JULY 2005 PRISONER SOLIDARITY GROUP
Submitted by Big Brother on Jul 10 2005 17:20
JULY 2005 PRISONER SOLIDARITY GROUP
This is a brief statement, agreed at a meeting in Edinburgh on the 7th July. It is addressed to the general public, to campaign groups, and to the mainstream media, and is intended to make clear our views on the recent wave of arrests and detentions.
During the recent protests across Scotland the police have arrested and imprisoned around 354 people. We support all the arrestees, almost two hundred of who are still waiting to be processed through the courts of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Stirling and Falkirk.
We would like to draw attention to specific abuses of police and judicial power:
The use of powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994. Originally intended to be used to search for weapons, it has been used as a blanket authority to stop and search, including searching wallets and taking names and addresses. Almost two dozen people have been remanded in custody, including one aged 16 and one with a child.
Bail conditions been used as a deliberate tool of repression - enforcing an effective deportation from Scotland for many, and making life difficult for many others. Blocking the public from attending the sheriff's court.
Apparently the Principal Sheriff has the power to deny access to court proceedings if there is a ‘fear of serious disorder.' It is chilling how this has easily allowed the creation of secret political trials.
We hope to support all July 2005 arrestees over the next few months. Please get in touch if you wish to offer support. Writing a letter or a card to those detained makes a big difference. Any donations are also welcome, as money for prisoners is very tight.
CONTACTS
July 2005 Prisoner Support Group, c/o 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh, EH7 5HA
Email: july2005solidarity@yahoo.co.uk
Temporary telephone number: 0131 208 0767
NOTES
We support all those arrested during the anti-G8 protests in July 2005, whatever the reason the police have given for their arrest.
So far we have 354 confirmed arrests: over 130 arrested during the Carnival for Full Enjoyment on the 4th of July and 225 during the 6th of July.
Twenty two people have been refused bail and remanded in police custody.
As of the afternoon of the 7th, 198 people have yet to be processed through the courts.
for more news see [Indymedia]
Last Updated ( Saturday, 09 July 2005 )
Jul 13 2005 16:15
#2
Just a quick update -- it seems that at the court
hearing today most of the people remanded were
released.
This means at the moment there is one man left in
Edinburgh prison, arrested during G8 protests but now
held for other unrelated matters.
There are two women in Stirling (Cornton Vale prison).
One convicted for previous unpaid fines, probably out
on friday, one on remand until court on friday.
There are two men in Glasgow (Barlinnie prison).
One convicted for previous faslane stuff, one on
remand.
I only have an address for one of these prisoners.
Please get in touch if you know of others.
Frances Howe
Bruce House
HMP Cornton Vale
Cornton Rd
Stirling
FK9 5NU
Remember that all letters must have a reply address.
You can send her money in postal orders.
Prisoner support meetings are happening in Edinburgh,
I'll let you know when the next one is. As far as I
know, there is no prisoner support bank account, but,
again, I'll try to let you know if that changes.
Many thanks for your support
Jul 14 2005 16:08
#3
We urgently need to get in contact with anyone who may have filmed or witnessed a blockade action on the A9 near Greenloaning on July 6 where a man was wrongfully arrested for assaulting a police officer.
The action took place at around 10:30-10:45am just past Greenloaning junction, between West Third and Williamsfield. Just before people ran onto the A9 there was a mass moonie at the top of the hill overlooking the road. The man was one of the first in the road and he ran about for about 15 seconds before he was arrested.
The police claim that when he climbed over the fence beside the road he jumped onto a woman police constable and knocked her to the floor.
There was a camera crew present, and the man believes he was filmed climbing over the fence and being arrested, but no one found out who the crew were or what organisation they were with.
The charges he faces are very serious and we need to get in touch with anyone who might have evidence relavent to his defence as soon as possible.
If you think you may have witnessed or filmed this action, or know who the camera crew were, please phone David on 07716 013158 or email: davidg8legal@hotmail.com
Witness Callout
- e-mail: davidg8legal(a)hotmail.com
Jul 14 2005 21:30
#4
Don't have any info really. We do need to have more of our own people videoing stuff btw. The branch/MI5 had videos & cameras all over, so maybe our lawyers could ask them . What were the Camcorder Guerillas doing?
Jul 15 2005 16:26
#5
An Arrestee/Prisoner Support meeting in Edinburgh will take place on Monday 18th July 2005, 7pm at the
Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh,
17, West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh, EH7 5HA.
0131 557 6242.
