Smash EDO protesters complain about police liaison at Brighton march (From The Argus)
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Smash EDO protesters complain about police liaison at Brighton march
1:10pm Tuesday 5th June 2012 in News By Ben Parsons
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A protester speaks to a police officer outside Barclays in Brighton
Protesters have complained about a new breed of police officer being sent to demonstrations to talk to people.
Smash EDO’s march in opposition to a possible war with Iran passed peacefully yesterday (June 4) with about 100 people walking from North Street, Brighton, to Hove Town Hall.
But many protesters complained that police “protest liaison” officers – used throughout the weekend to allow organisers to discuss plans as events unfolded – were intrusive.
The officers marched among the demonstrators at the Smash EDO event. But when protesters gathered in North Street they were addressed by a speaker who told them the officers were not welcome.
Anarchists, with their faces covered, used umbrellas to try to block the officers’ views, and argued with their own legal advisers over how to get rid of them.
Long-time Smash EDO supporter Glenn Williams said: “They are mingling in with the crowd.
“People have been objecting to that, and that has been the only source of conflict.”
But Ch Supt Bartlett said: “While those involved in today's event chose not to speak directly with us in advance, most on the march today were happy to talk to liaison officers.
"I hope this continues so that we can speak with organisers of future events like this, which helps us plan effective and proportionate policing.
“We recognise we still have a way to go to build trust with some people, but feel today’s peaceful protest and the willingness of most people to speak with our liaison team bodes well for the future.”
He said the officers were not there for crowd control or to gather intelligence about activists.
Open plans
He said he was pleased the organisers had been open about their plans, which they published in an open letter to The Argus.
Otherwise the event passed without incident.
A spokesman for Smash EDO estimated 150 people had taken part, although police put it at about half that.
He said: “The demo is about raising awareness about the threat of war with Iran and the need to build a strong anti-war movement that can be a real opposition to that.”
A 25-year-old man carrying a flag of a German “autonomous” anarchist group said: “The more people realise a war with Iran is on the cards, the more people will take it on themselves to say, ‘No, we don’t want this’.”
Passers-by said they did not think the prospect of a war with Iran was an immediate worry.
Tony Lembo, 60, from Eastbourne, said he would not be put off visiting Brighton by a protest unless whole streets were closed off, adding: “It’s nice to see people are still demonstrating and putting their views across, as long as it’s orderly and peaceful.”
Stanley Williams, 86, of central Hove, watched the march pass at Churchill Square. He said: “I think it’s stupid.
“The bus was diverted. I thought it was a Jubilee parade.”
A woman watching the march in Western Road, who declined to give her name, said: “What is the point of having their faces covered? I don’t see the sense.”
Another said: “It shouldn’t be allowed.”
Comments(45)
mimseycal
says...
1:54pm Tue 5 Jun 12
Spx
says...
1:58pm Tue 5 Jun 12
ripmaxman
says...
2:12pm Tue 5 Jun 12
Ban all marches where the demonstrators cover up so they can’t be identified if trouble breaks out.
And they are marching in opposition to a possible war with Iran!!!! Why just Iran we could all make a list of possible wars.
I have also read that EDO make parts for bombs to drop on civilians, so now bombs are that smart that they only target civilians. IDIOT!!!
ripmaxman
says...
2:15pm Tue 5 Jun 12
Spx wrote:get a life he is not demonstrating
I can't see your face!
Spx
says...
2:27pm Tue 5 Jun 12
MuammarQaddafi
says...
2:34pm Tue 5 Jun 12
Ballroom Blitz
says...
2:34pm Tue 5 Jun 12
Sounds like it was brilliantly policed. It must have been if the very clever police tactics outsmarted the Smash EDO rabble.
So - the score is: police 10, Smash EDO nil.
Ha. ha!!
AmboGuy
says...
4:40pm Tue 5 Jun 12
Tell you what why don't you SmashEDO lot grow up and grow a pair and stop whining like little babies. You're lucky with your appalling track record that they allowed you to match at all. If you'd behaved yourselves better and maybe DIDN'T cover your faces then the Police wouldn't be so bothered about you. Maybe now you know how the local residents feel when they say that they felt intimidated by you.
billy goat-gruff
says...
4:51pm Tue 5 Jun 12
gaz scott
says...
4:55pm Tue 5 Jun 12
AmboGuy wrote:Sounds to me like they were standing up to this intrusion and speaking out about it. Genuinely not sure how your comment applies to the article I just read.
Agh diddums did the nasty policemen frighten you. Oh you poor babies it must have been very scary for you. I hope you didn't get nightmares you poor little lambs.
