Dover demo 29/07/2006
We live in a police state - it is official.
We got to the demo about 11:30 and the place was already crawling with police. Grabbed a beer and waited till 12. Went to the meeting place by the toilets - about 20 people all told. Police congregated nearby.
Police swooped in and surrounded us all and started to issue a section 14. Some of us moved away so that we didn't hear the conditions. Thought the police were gonna stop us but they did let us out begrudgingly. Found out later that the conditions were 10 minute demo only from 12:16 to 12:26. Demo past this time or anywhere else in dover and risk arrest. We weren't covered by this as we hadn't heard it
We wandered around and then went to see what else we could get up to and awaited news of the coach from London. Turns out this was stopped, given notice of the section 14, and since the time had expired and they wouldn't be allowed to demo anywhere, they were not let off the coach and eventually escorted out of Dover.
We had a beer and a think. Meanwhile the people that had been given the section 14 were allowed a demo by the Western Docks (the Eastern Docks being the ones we are demoing against) Not for long, they were moved on and started to demo more towards town. They attempted to interact a bit with the public and the police decided to arrest people and chase people away.
We met up with people back near the toilets. Very heavy police presence. We wandered around trying to draw the police away from people that they were harrassing. We had no banners, we said nothing, we just walked around and chatted to people.
Finally the police got annoyed with us walking along the promenade (!!!!!) and stopped us under a section 50 - suspicion of having engaged in anti-social behaviour. I challenged him to give an example of what this might be. He said I may have blocked roads, chanted, waved a placard. I said, you know I haven't done that, why have you pulled me. He said I was causing a nuisance and part of a procession. I said I was not chanting or causing a nuisance. He said I was walking up and down the promenade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There was one copper questioning me, 2 riot cops, and a copper videoing me. He asked for my name and address on threat of arrest, and my date of birth. Gave name and address (eventually after the exchange above) refused date of birth saying he had no right to that info. That set them all back and they weren't sure if I was allowed to refuse that info. He asked me to volunteer it, I refused.
All the while they were saying we were in the wrong for not giving 7 days notice of the demo. The law says no notice is required for a demo. 7 days notice or whatever is practical is required for a march. No notice for a demo, at all.
While they radio checked my details I gave the riot police a run down of the shit they were pulling. 10 minutes allowed for a demo is taking the piss. Pulling people under section 50 which is designed for dealing with teenage yobs is taking the piss.
I made my feelings known. I knew my rights and the law, and they did not intimidate me. I think they got more than they bargained for when they pulled us.
It was heavy handed policing, and it was very public. There may be some footage on TV, tonight, as there were undercover reporters there.
Please note this was a perfectly legal peaceful demo. A section 14 was expected but it should have reasonable conditions. 10 minutes is not reasonable.
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Veal is really popular too. So sad.
fiamma
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