No 50, Yule 2002
Plod lose the plot!
We don’t go out of our
way to search out instances of police behaving badly. But over the last few
weeks example after example has been dropping into our lap and we feel we have
a duty to bring them to the public’s attention, especially since such
revelations, even those made in a court of law, do not always make it into
your dependable local papers. As we show here, local cops are all so busy
perjuring themselves in court, snooping around people’s private photos,
crushing innocent motorists’ cars, raiding cafes in bullet-proof vests
and attacking peace protesters with pepper spray that they clearly do not have
the time to actually go out and solve any crimes!
1.
THE case against a Titnore Woods protester
was thrown out of Worthing Magistrates Court when police were caught
out telling lies. In a sensational move on Monday November 11, the
Crown Prosecution Service offered no further evidence against a local woman,
Carol, facing a charge of assaulting a policeman. The incident in question
happened at the end of the big demo against the proposed Titnore Lane housing
and roads development attended by 350 adults and children on Sunday May 26.
Police "evidence gatherer" PC Ashley Sayers, CS049, claimed he
was knocked to the floor by a force from behind, causing his video camera to
strike the ground. This fabricated version of events was supported
whole-heartedly in the witness statements made by WPC DW070
Waters, who claimed that Carol lunged at PC Sayers’ back,
hitting him with her full body weight. WPC Waters claimed that when down on
the floor with her, Carol struggled and that the WPC was in fear of what Carol
was going to do.
These officers’ lies were supported by statements from fellow
officers PC CG217 Gee and PC CV080 Vickers.
Fortunately for Carol and the administration of justice, what really happened
was caught on video by a member of the public who was extremely concerned
about the aggressive behaviour of PC Sayers throughout the peaceful family
march. The defence video, which was not served prior to the trial because of
fear that the police would alter their evidence, clearly showed the unlawful
arrest of Carol’s son and the fact that she was in fact barged -
assaulted - by PC Sayers, with his full body weight, which must be quite
substantial. After the video was put to PC Sayers during his cross
examination by counsel Pam Rose, the prosecution asked for a break in
proceedings and, it would seem, fearing further officers committing perjury,
offered no evidence.
Said Carol’s solicitor, Teresa Blades of Kelly’s
in Brighton: "The concerns which arise from this case are that but for the
video evidence taken by the member of the public, who did not know Carol prior
to this incident, there was a high risk that Carol would have been convicted.
The starting point for assaulting police is a custodial sentence. Sadly,
even when police officers lie, our courts often believe them. Also of
concern is the arrogance of PC Sayers. Although warned not to discuss the case
with his fellow officers who were waiting to give evidence, he went straight
to the witness room. If defence counsel had had her way, his mobile phone
would have been taken off him. Thank you to everyone who witnessed this
incident and came forward. Thankfully the police are not the only ones with
evidence gatherers!"
Note: Not a word of this important and shocking case was mentioned in
any of the mainstream local papers. Why not write and ask them why?
2.
A TEENAGE art student had a shock when she went to collect
photos of her project, which involved a collage including toy guns, from Boots
in Brighton (Argus, November 15). Edwyna Dyer, 19, was first
told to come back in half an hour because the machines had broken (this was a
lie) and when she did return, she was interviewed by a policeman who
suspected her of being a "terrorist". Despite explaining everything,
she was questioned for two hours at the police station and her home was
searched by firearms officers! She was eventually cautioned (for what
exactly we don’t know!) and her homework was destroyed! Said a
spokeswoman for Boots: "Our procedures were followed. If
there is anything sensitive or of a distasteful nature in photographs we have
a duty to seek advice from the police."
3.
MORE than 30 riot cops raided the Bongchuffa
cafe in Rowlands Road, Worthing on November 27. In an astonishing overkill,
police rushed in equipped with bullet-proof vests, helmets and battering
rams. It obviously didn’t occur to them to just walk in, like
everyone else! Some 20 people inside the smoking accessories shop and cafe
were made to put their hands on their heads or tables, searched and questioned
and 12 were apparently arrested. The cops’ motives for the raid can be
guessed at from the fact that they invited the mainstream press along to
thrill at them in glorious action and from the statement from Inspector
Allan Lowe, who told the Argus: "It is important for public
confidence in Worthing that we do take action of this kind." In other
words this, like the ongoing bullying of local environmental campaigners, was
all about intimidation and being seen to be in control at all times.
Fortunately though, Worthing people do not like to be pushed around.
Wheelchair-using manager and cannabis campaigner Chris Baldwin
defiantly re-opened the very next day and declared: "We are determined to
stay open. Hundreds of people come here and smoke. Whether they bust us or the
law changes, they have got to lock me up if they want to stop me!"
4.
A YOUNG mechanic has told The Porkbolter of
his complete disbelief after Sussex Police wrongly arrested him on
suspicion of stealing his own car, banged him up in Worthing cells for
11 hours, refused to give him his motor back and later announced it had
been crushed! The 20 year old dad of a young daughter now can’t
even go to work because he has lost his car - plus many hundreds of pounds
worth of expensive work tools, including Snap-Ons, that were crushed with the
car. He is facing a potentially long and costly legal battle to get some
compensation from the force, having eventually tracked down a solicitor
prepared to take on the police in court. Repeated phone calls to the police to
try and get some sense out of them have got him nowhere. He said: "No-one
wants to take any responsibility. Every time I ring up they just make
excuses."
