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From: "Jo Makepeace" (webmaster@schnews.org.uk)
Subject: SchNEWS Issue 544 - Friday 19th May
Date: Sat, 20 May 2006 14:20:11 +0100
Upper Lewes Road squat evicted - Brighton
CRAP DE-ARREST OF THE WEEK
For having a group hug...
On May 12th Sussex Police boot boys intent on a bit of Friday night aggro decided to evict a squat on Brighton's Upper Lewes Road. More than 30 friends of the squatters came and intervened as the police evicted the house.
Initially the cops claimed to be acting "under the trespassing laws" and later to be "investigating a burglary". Brighton is such an anarchist utopia that burglars are allowed to leave the premises with as much stuff as they can carry y'see. Onlookers who did know the law were threatened with arrest for 'being clever'.
When people began to take photos of the bully-boy tactics, the police threatened to nick their camera, under section 19 of the Do-What-You're-Told-Act 2005.
After one happy-snap too many they chased one witness down the street for his camera. As they caught up with him, his friend gave him a big soppy hug and refused to let go - so was nicked for Obstructing a Police Officer.
When she got to the copshop it was red faces all round for the boys in blue, as the Desk Sgt had to explain to his colleagues that as taking photos wasn't a crime, she wasn't obstructing them in the course of their duty. Apologies all round and and then they paid her taxi home!
Meanwhile the squatters were kicked out and the house boarded up. So, more homeless in Brighton and another empty house to split into 76 small but exclusive luxury flats.
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