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Protesters' rights were violated by Met surveillance
Mark Blunden28 Jul 2010
THREE men told today how they were "made to feel like criminals" after being arrested for obstructing a police cameraman photographing people attending a meeting at a community centre.
Alex Clay, Jeff Parks and Barney Laurance celebrated a landmark legal victory that saw their convictions overturned after a judge ruled their human rights had been breached.
The three men are members of the group Fitwatch, which monitors the Met's Forward Intelligence Team. They had unfurled a banner to block surveillance photographs and video being taken of anti-capitalist campaigners entering and exiting the Pullens Centre at Elephant and Castle.
The small public meeting was convened by the group No Borders to discuss a future demonstration over government immigration policy.
Speaking for the first time since the appeal verdict on Friday, Mr Clay, 23, said: "People who are going about totally legitimate, lawful forms of protest and activity are being made to feel like criminals and recorded and monitored by the state for no reason.
"We challenged the legality of the officers' actions and then got a Fitwatch banner and held it up to prevent them getting shots of people coming in or out. We refuse to accept the logic that just because someone attends a protest that they are a criminal."
The men were arrested and convicted in June 2008 of obstructing police officers or police photographers, and ordered to pay nearly £2,000 in fines.
At Inner London crown court, the prosecution claimed police feared people at the meeting were planning a violent protest against US president George W Bush, who was visiting London. But defence lawyers argued the police had no supporting evidence and were harassing the activists.
Judge Robert Fraser said: "We emphasise we do not say the police did not have a legitimate aim, but the Crown failed to satisfy us to the relevant standard."
James Welch, legal director at Liberty, said: "This is a useful reminder that protest is not a suspect activity and that the police have no general right to keep records on law-abiding citizens."
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Fit teams are something that have been around for a long while and are an overt tactic at high-profile demonstrations and events. They are there so that if people get out of hand then the evidence has already been gathered."
Reader views (9)
This country has suffered for far too long at the hands of oppressive leaders. Fitwatch and other groups like them that are prepared to put themselves on the line for the sake of protecting our freedom are to be applauded.
I find a great irony in the fact that the internet and other forms of modern communication which are provided by large capitalist organisations are being used to grand effect by the very people that oppose the actions of such multinationals.
- Gearfear, Braintree, Essex., 27/03/2011 18:25
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"Upholding the "right" of demonstrators to hide their faces at a public demonstration?"
This wasn't at a demonstration, it was at an organising meeting. Your Islamophobia is giving you a sadly blinkered view.
- Jason, London, UK, 29/07/2010 10:19
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Much as I oppose what these guys are protesting in favour of ("open borders"), rank stupidity is not an actionable offence. I'm inclined to agree that there was no justifiable cause for the filming - in this one case - so justice was done in the end.
- Rogan, Irving, 28/07/2010 19:44
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Hmmm. Upholding the "right" of demonstrators to hide their faces at a public demonstration? The best one can say for that, is that doing so isn't actually against the law. Morally I'd put it on a par with telling lies or breaking wind in a lift.
I'd support a law banning headgear that hides the wearer's face in a public place. If that were extended to include the deliberate and persistent use of screens or banners to conceal demonstrators' identities, I'd not object. Surely the whole point of a peaceful lawful demonstration is to show that *you*, *in person*, support the demonstration!
- Nigel, London, 28/07/2010 18:27
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Well done lads! Funny how the police harass photographers, then get all upset if anyone stops THEM taking photos. Er, NOT.
- Psikottix, Reading, England, 28/07/2010 16:40
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The police clearly lied (again) and this only further eroses the public's trust with them. I could go further but cannot, as I risk getting a knock on my door.
- Rod, Epping UK, 28/07/2010 12:17
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Let's hope that at the very least the coalition can make some inroads into reversing the shameful erosion of civil liberties under the Labour government. Thank God there are still some people prepared to stand up and be counted.
- East, London, 28/07/2010 11:55
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Hurrah! Well done. An important case won in the defence of our rights. I am certain this was a long time consuming process for you all and you are to be congratulated. This behaviour of filming in case something happens is a case of guilty until proven innocent. It is oppressive.
- Andrew, London, UK, 28/07/2010 11:13
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At a recent Fair Votes protest, the police were filming people as they left. What justification can they have for that, after a peaceful demonstration with no violence and no property damage or trespass? FIT are an intimidation technique first and foremost, and they are building up a large database full of people who have not committed a crime. Perhaps when the Coalition has finished toning down Labour's DNA database, they might turn their attention to FIT's database next.
- Denny, London, England, 28/07/2010 11:11
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