Protest Against Police Tactics 18th April Report

A report on how things went and what was achieved

Following the G20 protests I immediately felt inclined to do something about the fact that the police had beaten imprisoned and generally treated protesters and others caught up in the area like cattle or worse. Since then, a series of controversial inquiries have begun revolving around both policing tactics, and the actions of certain individual officers. Seeing first hand the abuse of people, and being one of the first to report the assault on the woman (‘nicky') on the 2nd of April, I campaigned for a protest to take place outside the city police HQ on the 18th of April, against the kind of tactics imposed upon protesters over the two G20 days.

Importantly of course, the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) has been dealing with these complaints, and has hopefully put pressure upon the government to change laws and powers given for gatherings in the future. Despite firstly pussy footing around public statements and witness accounts, after the revelation of certain youtube videos, the IPCC has finally listened and we the people have got the recognition we should have had at the first instant.

The videos on youtube being embraced by media come as a surprise since the government passed a law deeming the act of taking photos or videos of police officers a risk of ‘terrorism'. With the controversial case of Ian Tomlinson, and the video evidence so far proving police accounts incorrect, the police and government agencies such as the IPCC have themselves begun asking for the public to come forward with video evidence in a rather bizarre u-turn. It then strikes up a situation where it is ok for us to take photos as evidence when they want us too.

Through an In-Law who works in parliament, I can report that this particular law, and many others like it to do with completely ridiculous ‘terror legislation' are under fire from many MP's who seek to abolish them. We can only hope that these MP's succeed to bring around more freedom to the people, and more common sense to our laws.

Despite half-arsed action already taking place by bureaucratic organisations, I still felt a need to protest to let authorities know that we are not giving up until the matter of police brutality is resolved. Furthermore of course, once we have indeed put behind us the problems associated with terrible police tactics, we can continue to focus on the abolishment of capitalism, and the freedom, peace and welfare of all human beings.

The protest itself met at the shrine to Ian Tomlinson at around 10.30am, I was disappointed by the lack of people who decided to turn up. Despite being advertised on Indymedia, Facebook and the G20-Meltdown site, only around 70 people turned up to the shrine, and with over 200 people as confirmed guests, I was expecting rather more. However, with some people I'm now proud to be in contact with, we had the help and publicity of the four horses of the apocalypse from the original G20 hype, at least giving the public a image of what was going on.

After a brief appearance of Chris Knight the professor who planned the majority of the Meltdown protest, we continued on to the City Police HQ in Wood Street. Once outside the police HQ, we were met with some more protesters carrying placards, and a horde of reporters who were taking our accounts and speeches down, and interviewing many of us.

Eventually we got bored of course and decided to walk towards the Soho area, walking down Fleet Street, stopping outside the Royal Courts Of Justice momentarily, chanting and banging drums with the stagecraft of the four horses of the apocalypse (well actually there were only three horses, one of the horses got destroyed by police, but the rider was there.) Continuing on we went through Covent Garden, getting many weird but some appreciative looks, and then finally ending up at Trafalgar Square where there was a free music festival taking place. Since there were so many people around we figured it was the best place to stop to spread awareness, and show to the public that all this protesting is not over, and indeed has only just begun, for we will not stand for neither capitalism fucking over all of man kind - no police violence.

Having not eaten anything for quite some time, we all put some money in, and I went with two of the others to get a batch of vegan sandwiches from a restaurant in the West End, which we brought back and all enjoyed.

It is important to note that throughout the whole day the police officers that had been walking beside us had been incredibly supportive, kind and understanding. Many of the officers spoke with and joked with us, and stopped traffic for us when needed. It was in complete contrast with the past few weeks. When we stopped at Trafalgar Square, the horses were leant up against the National Gallery while we were eating. A few security guards got scared that we were going to start a 17 man riot (that was all that was left at this point) and were trying to get us to move on. The police (to our surprise and delight) actually defended us, and told the security staff to leave us alone. We shared cake and biscuits with those officers, and we all got on very well. They left us to after a while, obviously happy we wasn't going to start trouble.

We then moved the horses after eating further West by a few blocks so that the ‘trailer' (a hired Citroen van) could pick them up. What was surprising is that after a day of getting on with the City Police, who obviously had communicated with the Metropolitan force, was ruined when a 4x4 with officers along with one of the weird looking police photographers got out and began taking photos of us, and demanding where we had been and where we were going. This was of course not the same force, but the Met. It was slightly unsettling to be intimidated by police photographers, and demanding questions after being treated so well by the other branch.

All in all, although turn out was much to be desired, we at least proved the point that police and protesters can get on well if communication and mutral respect is present. This hopefully is a start of a new understanding between police forces and campaigners.

Stay safe,

Jason Rose

Contact email: jason.rose@hotmail.co.uk