Just a reminder - Fitwatch Meeting

Saturday 8th March, 2pm, LSE Connaught House, Aldwych, Room H103.

See you there.

Surveillance at Nottingham

Coupla examples here from the eight pics I've just uploaded to Flickr.

The Climate Camp gathering at SUMAC in Nottingham, 1st/2nd March '08.

Think they were Nottingham cops rather than proper FIT but not sure. Also unfortunately didn't manage to get pics of collar numbers.
They were monitoring arrivals during the morning on both Saturday and Sunday, and during lunchtime Saturday. Seemed to disappear during the afternoon of both days.

There was a three-man team at the front, and we spotted the unmarked car with two in at the rear.

How to Fitwatch

Fitwatch Meeting this Saturday, 8th March, 2pm
LSE (Connaught House, Aldwych) Room H103
Everyone welcome.

Fitwatch has proved to be a highly effective tactic against surveillance by public order police.

Although really, it is better described as a range of tactics. Some are as simple as taking a picture, or making a note of numbers. Other tactics are more confrontational and actively prevent the police accumulating the data they use for their 'preventative' public order policing. There is a tactic for everyone, and all of them are very effective.

To get involved, you need only bring a camera, placard or banner to your next demo or meeting, and get fitwatching. But you would also be very welcome at the Fitwatch meeting on Saturday so that we can share experiences, develop tactics and create an effective response to FIT and public order policing.

Just as an aside, it seems that even security firms have taken notice. The following testimonials are taken from a Group 4 Securicor briefing, and from the website of the security outfit Inkerman, who make it their business to protect companies from the attention of trouble making protestors. According to Inkerman, we are 'counter-surveillance'. Sounds posh innit?

"8 March 08 – London – The anarchist group, Fitwatch, is arranging a series ofmeetings that begin in London to discuss the nature of policing at protests anddemonstrations. Fitwatch are an active group that prevents Police ForwardIntelligence Teams (FIT) from gathering information during protests anddemonstrations. Fitwatch insist FIT are an oppressive reflection of the state'sattitude towards protest groups. Fitwatch aim to use the meetings to discussongoing tactics and to attract support. The first meeting is to takeplace at the LSE" (Group 4 Securicor)

"Another protest group against the use of cameras and surveillance of activists has been established and holds growing weight within activist movements. FITWATCH is a counter-surveillance group, who take photos and try to obtain the personal details and identification numbers of the officers in FIT. Photographs of the officers concerned have been posted on activist websites."(Inkerman. See http://www.inkerman.com/static/files/1197479765-theinkermanmonitorecoterror.pdf for their report on 'eco-terrorism'.)

Fitted Up Again (although this time by those supposedly on our side).

CAAT (Campaign Against Arms Trade) and Liberty are bringing a case against the FIT to Judicial Review (http://andrewwood.members.gn.apc.org/judicialreview/about.html).

This case dates back to April 2005 and is in relation to the intrusive nature in which
FIT took photographs of CAAT members after they left the Reed AGM (the company responsible for organising DSEi – the world's largest arms fair).

On the face of it, this is something Fitwatch should be supporting. However, it doesn't take much digging to discover this is a case of liberals devising one rule for themselves, and one for those they conveniently label as violent anarchists.

I was one of the two female demonstrators named in both Claimant and Defence statements. One of the arguments the police are using is basically that the Claimant was a potential suspect because he was seen talking to me. I have convictions for protest, and I believe in confrontational action. However, several of my convictions have been as a result of CAAT supported and organised protests.

Throughout the whole process, dating back three years, I have never been asked for a statement, never been included in any discussion about documents which obviously involve myself and a friend. This is despite the fact we are both well known to CAAT.
CAAT are denying I had anything to do with their protests (which is strange as we got shares as a result of our contacts within CAAT). They want to play the game of nice and nasty protester, and any judgement made on this basis will not be worth the paper it's written on.

Unless we fight for the rights of every protester we are fucked. If we're going down the legal route, then it needs to be a judgement based on the grounds the police have no lawful grounds to photograph people period.

Fitwatch was born out of the idea of acting in solidarity with each other. This case has nothing to do with solidarity. It also has nothing to do with truth – as shown by the fact CAAT are denying any association with us.

Getting out on the streets and opposing their tactics by all and every method available to us will and is having an effect. This Judicial Review is a missed opportunity to support the action of activists and will instead serve to alienate them.

Come to the Fitwatch meeting on 8th March and let's work out how we can kick the police off our demos forever.

Fit Watch Trial - 6th and 7th March

The next Fit Watch trial is taking place at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court, Harefield Road on 6th and 7th March.

A Fit Watch activist, charged with obstruction, is planning to argue that the police were not acting in the execution of their lawful duty whilst photographing people attending the Climate Camp last summer.

At the last hearing, two CID officers from New Scotland Yard, so they are taking Fit Watch and the legal challenge seriously.

Superintendent Algar, who authorised the overt filming of protesters, will be crossed examined to justify the lawful basis of his actions.

Support is welcome, especially anyone happy to come and photograph and FIT and other cops attending court (nearest tube - Uxbridge).

Fitwatch meeting 8th March

Pissed off with political public order policing?

Think it's time for a collective response to police harassment andintimidation?

Fitwatch was born out of deep frustration at the ease with which police harass activists and disrupt protest, particularly through the use of surveillance and other intelligence gathering tactics.

Share this frustration?

Come along and discuss how we can build momentum and create a working resistance to this police bullying.

There are a range of tactics open to us – some less confrontational,others more so.

A little resistance from a lot of people can go a long way...

All welcome

London School of Economics
Connaught House,
Aldwych
Saturday 8th March
2pm

Nearest Tubes: Holburn or Temple

Meeting will be held in Room H103. Entrance is in Aldwych next to Nat West bank.

e-mail: defycops@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.fitwatch.blogspot.com/

Antifascist demo, London, Feb '08

Sorry folks but didn't get any really useful pics from this. Was using a new lens and hadn't quite sussed out the optimum camera settings, so ended up with a load of pics that were completely useless. Plus, because the participants didn't know me they were a bit iffy about me taking pics.

Interesting observation though... FIT-types were there (saw a couple of very familiar faces) but not in usual garb... just dressed as normal cops.




The other coupla pics I'm publishing can be viewed (if anyone's interested) at this Flickr set.