This is a summary of information I’ve learned out and about, supplemented with legal information from a workshop run by the Green and Black Cross. Useful folks to know, they have a 24-hour line that can be called to get legal advice for protesters: 07946 541 511. This guide concerns dealing with the police during public protests and antifascist actions, and includes the different jobs they do, and how your legal rights work in practice.
Remember, don’t go it alone and make sure everyone along with you knows what to do in a crisis – try linking them to this article 😉
=== Contents
– Introduction
– Types of police
– Police organization and plans
– Searches
– What to do if you’re arrested
– What to do if a friend is arrested
=== Introduction
Depending on your background and where you live, your opinion of police is likely to vary significantly. In school you might have been told they are public servants who bravely protect us from evil, but if you deal with them frequently you’re more likely to see them as, at the very least, frustrating, because they’re perfectly ordinary and no cleverer than you, and yet their word has disproportionate weight in court and they can often get away with being absolute shitheads. Of course, if you’re a busker with a working class accent, or you’re black and live in London say, the police are likely to be a wholly malign influence in your life.
The police aren’t just out to catch crooks. They have another role which isn’t as frequently discussed, and that is to regulate society, from the top down. If you go on a large march that isn’t threatening to the establishment order (like, if your message is “we want jobs!”), you’re likely to run into relatively friendly police. If you’re, say, trying to suggest that austerity is a bad thing, you’ll get cracked down on, as happened with the UK Uncut protests, where the police used “kettling” and mass arrests to disrupt the crowd of people upset that the government was taking money from their grandma’s heating allowance and giving it to bankers that had trashed the economy.
You’ll often find that the impression your protest has with the greater public, as shown through the media, is controlled in co-ordination with the police. If your peacefully protesting mates get kettled or arrested for no reason, you can be sure the mail on Sunday will be screaming about how “SIX TRILLION BLACK BLOC ANARCHISTS ARRESTED IN THE PROCESS OF DESTROYING BRITISH SOCIETY”, no matter what the facts were on the ground. Of course, if everything goes smoothly, don’t expect the press to cover it at all.
This is an interesting contrast, to say the least, with the job the police do of facilitating fascist marches. I draw a distinction between the antics of the far right and other forms of civil protest, because the likes of Britain First, when they go on the streets, are announcing their intention to commit a genocide there, and if they get confident that they won’t be opposed they like to go around beating up old ladies and kids in the wrong place at the wrong time. For this reason, people tend to come together to counter them, at the very least humiliating and pranking them and shutting down their marches if possible. These tactics are known as anti-fascism, or “antifa”, and the willingness to use force and run the risk of arrest stems from the fact that fascist marches are imminent threats of violence against people in the community. The folks who decide whether the risk of a brawl is worth the vital importance of allowing some diseased sadistic morons to screech about Muslim rape palaces in the middle of your town are the police.
So for all these reasons it’s worth learning a thing or two about cops and how to deal with them.
=== Types of police
There’s lots of kinds of cops, and I’ve listed them here in descending order of “friendliness”.
– Police Liaison Officers
Their job is to get information, and they will quickly introduce themselves to you with elaborate amiability. Replying to them with “no comment” or “I’d rather not chat” is wise, it’s not worth getting into a conversation with them. Don’t let them distract you, don’t let them pump you for information, don’t let them lie – always remember that they’re trained to manipulate you and get information on you and your comrades. I’ve had one come up to me and insist I was his friend Stan from Brighton; they’ll try all sorts in an attempt to disarm you and get you talking! They often wear blue vests.
– Community support officers
A common sight in large towns, but they don’t get deployed during protests.
– Media police, the “Forward Intelligence Team” aka “Evidence Gathering Team”
They pack cameras and often have orange highlights on their uniforms. Depending on the situation, ignoring them might not be beneficial; you can block their view with flags if needbe. If someone get prosecuted by the police, they MUST send you the films they’ve taken – but will only do so if you ask them! And if the film involves you, a freedom-of-information request can be used to get the footage.