Tell you what why don't you SmashEDO lot grow up and grow a pair and stop whining like little babies. You're lucky with your appalling track record that they allowed you to match at all. If you'd behaved yourselves better and maybe DIDN'T cover your faces then the Police wouldn't be so bothered about you. Maybe now you know how the local residents feel when they say that they felt intimidated by you.
SicklySeagull
says...
4:55pm Tue 5 Jun 12
ripmaxman
says...
4:57pm Tue 5 Jun 12
Spx wrote:Well you are very visible aren’t you!!
I can't see your face either!
mimseycal
says...
5:08pm Tue 5 Jun 12
gaz scott
says...
5:11pm Tue 5 Jun 12
But that is an entirely different thing to having many police officers mingling in with the crowd so that individuals always have to be aware that a policeman may be able to overhear what they say. Would anyone have exactly the same conversation with friends if they knew a group of police officers were sat next to them in a pub for example? I think 90% of people would modify their conversation and behaviour in one way or another. I'm pretty sure police would tend to mix socially with other police for this very reason. I have no proof of this but I suspect it is true.
I can't see anything wrong with having liaison officers or marchers talking to them if they want but all police should keep a professional and respectful distance and respect people's privacy. They are not there to be our new best friends.
mimseycal
says...
5:23pm Tue 5 Jun 12
And there was me thinking that the demonstrators were actually on a public thoroughfare ...
AmboGuy
says...
5:32pm Tue 5 Jun 12
mimseycal wrote:Well said. The problem is that most of the SmashEDO mob think that the whole of Brighton should bend over backwards to accommodate them. I think a lot of this lot have grown up so used to always getting their own way that they genuinely feel it's unacceptable for the police to try and liase with them in a PUBLIC place. Fancy that eh? The police actually patrolling in public - the fascists.
Really? You mean they were in a front room somewhere and the police forced their unwarranted presence into someone's home? Or maybe this was in a private garden and the police first had to scale a twenty foot brick wall?
And there was me thinking that the demonstrators were actually on a public thoroughfare ...
Like I said , they're spoilt little babies who want everything their own way. They should think themselves lucky they don't live in a real police state like China where they'd be locked up for years and years for speaking their mind.
Hard times
says...
6:09pm Tue 5 Jun 12
D360
says...
6:18pm Tue 5 Jun 12
billy goat-gruff wrote:No, the are reminding us that they are against the prospect of a possible war with Iran. I understand your confusion though they aren't very good at putting their point across
The Argus regular moaners who sit in their armchairs and complain about almost everything should be aware that once upon a time Brighton signed up to be a UN Peace Messenger City with a duty to promote world peace. These demonstrators are reminding us that bomb-release mechanisms used in war zones are being manufactured in our city. I'd complain about that hypocracy if I were you!
Flippin Burghers
says...
6:21pm Tue 5 Jun 12
Joe Average
says...
6:39pm Tue 5 Jun 12
I'm sure it will make a difference just like the Greenham Commom wimmin got rid of all those cruise missiles.
Keep calm and carry on.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
6:58pm Tue 5 Jun 12
That's the funniest thing I've read in a long time.
How quaint.
mr busy
says...
7:11pm Tue 5 Jun 12
AmboGuy
says...
7:11pm Tue 5 Jun 12
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:Yeah the irony wasn't lost on me either!
Is this for real? Anarchists complaining that it's unfair.
That's the funniest thing I've read in a long time.
How quaint.
D5
says...
7:25pm Tue 5 Jun 12
gaz scott wrote:if you are marching down a street,which is also mine, then you have the same rights as me. the right to do whatever i like within the law.
The police have section 60 powers to oblige people to uncover their faces where appropriate and they frequently use those powers.
But that is an entirely different thing to having many police officers mingling in with the crowd so that individuals always have to be aware that a policeman may be able to overhear what they say. Would anyone have exactly the same conversation with friends if they knew a group of police officers were sat next to them in a pub for example? I think 90% of people would modify their conversation and behaviour in one way or another. I'm pretty sure police would tend to mix socially with other police for this very reason. I have no proof of this but I suspect it is true.
I can't see anything wrong with having liaison officers or marchers talking to them if they want but all police should keep a professional and respectful distance and respect people's privacy. They are not there to be our new best friends.
peaceful protest,peaceful police,peaceful. im glad they mingled. the police mingling with the protest was like putting flowers down gun barrells.
hursthill
says...
7:29pm Tue 5 Jun 12
Perhaps they should hold the next protest in their beloved Iran, except the police in Iran shoot protestors, rather than liase.
Ish1
says...
7:58pm Tue 5 Jun 12
hursthill wrote:Great idea.
The police liaison officer in the picture looks very pleasant & normal, unlike the rather frightening picture of the 60 odd masked smashedo protestors. Perhaps they should hold the next protest in their beloved Iran, except the police in Iran shoot protestors, rather than liase.
