"Nothing to hide, nothing to fear?" This could happen to you.

[Amanda Martin]

Do I strike you as insane?  Don't answer that.  

[dippyhippy]

I won't answer then, Amanda..... but I am shaking my head furiously.

 

Hope that helps.

[Cambo]

 

I remember these from the eighties when I was just a young punk they are a kind of anarchic group!

 

 

There is a class war waging and we are losing it. The rich are getting richer and the gilded elite who have ruled us since Norman times remain in power and dominate land ownership just as they did when they first robbed it. We live in a feudal society dominated by an oligarchy of privately and Oxbridge educated toffs who run not just the government, banks, diplomacy but the media, music. comedy and even the opposition. We see no difference between any of the parties – we oppose Tristram Hunt with the same venom we hate Zac Goldsmith. . We don’t want to kick the tories out to replace them with Labour or any variety of failed Trots. We don’t want to kick them out at all – we want to kick them in!

 

Started in 1982 CLASS WAR was first a combative, funny, populist anarchist newspaper then mutated into a similar political organisation. We are proud of our past. But 30 years later the same approaches do not work. Endless photos of overseas riots and balaclaved anarchists bring no movement here. The same old same old is getting us nowhere. Time to think and do the unthinkable, to cross the Rubicon.

 

We are standing Class War candidates in the general election on May 7th 2015. We are doing this to launch a furious and co-ordinated political offensive against the ruling class with the opportunity an election gives us to talk politics to our class. We in no way see the election as an alternative to direct action. By the brick and the ballot.

 

We are not talking community politics here. It’s too late for a patient slowbuild like the IWCA. The ruling class have us by the throat -they need a short sharp kick in the bollocks. Our election campaign will use any means necessary. we won’t be ushered away by PR minders – we will make ourselves central to the campaign in a funny, rumbustious combative and imaginative way. We will be on the streets and in their faces.

 

Comrades whatever our yesterdays you are welcome now. Join in. Reject cynicism. Have fun.

 

FULL STEAM AHEAD THROUGH THE ****!

[greenknight]

Hang on a minute ...that's what's happening it's ground hog day only running on a 25 year cycle.I'm sure I heard on the TV promises of cheap council housing sell offs...class war,Mrs T oh god then the miners strike and later bloody Norman Lamont and 15% interest rates..now where is the vinyl and a little bit of chic. Can anyone see Bobby on the floor with the Gap Band!

[dippyhippy]

Well if that's their election blurb, I'd say it sounds pretty good.

 

Yes Green Knight...... one full turn of the wheel.

 

Where will that get us........???

 

(Bobby - in full protest song mode - with tanglewood guitar, up on a table in front of a rapturous audience...... is truly a sight to behold...... so I'm led to believe, anyway!)

[Cambo]

Hang on a minute ...that's what's happening it's ground hog day only running on a 25 year cycle.I'm sure I heard on the TV promises of cheap council housing sell offs...class war,Mrs T oh god then the miners strike and later bloody Norman Lamont and 15% interest rates..now where is the vinyl and a little bit of chic. Can anyone see Bobby on the floor with the Gap Band!

Yes but we don't have any miners left to strike so we need another organisation to take on there role…perhaps the local authorities employees could don donkey jackets & fill the role of the miners while shouting scabs at the senior management whilst Bobby sings a rendition of Billy Braggs song a New England…after all they are facing more cut backs, job losses & wage freezes??!!

[dippyhippy]

"There's room at the top, they are telling you still.

But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,

If you want to be like the folks on the hill.

 

A working class hero is something to be....."

 

 

John Lennon. Now there's a song Bobby would do with style.....

[bobby47]

Dippy, that's really strange. I was playing and singing this today. It's a brilliant piece of work from Lennon. The tune only has three chords and a hammer on the A minor chord. Like all Lennon's work, this song is so apt to today.

Keep you doped with religion, sex and TV,

And you think your so clever and classless and free,

But you still fu.ck.in peasants as far as I can see.

 

A working class hero is something to be.

[dippyhippy]

Spooky.

 

It sums it up for me. So completely relevant to the times we live in right now.

 

Lennon was a true poet.

[Cambo]

This law has been pass in Spain how long before we have a similar law in this country?