– Bobbies
The rank and file on an action are ordinary constables. In modern Tory Britain, they’ll usually have to come in from their day off to deal with protests, so they’ll often be grouchy. Watch these guys closely – the way they’re dressed and how they act can tell you a lot about what the police expect and what their plan is. Stab vests aren’t uncommon, but bobbies in bigger armour or even boiler suits is a sign they expect to see trouble – or make it. You might see an inspector, who will have weird insignia and sometimes red markings on their uniform. When they start talking to the sergeants, things will start happening…
– Plainclothes
These officers aren’t usually that sneaky. They sometimes can try and provoke fights, and often will shadow you and guide other police. Point them out to your comrades and avoid them!
– Spy cops
Embedded specialists. You won’t see ’em.
– Horses
I’ve not been on the receiving end of a horse charge and can’t give too much advice.
– Snatch Squads
If your reputation grows as a political activist, the police might decide to just remove you from a position of leadership themselves. They rocket out from the police lines and take back high value targets. There are tactics to prevent this from happening, the first of which is awareness. Linking arms with your larger friends quickly can form a barrier that can deter snatch squads.
– Tactical Support Group
These guys are often bussed in from elsewhere, and their explicit job is to get violent. Watch out.
=== Police organization and plans
The police are a hierarchical organisation, and are meant to follow orders from above in their every action. Some individual cops like to get creative and do silly stuff like fighting, but in general if they are all acting the same way you can be sure it’s because they’ve all been getting the same orders. It’s always worth trying to figure out what their plan is.
Most pertinent to the wellbeing of your friends is whether they’ve been instructed to get violent. While police will understandably draw their weapons to defend themselves if they feel threatened, if they get the batons out before anything has happened at all, it’s a sure sign that they’ve received orders to, uh, “escalate” things. Again, in Tory Britain the police will often be outnumbered and poorly supported, and they may get orders to get aggressive as a way of intimidating people, in the hope of controlling the situation. Their attitude can change alarmingly quickly – beware.
Most police units at protests have a specific structure, which is worth knowing. Teams of about eight constables operate under the direction of a sergeant. Several of these sergeants will answer to an inspector – for small protests there will be one inspector, but large operations may necessitate the attention of several of them. These inspectors answer to their chief back at base. Police start the day with a plan and they don’t like getting separated, for obvious reasons. They will take shifts in covering large actions.
In your daily life it’s worth getting police out of your business as fast as politeness will allow. Some police are jollier than others, but bad people join the force specifically so they can be dickheads to their “inferiors” and it’s not worth the risk of running into one of those. However, in specific situations on a march or counter-demonstration it can be worth asking questions of the constables (not the blue apron guys) like, for example, if they plan to let the fascist march go ahead, and when they will disperse them if not. It is wise to delegate whoever among you has the steadiest nerve, palest skin and most convincing middle-class accent to do this. Don’t get carried away – it’s worth noting that any “rapport” you might try and make will disappear immediately if the police receive orders to draw their batons and get vicious.
Police will often try and contain protestors, particularly if they are showing up to counter neo-nazi demonstrations. It’s useful to have local people with you who know the lie of the land, it’s essential you stick together, and you must keep your eyes open in case you’re being shepherded into a trap! In my experience it’s worth taking half an hour to look over the route through town, and if possible predict where fascists are likely to try and march.
=== Searches
Searches are common during protests but also happen in regular life. The police have rules of engagement, and though often they don’t remember them, you’ll be far better off knowing them. “No comment” is a good response to any question you’re asked; or “Do I haven’t to answer that?”
On a protest, it’s wise to leave anything unnecessary at home, and put tape over any ID that has your name on it – the police can’t remove that without cause. Filming yourself is almost always a bad idea, as the police can make use of the footage.
If you’re a good pal, then stay nearby when someone is being searched – the police can ask you to stand back if you move too closely, and it’s best to do as they say unless you want to get arrested for obstruction, but they won’t often try and dismiss you outright. Be sure to talk only to your comrade, not to the police officer, as cops can get irritated quickly if they think you’re trying to distract them.
You can demand a particular type of officer to search you. The gender of the police should match the gender of the suspect, for example, but they may decide not to respect this.
Police must state specifically what they’re looking for, and they don’t have a right to anything else! This can be useful; for example, the police want your wallet. It’s packed with delicious intelligence on you and your friends. But if they state they’re looking for someone who was spraying some graffiti, they’ve no right to it. Your phone is an even bigger prize, as it contains wonderful things like contact information and conversation histories. Leave phones at home if possible, or at the very least secure them with a password. Keep your nerve – if it’s unrelated to their reason for searching you, never hand your phone over.
