#CopsOffCampus Demo: Advice

Stay Safe – via Fitwatch

Here are some simple tips to help you stay safe and protect your anonymity. Follow the links if you want more information.

• It’s December; so big jackets, hoods, scarves and gloves are a good idea. These will not only protect you from the weather but also police intelligence gathering. If you don’t have time to think properly about what you wear to the demonstration (it is strongly advised you do) at least make the effort to mask up.

• Attend the demonstration with a group of friends  as an acting affinity group – with all members clued up and ‘on the same page’ for the day.

• Read legal advice before and accept bustcards from legal observers. Full arrest guide here, or multilingual bustcard here.

• Maximum crowd solidarity: outwit the police, stay mobile, communicate with each other if you see kettles forming.

• Snatch squads are small, triangular formations of riot police that move into a crowd to ‘snatch’ individuals from the crowd. Let others know if you see them forming. If someone gets snatched grab them by the waist. Everyone else should link arms.

• FIT, Police camera teams (EGT’s) and PLO’s (cops in baby blue bibs) are there to gather intelligence. Defend your anonymity and safety by blocking and disrupting them as much as possible. A greater number of people engaging in this tactic makes it safer for all.

• On police bail? Break your conditions! Read more here

• Be confident, refuse to be intimidated, assert your freedom!

Documenting the demo

• Do not publish photos/videos containing people’s faces. Use Applications for your smartphone to obscure any faces you mistakenly feature.

• ObscuraCam is a free app for Android which allows you to pixelate multiple sections of an image.

• Touch Blur is a free iOS app which allows you to blur required sections of an image

• Do not broadcast instructions from the police. Do not publicly acknowledge conditions set down by the police during the demo.

• If you have a phone with you on the day, be aware of applications which you may be logged into. Sign out of unneeded applications (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc). Backup and delete sensitive contacts.

• Be aware of how grassroots coverage could be used for intelligence gathering purposes when attempting to prosecute anyone arrested; communicate what is necessary, but avoid turns of phrase that may well be twisted to appear incriminating.

Non-Compliance with Mass Arrests – via Cops Off Campus

 

KEY ADVICE IF GOING ON A PROTEST – Via Green & Black Cross

Download / Print / Distribute a ‘Bust Card’ with our arrestee support number on it. You can use you own or ones we’ve already prepared: DOWNLOAD THE BUSTCARD [PDF]

Write a legal support contact number on your forearm (07946 541511 plus a solicitor with relevant experience)

IF ARRESTED – NO COMMENT

You do not need to talk to the police about anything. If you are arrested, giving your name and address will speed up the process of being released. Any other information may be used against you and once you start talking it can be hard to stop: so don’t say anything, it is easier! If they ask you questions, just say ‘no comment’, until you have spoken to a solicitor and don’t sign anything.

DON’T USE THE DUTY SOLICITOR

If you’re arrested you have a right to FREE legal advice. You can use a ‘duty solicitor’ but we STRONGLY advise against. If you haven’t been told at the protest of local solicitors who have experience of dealing with protesters, we recommend you use BINDMANS (020 7833 4433) who should be able to come to your interview if you are in London or otherwise advise you by phone on what to do.

DON’T GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS TO POLICE

When you are stopped or searched under any search powers, you don’t have to give the police your details. The only time you are legally required to give your name and address is if you are driving a vehicle or involved in a road traffic accident. If you are suspected of anti-social behavior (causing harassment, alarm or distress) or when the cops want to issue you with a summons with or fixed penalty notice, then the cops can arrest you if you fail to give them your details.

If you are arrested but you think there is no good reason for your arrest, the police may be just trying it on to get your personal details (they have a database to fill). At this point you can still refuse to tell the arresting officer and say that you will give your details to the custody officer at the police station. You may find you are simply released so it can be worth waiting it out.

AVOID LETTING THEM PHOTOGRAPH YOU

You don’t have to make it easy for them to photograph you – they have no power to force you to comply with being photographed or filmed unless you are being processed at the police station.

Check out the resources page for more info.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US VIA 07946 541511 (KEEP THIS NUMBER WITH YOU)

* Call if you want practical advice about your rights!

* Call if you want arrestee support for your protest or action!

* Call if you want to know what to do after your arrest!

* Call if you were injured or subjected to unacceptable police behavior!

* Call if you filmed or witnessed an arrest or police misconduct!

* Call it you want information about the legality of occupations or campus protest!