UK Police Raid G20 Protester Spaces

Echoes of the 2008 RNC in St. Paul, MN

Various reports, UK/London, Indymedia, April 2nd, 2009

Crowd control, G20 protest, City of London, 1 April, 2009. (Chris John Beckett)

Two spaces were raided on April 2nd, the G20 Convergence Center (an abandoned pub occupied by protesters for the duration of the event), and RampArt, an activist social centre in Whitechapel, East London that also squats in its space, but has done so for four years. Reports and images from Indymedia London and Flickr CC photographers.

Earl St Convergence Centre Raid

I arrived well after the raid had started. Witnesses said that the riot police had smashed down the door with a battering ram at around 12.30pm and had stormed into the building with full length riot shields pushing people to the floor. At least three people were taken away via ambulance.

Photo: Snapper, Indymedia London.

Others described how the police had kept them awake for much of the night banging on the doors and windows and switching their sirens on outside.

This morning the police began searching anyone coming or going from the building under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994.

Officers were also demanding people's names and addresses, which you are not under obligation to provide under a section 60 search.

However witnesses describe that those who refused to provide their names were then told that they had to provide the details or otherwise they would be arrested under Section 14 enabbled by the Anti-social Behaviour Act.

One man said that when he again refused he was handcuffed and told that this was his last chance to provide his details otherwise he would be taken to the police station, arrested processed with dna taken and so on. He said that at this point he relented and gave his details.

It was later at around 12.30pm that the police stormed into the building.

When I arrived I found police vehicles in all the surrounding streets and cordons in place around the street. Dozens of riot police were outside the building and some were also stashing their full length riot sheilds back in their vans.

People from inside the building were then brought out one at a time handcuffed and sat in the street, where searches of their clothes and belongings continued.

Some observers claimed that the actions of the police were unlawful, the police claimed they were just trying to identify anyone who had been involved in violence the previous day.

I understand that later some people were released, but others were arrested and taken away in one of the many police vans. Later other people who had kit inside the building were allowed in to retrieve it.

Source: Snapper, IMC London

Unlawful eviction of G20 convergence space

Photo: Snapper, Indymedia London.

As people were organising to leave the convergence space at midday today police raided. 30-40 people attempted to protect the space by blockading the main doors. We then congregated on the top floor and sat in a circle with our arms in the air to show the police that we were not violent. However, the police met us with a taser gun, full riot gear and proceeded to make us lie face down with our hands on the floor.

We believe two people were arrested, although we are unsure what they have been charged with. One has been taken to hospital following an injury. The rest were searched, handcuffed and had names, DOB, addresses and photos taken.

If anyone has more information please contact legal support urgently: legal@climatecamp.org.uk

Source: Mae and Han, Indymedia UK.

Convergence Centre Raid Timeline

Photo: Snapper, Indymedia London.

11:44am: Police are stopping and searching people outside the Earl St convergence centre. They are taking people's phones saying that they have been stolen if people do not cooperate. Legal advice is to stay inside the convegence centre at the moment.

12:30pm: 100 Riot police with door opening equipment and armoured vehicles are outside the Earl St Convergence Centre

12:36pm: Police on ground floor of Earl St Convergence Centre

12:40pm: Police are on the ground and top floor of Earl St, people have barricaded themselves in on the first floor

12:44pm: Police are detaining everyone inside the Earl St Convergence Centre

13:25pm: 50-60 Riot Police wearing black still inside Earl St Convergence Centre. People are being detained one by one, handcuffed and photographed by FIT officers before being placed in police vans

13:38pm: Everone at Earl St is being detained. People are being led out the building one by one in handcuffs and are being filmed by FIT officers. They are then being placed up against a wall and searched and having their details taken, Some detainees are then being led away to police vans. Four detainees have been taken away in an ambulance, but their injuries are not currently known.

14:05pm: Earl St now reported to be clear of Police. 40 people still handcuffed o the curb outside. People who left before the raid are now being allowed back in one at a time to collect their possessions. An unconfirmed report claims that people there were tazered.

Source: Indymedia UK.

Police attack Rampart Social Center

Photo: filkaler, Indymedia London.

At around 12:30 this afternoon, 30-50 police arrived at the Rampart, an activist social centre in Whitechapel, East London. A formerly derelict building which had been empty for years, Rampart was occupied by activists and turned into a social and cultural venue more than four years ago.

When the police arrived, someone went outside to speak to them, asking them if they were going to search the place and telling them that if they had a warrant they could just knock on the door. The police told him not to worry.

A few minutes later riot police in black uniforms, wearing balaclavas came through a downstairs window, the door to the roof and a door to an adjoining building. The police broke down the doors and stormed in with drawn tazers, screaming at everyone to get down on the ground, jumping on them and handcuffing them. They had a TV crew with them when breaking in through the door. They were insulting people and saying things like "one of you croaked last night", trying to provoke a bad reaction from people.

They then demanded identification from everyone and checked IDs against what appeared to be a list of specific people. There were 2 or 3 arrests. The remaining people were then let go.

Right now it's calm, however people are a bit shaken after the experience. The cops have left the neighbourhood.

Source: IMC London

Image Gallery
Click for larger images.