Monthly Archives: April 2011

Police launched an eviction raid on a Bristol squat yesterday after riots raged for a second time in a suburb that has become a focal point for anger against heavy-handed policing.

More than 30 people were arrested after another night of violence in Stokes Croft, a bohemian suburb of Bristol that is vehemently opposed to the opening of a Tesco store.

Last week, a protest against the supermarket giant turned into running street battles as demonstrators clashed with baton-wielding riot officers. Somerset and Avon Police claimed they had uncovered a petrol bomb plot to attack the store but locals rubbished this and accused officers of using wildly disproportionate force to quell a peaceful anti-Tesco movement.

A broadly peaceful second protest on Thursday evening turned violent shortly after midnight when a small group of masked protesters threw bottles at police officers. Witnesses say police units responded with baton and horse charges, sparking more rioting that continued through the night.

Last week’s protests centred on the opening of the new Tesco store, but many local residents of Stokes Croft yesterday voiced concerns that their demonstrations had been hijacked by outsiders keen to fight with the police.

“After last week, tensions were extremely high and there is a lot of anger at the police response,” said Nick Martin, owner of the Left Bank Bar. “But it seemed there were many young people last night who came from outside the area to throw things at the police and cause trouble.”

Luke Champion, a 32-year-old NHS worker beaten by police last week, said: “I saw a horrible side of the police last Thursday but this time around I think they were pretty restrained, considering how a small group of masked people were determined to cause violence. It’s really sad.”

Somerset and Avon Police yesterday defended its actions, saying officers had to respond after being pelted with bottles, rocks and other missiles by masked demonstrators who peeled away from the main crowd and headed to the centre of the city.

“We took swift and robust action to try to prevent further violence and damage to property,” said Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen. “I am satisfied that our tactics were appropriate and proportionate… the officers involved acted professionally and with great restraint given the threat and personal danger they faced.”

But some of those present said fired-up riot officers used baton charges against peaceful demonstrators. “I was hit a number of times across the leg and had nothing to do with violence,” said a 31-year-old man who asked not to be named. “Sure some were spoiling for a fight, but so were the police. They were like animals.”

Owen Pettinger, a 28-year-old local resident who works in marketing, said: “There were some troublemakers but the whole police response was so heavy handed. Anyone in their way, whoever you were, was cleared. Couldn’t they have used snatch squads just to go after the rioters?”

At one point, residents trying to stop the violence sat down between police and lines of youths who had begun throwing bottles at officers. Claire Milne, a campaigner from No to Tesco in Stokes Croft, said: “We are devastated with what has happened since the arrival of Tesco and we will work hard to try and find ways to ensure that our community returns to its vibrant self.”

Riot officers returned to the area at 9.30 yesterday morning to evict people from Telepathic Heights, a three-storey squat that has become a focal point of the protests. As police moved in a few squatters took to the roof and threw tiles at the officers below. It took more than four hours for the last holdouts to be brought down and arrested.

Bristol burns once more..

Protester throws brick off roof – See also Mail

Rooftop riot: Police officers confront protesters on the roof of Telepathic Heights

Only 53 arrests among a million well-wishers as police’s ring of steel around the capital is hailed a success

The country’s biggest security operation in a generation was hailed a success today, with 5,000 police officers under strict orders to deal ‘robustly, quickly and firmly’ with any threats against the wedding of the century.

One man who tried to chain himself to railings near Westminster Abbey was the first to be arrested today. In all, police made 52 arrests among the crowd during the event to ensure it went smoothly.

Two anti-Royal Wedding protests were swooped on by police today as the ceremony got under way.
Fully staffed: Police lead the thousands of people down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace to watch Prince William and his new bride Kate on the balcony at Buckingham Palace

Trying to spoil the party: The man is arrested after trying to chain himself to railings near Westminster Abbey
Taking no chances: Police remove the man who tired to chain himself to the railings along the Royal Wedding route

All clear: Officers make last minute checks to drains outside Westminster Abbey

Scotland Yard beefed up its stop and search powers as a small group of masked anarchists gathered in Soho Square, central London.