 

http://rt.com/news/248841-hologram-protest-spain-law/

[Amanda Martin]

I won't answer then, Amanda..... but I am shaking my head furiously.

 

Hope that helps.

It definitely does.

 

 I forget the term in psychology that describes how we define our own sanity by reference to the responses of most of the people around us.  

[Amanda Martin]

This law has been pass in Spain how long before we have a similar law in this country?

 

http://rt.com/news/248841-hologram-protest-spain-law/

chilling

[Amanda Martin]

The penny has dropped that the offence Julian has been charged with is summary only: it will be dealt with by Magistrates.

[Colin James]

The penny has dropped that the offence Julian has been charged with is summary only: it will be dealt with by Magistrates.

 

I am surprised that they have not dropped it altogether, still a waste of tax payers money

[dippyhippy]

I would have thought that your complaint surrounding this, should be fully investigated BEFORE any decision is made about court appearances.

 

To me, they are putting the cart before the horse. Surely when - and I say when, not if - your complaint is upheld, there would be no case to answer???

[WirralPC]

Well if that's their election blurb, I'd say it sounds pretty good.

 

Yes Green Knight...... one full turn of the wheel.

 

Where will that get us........???

 

(Bobby - in full protest song mode - with tanglewood guitar, up on a table in front of a rapturous audience...... is truly a sight to behold...... so I'm led to believe, anyway!)

There was a party election broadcast on behalf of TUSC (Trade Union and Socialist Coalition) tonight that was similar. All very laudable and the most truth that has emerged from my TV screen in m a n y years.

 

Their time is not now, but their time will arrive one day if Greece's and Spain's emerging parties are anything to go by. Perhaps some younger figureheads need promoting.

 

All-consuming capitalism, propped up by the old school tie and the violent history that got us here is a doomed concept, with its days numbered. The abject unfairness causes suffering for far too many millions - an exponentially growing number.

[WirralPC]

Dippy, that's really strange. I was playing and singing this today. It's a brilliant piece of work from Lennon. The tune only has three chords and a hammer on the A minor chord. Like all Lennon's work, this song is so apt to today.

Keep you doped with religion, sex and TV,

And you think your so clever and classless and free,

But you still fu.ck.in peasants as far as I can see.

 

A working class hero is something to be.

We put that song on the jukebox in a Gibraltar pub back in 1980.

 

An engineering officer off our ship sitting across the way scowled and told us we'd be in trouble.

 

So we put it on again and again and again ...... and again.

 

He got up and walked out.

 

Best 35p we'd ever spent.

[bobby47]

Amanda, Now you've made your complaint, Regulation Forms will be served on the Officers, they'll gather and seize any audio or video recording, they'll probably take a copy of Julian's Custody Sheet but they will not interview anyone until the Court case is concluded.

It's only after acquittal or conviction that the Officers will be interviewed After Caution. Honestly, I wouldn't give the matter any further concern. The CPS will throw their hand in. Unfortunately for you both, it'll be a while longer before you are formally told that there will be NFA.

[megilleland]

Police up to no good again. Now they're arresting political candidates.

 

https://tompride.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/police-arrest-parliamentary-candidate-for-putting-up-campaign-poster/

 

With our police force slowly but purposely losing public confidence I posted this earlier under "Fraudulent banks, utility companies and corrupt courts" a video by John Oliver about Civil Forfeiture and how I imagine this idea, already operated by the Office of the Public Guardian, could work its way over here. The police can already seize any assets of crime, but the US police have now taken it to a new level where they can seize assets from the public going about its day to day business.

 

Another example of the corporate intervention within the police forces in the UK, moving towards privatisation could result in police cars being unrecognisible under sponsors' advertising. The Metropolitan police received £23 million in sponsorship deals from various sources and this article suggests it is the thin end of the wedge of police privatisation. 

 

Some sponsorship deals have been vetoed, as with the optician who suggested that officers in Hampshire stop motorists, ask them to read a number plate and if they cannot, give them vouchers for a free sight test at the practice. An eye-catching Thresher's logo on a van donated to Avon and Somerset was scaled down after complaints.9 (source The Independent)

 

I suggest that a good line for a hearing aid company would be Hello, Hello.

[WirralPC]

 

I suggest that a good line for a hearing aid company would be Hello, Hello.