You don’t have to tell them your name and they can’t get it out of you! If you’re wearing a mask for whatever reason, you are legally allowed to keep it on during a search, but the police likely won’t accept this even though they’ve no legal right.
They should also give you a receipt, stating what they did and at what time, and where they took anything they confiscated from you.
=== What to do if you get arrested
Don’t panic, it happens, and if you play your cards right you’ll be out none the worse for it. But that’s only if you play your cards right – the police have every incentive to get you in trouble, but often they can only set the bait, and if you’re canny you can dodge their traps.
You will be clapped in irons and taken to the station, where you will be booked in. That’s when the clock starts ticking. They’ll ask your name and address, but you don’t have to give them any personally identifying information. However, fingerprints will be taken, as will photos. You have a right to a healthcare assessment.
Important advice incoming: Make sure you know a good solicitor. Legal advice at the station is free! Some firms work specifically with protesters or antifascists, and just knowing their name is enough. Knowing the phone number is preferable – and it’s sensible to confirm that the person you’re talking to on the phone is who you think they are.
Police stations have a duty solicitor. These guys work for the police and are infamous for giving terrible advice that will get you in more trouble. The cops are counting on you not knowing anyone else, and if you know you have a right to legal advice, but you don’t know any particular firm, you risk being fobbed off with the duty solicitor. Honestly you’re better off with one less voice trying to get you in trouble.
After you’ve been processed, then you have to wait, sometimes up to five or ten hours. It’s lonely, and no-one is in a hurry. Your comrades will be waiting outside the station, if they know where you are.
The next step is often a police interview. The only purpose of these interviews is to get you to incriminate yourself or other people – if they have enough evidence to charge you outright, then they won’t bother with an interview! Interviews last for about 20 minutes. Unless you have a friendly solicitor with you your best friend is the phrase “No comment”. Don’t be a wise-ass, and don’t give any details you don’t have to. They’ll try and pressure you, sure, but they can’t extract answers from you unless you give it to them. So rather than wondering if it’s safe or not to answer, just stonewall them.
One essential piece of advice is NEVER ACCEPT A CAUTION. “Cautions” are legal admissions of wrongdoing that the police might suggest to you as a way of just getting out of the station quicker. After several hours in a cell the motivation to take this card is understandable, but don’t do it! The police bring out cautions if they don’t have enough evidence to actually charge you with a crime, but cautions stay on your criminal record nonetheless and can be used against you in a hundred ways.
After the interview, you might have to wait a few more hours. Sometimes the police will charge you there and then, but it’s far more likely that they’ll just release you without charge or bail. Bail can make things more complicated – I’ve never been released with bail conditions. A good lawyer can help alleviate the terms of your bail, among other things – I can’t stress enough how unbelievably helpful it is to have someone on your side who knows how all this stuff works.
=== What to do if someone else is arrested
De-arresting someone is hazardous but can be worth the risk, though I’ve no experience in it and you really need to work together and know what you’re doing. Failing that, once someone is arrested, they’re out of action for the rest of the day.
You should endeavour to find out the following things:
– Which police officer made the arrest
– Who was arrested. Arrestees understandably might not want to tell you straight, so ask around in private among your comrades.
– Under what legal power the police were acting when they made the arrest.
– What time the arrest was made
– And perhaps most importantly, where they’ve been taken!
Chances are they’ll be fine and will be released without charge. If not, the information above can be vital to a legal defense.
Good friends will head to the shops, get plenty of snacks, pull out the playing cards and then settle down to wait patiently outside the station until the police finish doing their thing. While you’re waiting, one of the blue-apron officers might come out to pump you for information. Try to politely prevent this from happening.
=== Conclusion
I hope this guide is helpful to anyone who is a beginner at protesting government barbarity or resisting fascist movements. If you keep this stuff in mind, the police will be significantly less intimidating and you stand a good chance of getting your friends back from fighting the forces of evil in one piece, with victory in your clutches.
Having seasoned allies close-by is important for your wellbeing both before and during any actions, and remember, it’s got to be a little bit fun otherwise you’ll get burned out quickly. Keep a positive attitude and take care of yourself, comrades.