Officers were also in Red Lion Square, where 70 protesters were counted.

Other arrests included one on suspicion of sexual assault in Pall Mall as crowds watched the ceremony on big screens.

As the attention of the world was fixed on London, detectives threw a multimillion-pound ring of steel around the event including a traffic exclusion zone and three helicopters patrolling the skies

They appealed to the public to be the police’s ‘eyes and ears’ to help keep troublemakers at bay.

Snipers were taking to rooftops and undercover officers mingled among the crowds as part of a massive covert and uniformed operation to avoid an atrocity.

Security against potential threats from al Qaeda-inspired extremists, dissident Irish republican terrorists, anarchists and even lone stalkers is being balanced with the desire to let onlookers enjoy the day of pageantry.

Around 70 people were banned from the City of Westminster as part of their bail conditions after being arrested or charged over various previous alleged disorder offences.

But despite up to 80 VIPs requiring personal protection, no intelligence suggested that police needed to use anti-terror powers as hundreds of thousands arrive in the capital for the event.

Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens, who led the major security operation, said supporters converging on the city should enjoy the event while staying alert.

‘If you see anything or anyone in the crowd that is acting suspiciously, please bring it to the earliest attention of our officers. They are there to help you,’ she said.

‘We are very clear that we want this to be a safe, secure and happy event, and we intend to act robustly, quickly and firmly if anyone engages in any criminal activity.’
Enjoying the event: Armed police laugh as they patrol the Mall during the Royal Wedding

Last check: Police officers in dress uniform do a final patrol on The Mall in London in preparation for the Royal procession on the wedding day of Prince William and Kate Middleton

On patrol: Police officers ride motorcycles along The Mall today

Security: Policemen arrest a bystander along Horse Guards Parade prior to the Royal Wedding procession

In the wake of disturbances at the recent TUC marches and student protests, officers paid close attentions to the movements of anarchist groups.

As part of final preparations for the big day, 20 squatters were also arrested in a string of raids across London yesterday.

Police said the squat arrests were not “specifically related” to the wedding.

But an MP criticised the ‘disproportionate pre-emptive strike’.

Fears of any major protests causing disruption near Westminster Abbey have eased with extremist group, Muslims Against Crusades, announcing they no longer plan to attend.
Huge operation: Map of the Royal wedding route with details of security arrangements for Friday’s event
Ring of steel: Armed police officers patrol pass the tents set up outside Westminster Abbey

No holes in the net: the security gate barrier on the pavement near the Westminster Abbey

Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate Middleton have expressed their gratitude to police after officers delivered a firm message to potential trouble-makers.

With hundreds of millions watching around the world, tensions ran high, with senior officers keen to avoid another embarrassing episode like the one in which protesters attacked a car carrying the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall last December.

And police took no chances. During the Pope’s visit last September, six cleaners were arrested by counter-terrorism officers and later released without charge amid reports that they had been overheard making a joke in a canteen.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1381817/Royal-Wedding-security-5-000-snipers-undercover-officers-sniffer-dogs-London.html#ixzz1KvTRk100

Royal wedding: three arrested for ‘mock execution’ plan

Three protesters who were planning on staging mock executions outside Westminster Abbey this morning have been arrested by Scotland Yard.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police arrested 68-year-old Chris Knight, the leader of an anti-capitalist group the Government of the Dead, at his home in Brockley south east London.

His partner Camilla Power, 60, and 45-year-old Patrick Macroidan, who was dressed as an executioner were all arrested.

Police seized a guillotine which the trio were planning on using during their royal wedding protest, which fellow activists today insisted would still go ahead.

Posting on Facebook and Twitter, members said that the event, described as a “right royal orgy” with “rumpy pumpy and guillotines”, would go on without the three.

Following their arrests a fellow activist posted a video of the raid on YouTube.