 

It's a very serious subject Megilleland and thanks for your post, but following on from your 'Hello, Hello', this is priceless...

 

[dippyhippy]

Hilarious Paul!

 

Illustrates the point beautifully!

 

Brit Law plc. It's not that much of a stretch for the imagination, is it?

[megilleland]

I didn't recognise the force until 2:55mins.

[Cambo]

Considering privatisation is creeping into all aspects of public services it would be of no surprise to see our police forces being run by different big corporate entities that should send alarm bells ring for the entire British public?!…but will it? or will most people just not bat a eyelid & except there fate?

[jeanharris]

 

It was around midnight when my partner, Julian,  was driving up Berrington Street on his way home after a hard day's carpentry at our Rotherwas workshop, and was stopped by a patrol car. It surprised him: there was nothing wrong with the car and he was well within the speed limit. Two officers approached. The first was officious and discourteous, greeting him with "What's your name?" and asking for vehicle documents.  Those who know Julian will know that he is always calm and composed  and he told me that this was the manner with which he suggested to the officers that before giving his name,  they could give him theirs, along with an explanation for why he had been stopped; he told me that he would have been more than happy to provide details had he been given an explanation and treated with some civility.  The lead officer told Julian that he had full power to stop him and that it was unnecessary for him to give a reason. He did eventually give his name but when Julian reached forward for a pen and paper the officer leaned in, handcuffed him,  ordered him out of the car  and took him to Bath Street police station, ignoring Julian's concerns about leaving our dog in the car in Berrington Street where he remained, initially without an open window and surrounded by drunks and addicts, for around four hours without water. 

At the police station Julian said he saw, for himself, what the ugly underbelly of our police force looks like. On arrival, he was interviewed by the abusive, foul mouthed custody sergeant who responded to Julian's attempt to express concern about the way he was being treated with "I don't give a ****" and he told me he witnessed this same response to others; a lad in the waiting room who was sobbing, distressed and in need of support  was told to keep quiet or he would be put into a cell and would stay there all night. 

 

Julian's possessions were confiscated and bagged up and he was asked to validate the list with a signature.  He declined to do so as he had no clear idea of how much money he had arrived with or what other possessions he had been carrying.   This, and his other observations that the way he was being dealt with was abusive and unprofessional, appeared to infuriate and frustrate the custody sergeant who directed that he be taken to a cell for a strip search for being unco-operative.  The arresting officer was, in fact,  asked by the custody sergeant to give a reason why Julian had been stopped and replied that he had been "out of place" and had had a misted windscreen, in spite of Julian already having driven from Rotherwas with the heater on when he was stopped.  Julian attempted to interject and was told aggressively to be quiet and "stay out of it. "

 

Still handcuffed,  Julian was escorted to a cell where his belt and shoes were then removed. He told me he was careful to offer no resistance because of the threatening dynamic and the sense that one or more officers were looking for an excuse to assault him.  After being shown in, Julian was interviewed by the custody sergeant and three other officers including the two who had stopped him.  He describes the atmosphere as "menacing" and the custody sergeant as "out of control" and deploying classic bullying behaviour to compel him to use submissive language.   He told me he was surrounded by the four booted, black clad officers with weapons fully on show and the sergeant clearly in charge. The other officers looked less certain but were taking their lead from him,  although the officer who had originally accompanied the arresting officer was civil and Julian felt he was uncomfortable with the situation.   At the sergeant's direction, the officers began to make a display of gloving-up with jokes and sarcasm accompanying threats to do the strip search. There was nothing in the cell except a mat and no other equipment except the gloves.  At no point did he suggest that he would resist the search but was still telling them calmly that they  were abusing their powers and that their behaviour was unprofessional and unacceptable. The response was:   "How do you want to do this: the hard way or the easy way?".  Julian is quietly articulate and this clearly annoyed them.  He said he felt the sergeant  was wanting him to step over the line.  The intimidation continued as they indicated that he should remove his clothes an article of clothing at a time.  There was no record of offending, no offence to investigate and no purpose to the exercise: the threatened strip search was clearly intended as a punishment for his earlier lack of compliance.  The objective seemed to be to humiliate Julian by compelling him to repeat words or answer as the sergeant directed. By the time he was standing in his vest, trousers and socks, the sergeant had decided that he had shown sufficient compliance to satisfy the purpose of what can only be described as a "beasting".  