Onlines sources of information:
Jul 18 2005 23:38
#6
Big Brother wrote:
We urgently need to get in contact with anyone who may have filmed or witnessed a blockade action on the A9 near Greenloaning on July 6 where a man was wrongfully arrested for assaulting a police officer.The action took place at around 10:30-10:45am just past Greenloaning junction, between West Third and Williamsfield. Just before people ran onto the A9 there was a mass moonie at the top of the hill overlooking the road. The man was one of the first in the road and he ran about for about 15 seconds before he was arrested.
The police claim that when he climbed over the fence beside the road he jumped onto a woman police constable and knocked her to the floor.
There was a camera crew present, and the man believes he was filmed climbing over the fence and being arrested, but no one found out who the crew were or what organisation they were with.
The charges he faces are very serious and we need to get in touch with anyone who might have evidence relavent to his defence as soon as possible.
If you think you may have witnessed or filmed this action, or know who the camera crew were, please phone David on 07716 013158 or email: davidg8legal@hotmail.com
Witness Callout
- e-mail: davidg8legal(a)hotmail.com
I didn't witness this incident.
But in the court cells I met this guy mentioned, was pretty cut up.
If there is anyway I can help just ask. Otherwise if you speak to him, say thanks for the baccy he passed us 
Jul 19 2005 11:39
#7
Get in touch with him via the e-mail above I am sure that he would appreciate letters of support, gifts and stuff like that. 
Jul 19 2005 11:42
#8
Hia,
there are now only 2 prisoners left.
1.) David gave permission to publicise his name and address:
David Boudon, 92018, held in Barlinnie
Glasgow. ( HM Prison Barlinnie, Glasgow, G33 2QX )
David Boudon is in Court in Stirling on Monday, when he may be released or may be remanded again.
2.) the other person is held in Edinburgh and has not yet given permission to publicise his name. He is held because of other non related G8 stuff, too.
3.) the main task now seems to be to collect money to support people financially. But we need to sort out the bank account first and have not yet been able to agree on any process how to organise future projects like that.
4.) Contact details:
July 2005 Prisoners Support Group
c/o 17 West Montgomery Place
Edinburgh
EH7 5HA
ansaphone 0131 557 6242
July2005solidarity@yahoo.co.uk
cheers and thanks for your help.
Jul 19 2005 14:16
#9
I'll try and send David books, stamps etc. Could also maybe visit, but not due back in Glasgow for a few weeks.
I will do someting tho, I've had the pleasure of spending some time in Barlinne, not pretty.
Jul 19 2005 15:49
#10
Please check beforehand because sometime they may only have one visit per week for an hour. In which case he might wish to see his family.
In anycase by all means send him stuff just beware some Prisons might prohibit some items. It all depends on who's running the system. I think Class war got an article something on their website. (Please correct me if I am wrong.)
Jul 19 2005 21:35
#11
Tis cool dood, I know prison rules only TOO well. Would'nt just turn up , all I meant was if he's stuck I'd visit, via letters.
All I'm sending him is the essentials, books, stamps, paper, pens, and if he don't got one a wind up radio( if I can find it )
Jul 20 2005 17:10
#12
More visits are allowed on remand than when under sentence. Books and magazines often have to be sent direct from publisher or distributor. Take care with choices of what is send bearing in mine others will see it.
Websites of use:
http://www.activist-trauma.net/
If you want name and address of the prisoner held on remand after being arrested July 4th in Edinburgh then pm me or email July2005solidarity@yahoo.co.uk and they should give you it, as he is happy for people who wish to write to him to have it, but I am holding of posting to websites that will be indexed for ages yet.
Jul 21 2005 14:01
#13
Dissent Ireland has recieved names of two people been held in prison until their court date in August. the two people have agreed to their names to be in public
(1) David Boudon, 92018 H.M.P. Barlinnie, Glasgow g33 2qx
(2)John Mackie,18769, H.M.P. Edinburgh,
33 Stenhouse road, Edinburgh eh11 3ln.
Jul 21 2005 15:46
#14
Latest info:
2 prisoners remain on remand.
If you wish to have contact details of these prisoners to write to them then email july2005solidarity@yahoo.co.uk
One in Edinburgh awaits a trial on August the 2nd for breech of the peace arising from events on July 4th.
One is in Barlinnie (Glasgow) is on remand as 'procurator fiscal' opposed bail when he appeared in court 'on petition'.
He had been arrested for Breach of the Peace and released on bail with the condition that he leave the Stirling area. When he packed up and tried to leave the Stirling campsite he was arrested by the police outside the camp for breach of bail because he had not left immediately. At that point the name he gave was different to the name he had been given bail in. He was then arrested and taken to court in Stirling for Perverting the Course of Justice.