The Telegraph reports that the video shows several officers explaining to the three that they were being arrested for conspiracy to commit breach of the peach and commit a public nuisance.

Arrested for a breach of the peach

Police officers and protesters were injured today after further demonstrations against a Tesco store in a city centre turned violent.

Problems began when bottles were thrown at officers in Cheltenham Road, Stokes Croft, Bristol.

The disturbances, which eyewitnesses said began at about 1am, happened after a peaceful event earlier in the evening.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers moved in to “contain a group of protesters” who were wearing masks and throwing bottles.

A number of officers were injured in the disturbance, the force said.

However, the tactics used by police have been condemned by protesters.

Richard Ayres, 39, told the BBC: “I received three blows to my legs and a blow to my head for which I have received hospital treatment.”

He said he joined the protest to “show solidarity to those who had been treated violently” during the previous protests.

Mr Ayres claimed mounted police officers “rushed down the middle of the street” after Cheltenham Road was closed at about midnight.

“We were knocked to the side by them and were then shoved back by riot police with helmets, shields, truncheons and dogs,” he said.

“I remonstrated with them peacefully, flabbergasted at the sudden turn of events.”

Police said neighbourhood officers were “actively engaging” with what was a peaceful gathering earlier in the evening outside the squat known as the Telepathic Heights.

However, support was called in after a number of people became violent, put on masks and began throwing bottles at police.

Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen said: “Unfortunately a number of people attended this event to incite violence and cause criminal damage.

“We will not tolerate this behaviour in our communities. Our primary concern is to keep people safe.

“Throughout the week our neighbourhood officers have received the message from local residents and businesses that they do not want any further disruption.

“There was further evidence of this earlier this evening during the build-up to the trouble.

“A minority have clearly been intent on creating a volatile situation and committing criminal acts of disorder. We are taking swift and robust action to arrest those responsible.”

Rick Palmer, service director at Bristol City Council, said: “What we have seen tonight is totally unacceptable behaviour which is clearly not supported by local people.”

Last night’s skirmishes happened six days after a riot in same area when about 160 officers in riot gear swooped on a house to arrest four people they said were “a real threat to the local community”.

The crowd dug up cobbles from the road surface to throw at the police and a branch of Tesco Metro, which has been subject of a campaign to prevent its recent opening, was petrol-bombed.

Police said later that 15 people were arrested and more arrests were expected.

Several officers suffered head, neck, back and leg injuries, and required hospital treatment after being pelted with bottles, rocks and other missiles.

Avon and Somerset Police said around eight neighbourhood beat officers had been engaging with a peaceful gathering in Cheltenham Road yesterday evening.

Two bottles were thrown at the police, but officers did not respond to try to ensure the mood stayed peaceful, the force said.

“Police were determined to keep the peace and not be perceived as provocative or inflammatory in any way,” a force spokesman said.

“Two community mediators spoke to the group responsible for throwing the bottle to appeal for calm.

“A group then splintered off, some of whom donned masks and armed themselves with rocks and bottles, and started heading towards the city centre.

“Neighbourhood officers tried to speak to them again but the crowd responded by pelting police with a hail of missiles.

“Officers had no choice but to withdraw and seek support from colleagues wearing protective clothing.”

There were then clashes between police and protesters, resulting in injuries on both sides.

Police urged people to stay away from the area while the situation was brought under control.

But the crowd grew, from around 250 or so protesters earlier in the evening to more than 400.

Officers from several other forces provided support to the Avon and Somerset force.

Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen said: “Our primary concern is to keep people safe.

“Unfortunately, a number of people attended this event intent on inciting violence and causing criminal damage.

“That behaviour cannot be allowed to occur in our communities.

“Throughout the past week, our neighbourhood officers have received the strong message from local residents and traders that they do not want further disruption.

“They wanted calm to be restored to the area so that they could return to their lives and businesses as normal.

“There was further evidence of this earlier last evening in the build-up to the gathering.

“Nevertheless, people did still gather.

