protest. Neither does it represent the sort of consistent approach to freedom of protest which the Government led us to believe they supported on entering office. We support the right to protest for a fairer and more equal world. As part of this, we condemn any politically motivated policing which provokes, intimidates or criminalises protestors. We will continue to support UK Uncut, alongside thousands of others, until tax justice is secured so the poorest do not have to pay the price of a financial crisis caused by the richest.
they were treated in a political and deceptive manner by the police which sends an ominous message about the right to protest.
.......claim the guys who used deceit to hijack a legitimate and lawful protest to make a political point which was ...... ????
However, in taking the type of peaceful action which UK Uncut routinely undertake
Peaceful action should not involve damaging property, surely?
claim the guys who used deceit to hijack a legitimate and lawful protest to make a political point which was ...... ????
You're not very good at noticing detail are you Berm Bandit ?
The link is titled "Unions and campaign groups voice support for UK Uncut"
[i]"This is a letter from a number of NGOs and unions in support of UK Uncut".[/i]
UK Uncut has not "hijacked" anything. They have the full support of the unions which organised the march on Saturday. They are an important part of the struggle against the politically and ideologically motivated cuts. Their role is to carry the message by exposing the government's double standard, something which they do in an entertaining and light-hearted manner.
Peaceful action should not involve damaging property, surely?
No property was damaged by UK Uncut, a fact which the police don't dispute and readily agree with. Try to pay attention Flash.
crankboy - Memberwhy do you think it would be mad or indeed a conspiracy to believe they were deployed during the miners strike?
Because believing in things that didn't happen is generally (religion excepted) considered mad. It's not like there wasn't enough genuine madness during the miner's strike without having to make up more.
Because believing in things that didn't happen is generally (religion excepted) considered mad.
How do you know that this din't happen?
Were you there?
Nothing din't happen as there's no such thing as, din't happen
Elfinsafety - MemberWere you there?
Nope. And?
Reasons people think it happened:
"My mate's brother's son in law saw some coppers that looked a bit like soldiers"
Er, and that's it. You'll not find a single copper who says it happened, not a single squaddie, and damn few miners- and not one of them's got anything more convincing than that. It's a very weak urban myth.
You don't actually know it's [i]not[/i] true though, do you?
You just don't like to contemplate the fact that it's perfectly possible such things might actually have happened.
If the army/navy/airforce had supplemented the police, a system known as Military Aid to Civil Authorities (MACA), they will not have worn the uniforms. Military rank is not directly transferable to any of the military services and there are numerous rules surrounding what things military people can do which may differ to civilian counterparts in the same circumstances.
You don't actually know it's not true though, do you?
It's not true Elfie.
What is true though, is that the NUM was infiltrated by MI5. But that's a different story.
How d'you know it's not true?
There are several accounts of unidentified bods in police lines.
It is Maggie we're talking about after all. You wouldn't put it past her to use whatever means she could get away with, to serve her own ends?
How d'you know it's not true?
Well how do I know that there weren't any extraterrestrial people from a planet which circles Alpha Centauri, amongst the coppers on duty during the miner strike ?
I don't.
OK there might have been.
Extraterrestrials from a planet which orbits Alpha Centauri that is.
There was definitely no squaddies.
Elfinsafety - MemberYou just don't like to contemplate the fact that it's perfectly possible such things might actually have happened.
Not being a credulous fool, when presented with something that seems unlikely I expect to get at least a single shred of credible evidence before I give it the slightest bit of brain time.
The police and army have some of the most efficient rumour mills in the western world, what are the odds that not one of them would have confirmed the story if it were true? In fact, it's surprising that no ex-coppers or ex-squaddied have backed the story even assuming it's not true.
the more i read this , the more i think some people have been replaced by weird aliens. just to post on here.
I don't think there was ever any doubt that it would eventually be ruled as unlawful by a court,
it's just surprising that it took so long :
[url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/court-finds-police-kettling-was-unlawful-2268084.html ]Court finds police kettling was unlawful[/url]
I guess the Met will have to use other [i]lawful[/i] tactics now.
can someone condense this into a nice little paragraph. or a flow chart.
if it happened in Libya we would send in the planes
can someone condense this into a nice little paragraph. or a flow chart.
Once apon a time some nasty, dirty and smelly people were shouting. Good queen bess and her prime minister told the brave police it would be fine to hit the smelly people until they ran away or shut up. But the brave police got over-excited and hit everybody instead.
Surprised it has taken so long to come on here seeing as judgement was yesterday afternoon.
The use of kettling in 'this' situation has been deemed unlawful (the type and conduct of the crowd was key). It is not a judgement in relation to the general use of kettling as a tactic by the police.
It has also been appealed.
The use of kettling in 'this' situation has been deemed unlawful
Which is the only situation I have ever experienced kettling. Kettling has been consistently used by the Met as a tactic of first resort against peaceful protesters, despite their spokesman's completely misleading comment : "Where necessary, we will continue to use containment as a last resort to prevent serious disorder and violence."
Kettling as a tactic used by the Met, has been deemed unlawful by a court.
Kettling is such a waste of both police and crusties time anyway.It must be very hot for the nice policemen in that riot gear and it must be hard to be contained for hours next to somebody who has rejected soap as a plot by global drugs companies to make more money.Kettling is also an affection of the South.It will just have to be replaced by the Northern/Scottish eq. "Mass baton charge with horses."