 

After the strip search incident, Julian was taken back to the desk and subjected to further questioning including:  "Would you describe yourself as White British?" Julian responded that he would not. He said the sergeant replied "Let me give you a clue; I would describe myself as White British". Julian said that he replied "Well that is up to you" which annoyed the sergeant further.  Other questions included:  "Do you take drugs?"; "Do you consider yourself an addict?"  "Do you have any mental disorders?"  Julian did not decline to answer the questions but also continued to protest at his treatment.

 

Julian had, since his arrival,  been remonstrating with officers about the abandonment of our dog and he continued to do so after he had been put back into the cell.   He pointed out that leaving a dog in a locked unventilated car was itself an offence and at some point, an officer went to Berrington St to open a window, making him vulnerable to theft from passers by, many of whom were drunk, anti-social and out of control.  

 

Julian remain in the cell for around three hours during which he asked for, but was not given, a chance to call me.  Despite having no criminal record and having committed no offence, he was offered a caution. Rejecting the admission of guilt implied in this, he declined and was photographed, DNA sampled charged, refused a chance to see a senior officer to make a complaint and then escorted out and left to walk back to Berrington Street at 4.00am where  the dog was still in the car.  In spite of an officer having visited me with a partial account of events, no mention of the dog was made and it did not occur to me that he would have been abandoned at the site of Julian's arrest. 

Julian will appear before Hereford Magistrates on 23rd April charged with obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty; 

 

This has been a wake up call for both of us. I'm starting to realise just how naive and complacent the white middle classes can be about these things.  Just asking questions or questioning the right to elicit information can lead you into confrontation with authority and, in this scenario, power is undoubtedly being abused through a lack of proper training, a lack of monitoring, a reluctance to reject unsuitable candidates and a determination by the courts to back prosecutions however spurious and unreasonable. These weren't officers acting professionally in the course of their duty: these were men  using the props of public office to abuse power and dominate. Julian may have done nothing wrong but his non compliance was a challenge and it didn't go unpunished. 

I doubt if Julian's treatment is an isolated case and we would like it fully investigated,  ideally culminating in a full apology, charges dropped,  the expulsion of the custody sergeant involved from West Mercia Police and disciplinary action with follow up training for the other officers involved.  I am inviting others in Hereford with independent accounts that can be corroborated, to come forward. 

Meanwhile,  out canvassing yesterday, I got chatting to a former police officer who told me he'd left the police because prominent, influential men were avoiding prosecution for serious offences due to their Freemasonry connections. 

 

I think we have some work to do here.  

 

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[jeanharris]

Amanda this is absolutely disgraceful.  My husband was in the Hereford Police force many years ago and I don't recall this sort of thing going on at all. I hope your husband is making an official complaint and make sure the officers concerned are reprimanded - yes and an apology would be nice. Doubt you will get it - I am still waiting for one from HC.  Hope your poor dog was ok after this trauma.

[Amanda Martin]

Jeanharris, thank you.  Yes, Monty was OK. Apparently he was anxious and barking as they took Julian away but he would have settled down afterwards and that probably saved him - being a black and white dog in the dark, he wouldn't have been noticeable to passersby but it's a horrible thought.  As one of my prospective constituents said to me the other day while I was out leafleting:  "People think they don't have feelings, but they do." 

The complaint went in last Monday and was acknowledged very quickly but it probably won't be dealt with by the time of the hearing.  

Cambo,  this is the worry really.  It's not that ridiculous a prospect.  

[dippyhippy]

Hi Amanda,

 

I just want to wish Julian well for tomorrow.

 

Take care.

[Amanda Martin]

The video would have been hilarious if not horribly accurate.  J has just said actually it was hilarious.

OK well tomorrow is the day - just the plea I imagine.  

 

Bobby47 thanks for that - I was wondering what would happen to the conviction if the complaint is upheld.  

[Amanda Martin]

dippyhippy thank you so much.  

[Roger]

OK well tomorrow is the day - just the plea I imagine.  

 

This topic has attracted publicity and I am well aware of who will have read it! You may be right that it might just be a 'plea' thing but the papers must have had a second glance to make sure it was fit for purpose. Hope it all goes as well as it can tomorrow!