“It is very disappointing that a number of them were clearly intent on inciting trouble and committing criminal acts of disorder.

“This included breaking down residential walls and removing roof tiles to use as missiles, lighting fires, setting up barricades in the road and daubing graffiti throughout the area.

“We took swift and robust action to try to prevent further violence and damage to property.

“I am satisfied that our tactics were appropriate and proportionate, and feel that the officers involved acted professionally and with great restraint, given the threat and personal danger they faced.

“We will always respect the right of any individual or group to take part in a peaceful protest, and events earlier in the evening were, indeed, good-natured.

“But when disorder occurs, we have a duty to the wider community to do everything we can to calm the situation and restore order.

“We have already started the process of studying CCTV footage.

“We are determined to identify people involved in the disorder last night.

“Where we do that, we will arrest them and bring them before the courts.

“I know the wider community will support our efforts and together we can send the very strong message that violent disorder is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

“We work very closely with many members of the community, community leaders, interest groups, the commercial sector and residents’ associations to resolve any community issues.

“To those who are responsible for committing serious crime, I can only reiterate that we have made 15 arrests already and I anticipate making many more from the video evidence we have obtained and using statements from victims and witnesses.

“I would urge those who seek to cause harm to listen to their community and respect its wishes.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: “It is very sad that a number of individuals have once again turned against the police and the local community.

“Last night’s violence in Stokes Croft and beyond underlined that this is not an anti-Tesco protest, our store is not even open.”

Bristol Tesco Protests

When is a gang not a gang? – watch the video and see if you can comprehend because I cannot..

A mass brawl which erupted in south Manchester was the result of a dispute between youths in the local Somali community, police have said.

Three men were arrested and a handgun – which police believe had been fired – was found after the fight in Gerry Wheale Square, Moss Side.

One man was detained after a car seen fleeing from the scene was pursued by arriving officers on Tuesday night.

One man who witnessed the melee said: “It was a riot basically.”

The witness, who did not want to be named, said he had been trying to drive down the street when the fighting broke out.

He estimated that there were between 200 and 300 people involved. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) estimated the number was nearer 50.

Police were called to the scene at about 2000 BST and were on the scene quickly, the force said. The men were arrested on suspicion of firearm offences.

A green Ford Focus, believed to have been involved, was found abandoned in nearby Alexandra Avenue.

A large area around Gerry Wheale Square has been cordoned off for police investigations.

Ch Supt Russ Jackson, of the GMP Metropolitan Division, said: “The information we’re getting from the community is that this is a dispute between young members of the local Somali community.

“I would like to stress that the vast majority of the Somali community in this area are law-abiding and are good citizens. This is a small number that we are talking about.”

Earlier, Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Neil Wain said he understood why some residents may have been “frightened” by the outbreak of violence.

He said: “We have three people in custody for questioning and taken a deadly weapon off the streets but our work does not stop there and we will be out working with the community today making inquiries and ensuring that those who have questions and concerns can speak to someone.”

He urged anyone with any information to contact the force.

Watch Video Here

See also Inspector Gadget’s view on the incident

John Yates, the senior police officer embroiled in the phone hacking affair, yesterday faced a call to step down after he told MPs that there was no reason for him to reveal a recent social engagement with a former senior executive at the News of the World.

In a letter to the Commons media select committee, Assistant Commissioner Yates, who oversaw a review of the heavily-criticised original Scotland Yard investigation into the scandal, confirmed that he had attended a “private engagement” in February this year with Neil Wallis, the deputy editor of the Sunday tabloid until 2009.

Mr Yates said they had known each other for “a number of years”; the meeting took place within a month of the announcement of Operation Weeting, the new investigation into phone hacking which senior officers have pledged will leave “no stone unturned”.

In evidence to MPs earlier this month, Mr Yates, who has no direct involvement in the new inquiry, insisted the two men did not discuss the issue during the meeting.

