BY DALE MILLS
It didn't take long for post-9/11 "anti-terrorism" legislation to be used against protesters in Britain. Police used powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act to stop and search protesters during demonstrations outside of Europe's largest arms exhibition, the Defence Systems and Equipment International Conference, held in London's Docklands beginning September 9.
At least 114 people were arrested during the week-long "arms fair", many being searched. The vast majority were arrested for "highway obstruction" and that favourite of the copper who can't think of anything else, "breach of the peace". No terrorists were found.
Protesters mobilised to denounce Britain's participation in the occupation of Iraq and use of London as a venue where the latest in military technology can be sold to dictatorships and authoritarian regimes around the world.
The use of "anti-terrorism" powers against protesters was widely condemned, from the former Conservatives Party transport minister Steven Norris to London mayor Ken Livingstone. But what did they expect? If the police are given tough powers, they use them. Even the Labour government's home secretary David Blunkett, who is responsible for policing, said that the police abused their powers.
Scotland Yard's deputy assistant commissioner Andy Trotter said that the arrests were necessary. "I don't think the public would forgive us if we allowed terrorists to get through under the cloak of public disorder", Trotter said on September 10.
Mona Arshi, from the human rights organisation Liberty, pointed out that Blunkett "gave a clear undertaking to the House of Commons that section 44 [stop and search] notices would only be used where there is good reason to suspect terrorist activity. The people in Docklands are legitimate demonstrators and it is quite shocking they are being treated as potential terrorists."
Although this is the most public use of "anti-terrorism" powers against protesters so far in Britain, the powers have been used before. At anti-war protests outside the Royal Air Force base at Fairford, Gloucestershire, during March and April, 61 people were arrested and charged with various "public order" offences. Those detained and searched under section 44 included an 11-year-old girl. She was not found to be in possession of any weapons of mass destruction.
From Green Left Weekly, September 24, 2003.
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