Being a decent sort of bloke I would even drive them to the airport if that would get rid of them once and for all from out city.
EDL Supporter
says...
9:58pm Tue 5 Jun 12
mimseycal
says...
10:52pm Tue 5 Jun 12
virtuoso
says...
11:21pm Tue 5 Jun 12
virtuoso
says...
11:21pm Tue 5 Jun 12
D360
says...
1:27am Wed 6 Jun 12
EDL Supporter wrote:It is quite difficult to "get to know" them when they cover their faces, shout abuse and most unbelievably of all complain when people TALK to them, as they have above!
Idiot. Maybe if you got to know them you'd realise that they're just normal people who don't want a bomb factory on their doorstep. Is that such a bad thing?
By the way, where is this bomb factory you speak of?
Reflect on your post
says...
6:29am Wed 6 Jun 12
Very small numbers of misinformed and probably mentally unstable and insecure individuals who can't express themselves effectively and can't gain support for their nonsensical principles wandering our streets, obviously looking for conflict and then moaning about the Police.
Its great that they attempt to cover their faces as it helps us identify any of the smash edo (what's that) who are trying to infiltrate the public.
Would anyone have exactly the same conversation with friends if they knew a group of edo (what's that) were sat next to them in a pub for example? I think 90% of people would modify their conversation and behaviour in one way or another. I'm pretty sure edo (what;s that) would tend to mix socially with other edo (what's that) for this very reason. I have no proof of this but I suspect it is true.
Fool
mimseycal
says...
6:42am Wed 6 Jun 12
Personally I thought it far more indicative of an individual who thinks to behave for fear of repercussions rather than someone who will stand up and be counted for the principles they honestly espouse.
He was by the way referring to the police sitting amongst members of the public and not members of the SmashEDO ;)
JHunty
says...
6:49am Wed 6 Jun 12
george smith
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8:14am Wed 6 Jun 12
AmboGuy
says...
10:31am Wed 6 Jun 12
JHunty wrote:Ha ha ha ha ha love it.
Its probably the first time a real live woman has talked to them
gaz scott
says...
11:50am Wed 6 Jun 12
Reflect on your post wrote:Bladesboy? Is that you? Are you back?
Hilarious. Never have I enjoyed such a laugh as at this weekend's antics.
Very small numbers of misinformed and probably mentally unstable and insecure individuals who can't express themselves effectively and can't gain support for their nonsensical principles wandering our streets, obviously looking for conflict and then moaning about the Police.
Its great that they attempt to cover their faces as it helps us identify any of the smash edo (what's that) who are trying to infiltrate the public.
Would anyone have exactly the same conversation with friends if they knew a group of edo (what's that) were sat next to them in a pub for example? I think 90% of people would modify their conversation and behaviour in one way or another. I'm pretty sure edo (what;s that) would tend to mix socially with other edo (what's that) for this very reason. I have no proof of this but I suspect it is true.
Fool
hursthill
says...
12:40pm Wed 6 Jun 12
I'm thinking os becoming a smashedo protestor. Can you help ? Do you recomend wearing a mask that just covers my mouth, or 1 that covers all my face, except my eyes. Which do you wear, & which is more likely to frighten customers of Barclays ?
Kind Regards,
hursthill.
gaz scott
says...
12:57pm Wed 6 Jun 12
hursthill wrote:I prefer to let people decide what they want to do and let them take the consequences for their own actions.
Hi gaz,
I'm thinking os becoming a smashedo protestor. Can you help ? Do you recomend wearing a mask that just covers my mouth, or 1 that covers all my face, except my eyes. Which do you wear, & which is more likely to frighten customers of Barclays ?
Kind Regards,
hursthill.
It was a Bank Holiday on Monday so no customers to frighten but personally I only ever wear a mask there when the bank is open and I discretely put it on with my striped shirt and a bag marked "SWAG" just before I rob it.
Hope that helps.
hursthill
says...
3:28pm Wed 6 Jun 12
But smashedo said they were targeting Barclays during their summer of resistance ? They did'nt say only on bank holidays.
Good to see you have a sense of humour, & you disassociate yourself from the intimidation tactics of your co-protestors, even tough most have given-up, leaving just a lunatic fringe who wear masks & are frightened of police liasion officers.
UppityPrimate
says...
4:05pm Wed 6 Jun 12
diriky
says...
3:29am Fri 8 Jun 12
voiceofthescoombe
says...
10:22am Fri 8 Jun 12
The classic quote form smash edo after the last "peaceful" demo outside the factory.
It was a peaceful demo the police overeacted.
Argus journo so how did the windows get broken and where did all the paint bombs come from?
Edo silence.
Thetruth666
says...
3:18pm Mon 11 Jun 12
Stuartc011 says...
1:51pm Tue 5 Jun 12