But in response to questions about whether he had declared the meeting and sought advice from the inquiry team about whether it should take place, Mr Yates denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Yates wrote: “Since assuming responsibility for dealing with the legacy of this case, relevant senior officers have been made aware that Mr Wallis and I know each other. The meeting referred to during my evidence was a private engagement attended by a number of others. There would be no reason to declare this.”

A senior Labour MP said the fact Mr Yates had only confirmed his meeting with Mr Wallis after it was put to him by the select committee and did not accept that the engagement was inappropriate meant he should consider his position.

Chris Bryant, a shadow justice minister, who is suing the NOTW for damages over claims that his own mobile phone was hacked, said: “It is wholly inappropriate for senior figures at the Metropolitan Police to be having meals in private with current or former senior figures at the News of the World. Frankly, if Mr Yates cannot see that is a problem then he should not be in his job.”

Call to Quit

Four police community support officers have been booted out of Scotland Yard after they secretly visited a Soho brothel while on duty, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The quartet abandoned their positions guarding potential terrorist targets in the sensitive ‘government security zone’ in central London.

Then, wearing uniform, they met up at a vice den located five doors from a Metropolitan Police ‘community safety office’ and, according to sources, asked after an Eastern European ‘model’ who plied her trade there.

When informed she was not available, they drank tea with a brothel madam in the reception area. Their astonishing visit was discovered by chance by a police sergeant on patrol nearby.

He is believed to have seen the PCSOs walk into the brothel at about 2am and, suspicious about their motives, followed them inside a few minutes later.

The PCSOs, aged in their 20s and 30s, were challenged by the sergeant about why they were not on their designated beats before a major investigation was ordered by furious Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson.

It is believed that at least two of the officers claimed they had no idea they were in a brothel and that they were doing ‘community work’.

But earlier this month, three of them were sacked for gross misconduct after a disciplinary hearing.

The fourth officer resigned in disgrace soon after the incident on October 18.

According to Police Federation sources, investigators seized CCTV footage which suggested some of the disgraced PCSOs had previously visited the sex den.

The case is the latest in a string of controversies and embarrassing incidents involving PCSOs, dubbed Blunkett’s Bobbies after the Labour Home Secretary who created them.

Last year figures showed that one in seven police community support officers, introduced in 2002 to increase the uniformed police presence on the streets, has been investigated for misconduct.

More than 2,000 PCSOs have been accused of wrongdoing, with 160 charged with criminal offences since the role was created, statistics released under Freedom of Information laws revealed.

The civilian officers, also dubbed the ‘Plastic Police’, have been criticised for lacking the powers properly to protect the public or solve crime.

Crucially, they do not have the power of arrest, although they can hand out fines for a range of minor crimes, including littering and parking offences.

Yesterday they were at the centre of another row after three community support officers supervised a tearaway teenager on a fishing trip in Hertfordshire.

The publicly funded visit, which was photographed by a passer-by, caused a storm as the local constabulary is preparing to make £36million of cuts and close six police stations.

Last night Scotland Yard issued a statement confirming that four PCSOs had been caught in a brothel while on duty.

It added: ‘We can confirm that on Tuesday, April 12, following a Met gross misconduct hearing, three male PCSOs aged 23, 28 and 38 based at Belgravia were dismissed for failing to comply with an order and behaviour likely to bring the service into disrepute. A 31-year-old male PCSO, who was based at Belgravia, resigned in autumn 2010.

‘All four were on duty at the time of an incident in Peter Street, Soho, W1, on October 18, 2010.’ Insiders said the PCSOs were clothed and not engaged in any sexual activities when caught.

A Police Federation source added: ‘It is simply astonishing that at a time of heightened fears over terrorism, these individuals should neglect their duties to visit a brothel.

‘You have to wonder about the IQ of officers who, with no good reason, visit a sex den in uniform.

‘Nevertheless, the Commissioner and his senior officers should be commended for taking robust action to remove them.’

Last month a PCSO was jailed for nine months after he laundered tens of thousands of pounds from a brothel run by his prostitute wife.