He is still under investigation and the final wording of the complaint has not been finalised by the 'procurator fiscal'. There is nothing to plead to yet. Within 80 days of being sent to prison one must be served with the indictment and the trial must start within 140 days.
A solicitor can ask the Crown to agree to an 'accelerated diet' so that a client can plead guilty. Which means calling it earlier but this can still take three or four weeks.
Jul 22 2005 16:16
#15
Hia,
there are 2 prisoners held on remand till their court cases open in August.
Both agreed to have their name and address publicised to receive more support, especialy appreciating letters, postcards and information.
David Boudon, 92018, HM Prison Barlinnie, Glasgow, G33 2QX
John Mackie 18769, HM Prison Edinburgh, 33 Stenhouse Road,
Edinburgh EH11 3LN
John is a local who hasn't been previously involved in activism so far as we know.
Donations to support the prisoners can be made to the Legal Defense and Monitoring Group in London, as we locally haven't yet the bank account sorted.
Also, the ldmg bank account is given as the bank account in which to drop donations for the g8legalsupport, they are very experienced and former prisoners speak highly of them.
http://g8legalsupport.info/donate-please/
Bank Details:
LDMG
Bank Account no 433921080
Sort code 720000
Our bank is Alliance & Leicester
Cheques to “LDMG” sent to:
LDMG
BM Haven
London
WC1N 3XX
cheerio
Jul 22 2005 16:20
#16
Quote:
Also, some of you might not be aware that there is still a prisoner inside from J18 (part of the 1999 anti-G8 mobilisation, after all). Some people in London have been writing to him, but he may have been forgotten for the most part. Hhe had been pretty keen for people to write to him but I'll check all the details out...
Shit he still in prison, surely his five years must be up by now? Anyone know what has happen to him? Is he out? What did he do? Can anyone inform me?
Jul 22 2005 16:37
#17
I think this must be the guy who went on the run and was eventually picked up by the police in Ireland a year or so ago.
Jul 25 2005 11:09
#18
Yeah I'm told he was pick up in 2003 and sentance for 4 years plus 6 months for breach of bail.
The guys name I think is Jim Boric.
Aug 5 2005 17:01
#19
More stuff from the G8 legel team...
The Legal Support Group have been asked to distribute this appeal for video evidence of an arrest of two people during the Boogie on the Bridge actions in Glasgow...
"Two people were arrested on Friday, July 8th in Glasgow some time after Boogie On The Bridge... One, a male was a clown. He had dreadlocked air and a big red clown nose, white face paint and was wearing a pair of john-lennon-style shades and a khaki fishing jacket pink patches of pink fluff sewn onto it. He was effectively arrested for hugging the fairy who was being taken in to custody at the time. The fairy, a female, was wearing a pink t-shirt with "terrorist?" [that's a question mark] on it She was carrying a pink feather duster. The fairy was arrested with the majorly trumped-up charge of "Assaulting An Officer"! His charges are "Obstructing Police Business" and "Attempted Rescue Of A Prisoner"... These charges are complete bullshit and we can prove it too - but we need your help -
Someone filmed the whole arrest scene! About a minute before the arrests, someone with a vid camera filmed the clown complaining... If you are the filmer and you are reading this now, please come forward with this footage! A cop had been stomping on the clown's feet and shoving the clown about. The cop was majorly aggressive. The clown wanted this aggression filmed for the permanent record... Another cop was pushing and shoving the fairy all over the place and purposefully pushing her into people... The clown went on camera and reported the abusive behaviour saying something like "This cop is a real bully, he is pushing and shoving and stomping on my feet. Please film his face and make him famous"... 1 minute later, with the camera still rolling, both the clown and the fairy were arrested together!!! If we can find the guy who filmed this, we belive both the clown and the fairy cases will be dropped pretty quickly... If you didn't film this, but witnessed it, please contact g8legalsupport."
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Did you witness and/or film these 2 arrests? If so, please contact
Aug 8 2005 16:04
#20
At the recent G8 protests in Scotland there were some 450 people detained by the police. These are different from arrests, as the police in Scotland have the powers to “detain” for a set length of time. We know of a number of people who were detained” and then released, so the number of arrests is far less that 450. However, we don’t know how much less as it was difficult to get details. So, we are putting a call out for a number of requests.
Were you detained then released without charge?
If you were, or you know others who were, it would be really helpful for us to know. Otherwise we will be trying to find witnesses for people who don't need then. This takes time away from finding witnesses for people who will be in court and were arrested. Please let us know, by emailing g8legalsupport@riseup.net. Remember, any information given is handled confidentially and stays solely with the g8 legal team unless you authorise us to pass it on.
Were you arrested?
We know of a number of people who are up in court, and we think we have most people, but we want to be certain. Can you email us at g8legalsupport@riseup.net. to let us know the following: What were you charged with, your name, when you are next in court for your “intermediate diet” and “trial date”; when and where were you arrest (place, date, time) – please be as accurate as you can.
We have a number of witnesses to arrests. But, a lot of the time we don’t have the name of the person arrested, only a description. So, if we are to tie these up the following information would be useful if you were arrested. Hair colour and length; male/female; what cloths you were wearing when arrested.
We need any film or photo’s you have
Film or video evidence could help somebody stay out of prison or help with their case in other ways. There were hundreds of cameras and videos around throughout the G8 protests. If not you, then people you know, must have had cameras. They didn’t all belong to the police and corporate media. Nows the time to help others. We need all the film and video footage you have. Please send copies to us at c/o LDMG, BM Box HAVEN London WC1N 3XX . We also need your name and a phone number so we can contact you as you might be needed to be a witness.
All too often people take pictures and videos for their own collection. These never get presented to legal support groups to help with defendants cases. So, at times innocent people go down, because people won’t come forward. Don’t let this be you!
Did you witness an arrest?
Although we have a large number of witness statements for people either detained or arrested, there must have been a huge number of other people who saw an arrest and didn’t report it to the legal support group, or fill in a “witness statement”. Cases are now coming to court. Without witnesses, innocent defendants could be fined or go to jail. If you haven’t already filled in a “witness statement” please do so NOW by going to http://g8legalsupport.info/witness-statements/ , then either email us the details or send it to us at: c/o LDMG, BM Box HAVEN London WC1N 3XX
Aug 17 2005 17:19
#21
Court proceedings are already underway for many of the defendants arrested at the actions that took place over the week of the G8 summit. Intermediate Diets and trials will be continuing through August, September and October.
The G8 Legal Support group are part of a wider network of defendant support that is developing to assist those arrested, remanded and anyone sent to prison as a result of the protests.
We are currently working through hundreds of witness statements that were completed and returned to us following the arrests. However, due to a lack of detail in many of these it is proving very difficult to match witness statements to particular defendants. This is therefore an APPEAL to DEFENDANTS to contact us as soon as possible if you have not done so already.
WE MAY HAVE STATEMENTS THAT CAN ASSIST IN YOUR DEFENCE!
Please contact us at g8legalsupport@riseup.net
In particular we urgently need details of the following:
* YOUR NAME (The name you gave to police and were charged under)
* DETAILS OF THE ACTION YOU TOOK PART IN INCLUDING:
- WHERE ARREST TOOK PLACE (Exact location details),
- DATE & TIME OF ARREST
- WHAT YOU WERE CHARGED WITH
- A PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF YOURSELF (Clothes you were wearing etc.)
- NAME OF YOUR SOLICITOR
- DATES OF INTERMEDIATE DIET AND COURT DATE PROPER
- WHETHER YOU HAVE ANY OTHER WITNESSES & CONTACT DETAILS
- WHETHER YOU HAVE ANY VIDEO/PHOTO FOOTAGE
If you would like to find out more about assisting with defendant and prisoner solidarity email:
july2005solidarity@yahoo.co.uk
If you are a defendant and wish to exchange info and updates there is a listserv set up at:
gr8mopping-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
NOTE: This list is not public and is open only to defendants and those able to attend meetings of the defendants’ campaign in Scotland.
G8 Legal Support Group
- e-mail: g8legalsupport@riseup.net
- Homepage: http://www.g8legalsupport.info
Aug 21 2005 14:01
#22
Just to let people know, David has been released from custody with a fine to pay. Great news that he's out. Let's start preparing to support those with courtcases coming up over the next few months!
Hope you're doing well David!
Sep 9 2005 17:14
#23
srry for not keep you lot up to date has I have forgtten my password to the Dissent G8 group list... 
If you haven't heard already all those in jail are now release but there are trails coming up and warrents for those who have missed court appearances. for further info check with the G8 legel support group. e-mail is attached above this forum somewhere.
8)
Oct 22 2005 17:28
#24
Catch up with the latest glossip
http://scotland.indymedia.org/newswire/display/2171/index.php
There also needs to be some meetings around the use of these powers and what our rights are, as was done with the PTA years ago. This is an important development in the increase of police powers against people.
I was amazed at the normalisation of this searching of people and the 'criminalisation' of dissent (small D) at the eco village in Stirling.
I was considering refusing to be searched on my way out of the eco village, but I was able to drive off without confrontation in the event.