Sean Griffin, 44, a police community support officer with the Met, was arrested after cops found wife Debbie, 44, with four ‘clients’ at his flat in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

The couple raked in £176,000 – including £116,000 in profits – from the prostitution racket and used the cash to pay off their mortgage.

Griffin was jailed for nine months at Cambridge Crown Court after admitting money laundering. He denied a charge of running a brothel and this will lie on file.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1381300/Blunkett-bobbies-uniform-sloped-duty-visit-brothel-Soho-sacked.html#ixzz1Ko172vZw

Compulsory retirement ‘only option’ when officers can’t be made redundant

The default retirement age might have been abolished across the country, but police officers have never been more likely to face compulsory retirement.

Confronted with the 20 per cent cut in government funding ordered by home secretary Theresa May over the next four years, at least 13 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales have so far employed the previously little-used A19 pensions regulation – allowing officers to be compulsorily retired after 30 years of pensionable service.

Campaign organisation The Age and Employment Network has described the move as “contrary to the repeal of the default retirement age”, while the Police Federation has also been quick to criticise the new implementation of the regulation.

“It’s completely inappropriate as it’s not what A19 was intended for in the first place,” said Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever. “We are losing some of our most experienced officers en masse, and it cannot be right when we need that experience to see us through the current changes to the police service.”

But the regulation has been defended by police forces invoking its use, who are facing huge pressure to reduce front-line officer numbers as well as back-office civilian staff and overhead costs.

Chris Haselden, HR director at Devon and Cornwall Police, explained that his force was planning to lose 700 of its 3,500 officer posts in the next four years – through natural wastage and voluntary and compulsory retirement. The first tranche of forced retirements under A19 was scheduled for the end of April.

“This time last year, A19 was not used anywhere for compulsory retirement,” Haselden said. “However, the bottom line is that you can’t make police officers redundant and can only lose officers out of the workforce at the rate they choose to leave. Budgetary pressures mean A19 is being used as a mechanism for reducing police officer numbers – and is the only mechanism we have got over and above natural wastage.”

He envisaged that of those officers in Devon and Cornwall who would be forcibly retired via A19, half would have been planning to leave after 30 years’ service, while the remainder would have preferred to continue working.

Haselden, who is also chairman of the CIPD Police Forum, acknowledged that some police officers felt “aggrieved” at being retired early, but the application of this regulation was being carried out against a backdrop of redundancies amongst civilian police staff, who faced less generous payouts.

“Police officers have reacted with great surprise that this exists as a regulation,” he added. “Many regard themselves as being sacked as opposed to being compulsorily retired, but then we have police staff being made redundant who see officers being retired on a full pension.”

One employment lawyer told PM that police forces could be leaving themselves open to claims of indirect or unjustified age discrimination, by exercising a method that put older officers at greater risk of losing their job.

But while this has not yet been tested in court, Haselden added that police forces were confident such claims could be defended, after extensive legal advice was sought both collectively and individually before actioning the regulation.

“Despite the prima facie age discrimination issue, the way the regulation is set and the circumstances we are using it in does justify it as proportionate means for achieving a legitimate aim,” he said.

Warwickshire’s county police force was one of the most cost effective when producing publications last year.

West Mercia Police spent £366 on its local policing summary for 2010/11 which was an eight-page online document.

In total, forces across England and Wales spent more than £1 million.Thames Valley Police spent £95,470 on producing its local policing summary, West Midlands Police spent £84,752 and Kent Police shelled out £68,801 on its policing magazine which included the summary.

Police forces also spent nearly £350,000 on other leaflets including council tax, annual reports and newsletters.

The Tax Payer’s Alliance, who obtained the information, said the money spent on publications was the equivalent in cost to about 30 full time officers. A spokesman said: “It’s important for the police to communicate with the general public, but it doesn’t need to be at such expense. “These summaries should be published on the web, to make savings that do not affect the frontline.

“At the same time, police authorities should not produce any kind of vanity publications.”

Evesham Journal