He explained he had been giving a friend a lift home when he was pulled
over by police in Shoreham - he assumes simply because there were three young
blokes in the car. Police became suspicious because the ignition key had been
lost and assumed this meant it was stolen - despite it being legally owned by
the man, and also taxed and insured. After his 11 hours in the cells, he was
released on bail. He contacted the previous owner of the car, who spoke to the
police for some three quarters of an hour answering various questions and
explaining that the car had been sold to the 20 year old a couple of weeks
previously and the documentation was still with Swansea.
Said the man, who has no criminal record: "I thought they’d have
to say sorry and give me my car back." Sadly, though, things are rarely so
fair when it comes to Worthing police. He was told he would have to wait
before he could have his car back. When the police realised he was not a thief
and ended the bail arrangement, he made numerous phone calls to trace his car
over a four week period, with no success. Then one day a sergeant rang with
the news that it had been crushed, along with his tools, personal belongings
and his young daughter’s clothes and toys. It seems he had failed to
claim it from the police compound within the required time limit. And what did
they police have to say now? Simply that he would have to contact a solicitor
and send in a letter! Said the shocked young victim of injustice:
"It’s just unreal!"
5.
A WORTHING man has told us how he was pepper sprayed by
Sussex Police while protesting peacefully in Brighton against a war on Iraq on
October 31. He said: "We were just doing a sit-in in the road and I was
holding onto someone in front of me when suddenly one of the police squirted
something into my face, without any warning. There was this terrible burning
and I was blinded for 45 minutes. First we’re told we have to go to
war with Iraq because they’ve got chemical weapons - and then the police
use chemical weapons on me for peacefully protesting about it!"
War clouds over the Downs
WITH all the panic-inducing talk
from the Government about imminent terrorist attacks, many Worthing folk may
feel glad they live somewhere so insignificant and thus unlikely to be a
target for bomb attacks or whatever. But don’t be so sure! We have found
out that a top-level international meeting about the future of
NATO, involving leading military and political figures from the
UK, US and Europe, is to be held in January just down the road at Wiston, near
Steyning! The venue is Wilton Park, which describes itself as
"one of the world’s leading centres for the discussion of
international issues" and is run by the Foreign Office.
If you don’t believe us check out the website http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/web/welcome.html
and you’ll see that the meeting from January 20 to 24 is called
"Adjusting NATO to Meet The New European Security Agenda". The blurb
about it says: "How should NATO respond to instabilities at its periphery,
international terrorism and proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical
weapons? How can the transatlantic bedrock of the Alliance be strengthened?
What will be the impact of new members? Can a co-operative relationship with
Russia be forged? What role should NATO play in the Balkans, Mediterranean and
further afield and what related capabilities will be needed?"
We have another few questions. How come this lot are meeting here in
Sussex and nobody has heard anything about it? Will this make us all a target
for those ubiquitous terrorists? Do we want them here or don’t we have a
say in the matter?
Hunt for real justice
REMEMBER the incident on September 1
2000 when Sussex fox-protector Steve Christmas was run over and
nearly killed by hunt supporter Martin Maynard? Ever wondered what happened to
Maynard by way of punishment? With an original charge of GBH with intent
swiftly dropped, he recently ended up getting a £75 fine for not
having any insurance or licence for the vehicle used to run Steve down!
There’s justice for you! Meanwhile, on Boxing Day, December 26, fox
hunters will be meeting all over the place as usual for their twisted idea of
‘sport’. To find out about protests phone the Hunt
Saboteurs’ Association on 0845 450 0727 or e-mail info@huntsabs.org.uk And for a massive
amount of news on animal-related issues read the excellent Shoreham
Protester. Subscribe for only £7.50 for 10 issues - send cheques
made out to SPAAA to 7 Stoneham Road, Hove, Sussex BN3 5HJ. Or check out
http://www.shoreham-protester.org.uk
for email subscriptions.
Pupils press-ganged?
A BUNCH of soldiers from the Royal
Engineers turned up at Durrington High School the other week,
ostensibly to "meet winners of a science challenge" (Worthing
Advertiser, October 30). Strangely enough, though "there was also
an opportunity for pupils thinking of military careers to have an informal
chat with soldiers". With war looming, youngsters will no doubt be dying
for the chance of a short but eventful career in the army. No need to fret
about your pension, either, lads! And plenty of opportunities to get totally
slaughtered with your mates!
Can’t see woods for spin
CONFUSION reigns over the
highly controversial plans to build all over Titnore Woods. On
the plus side, the Countryside Agency has included an area it calls
‘Titnore Woods’ within its planned South Downs National Park,
which could protect some of the ancient woodland and green fields. However, a
spokesman for POW!
warned: "We still have a battle on our hands to prevent developers trashing
the rest of this unique area - even if eventually a National Park is
approved." Meanwhile, developers Persimmon Homes are acting as
if they have already got permission for their Titnore development. As far as
anyone knows they haven’t even resubmitted their outline application,
but they still gave the impression in the Worthing
Herald’s property section (November 20) that they were all set
to build 875 new homes, even claiming "the first homes are currently
anticipated to be ready for occupation by mid/late 2004." We’ll see
about that!
Word watch 2002
Modernisation. Massive downgrading,
reduction to bare minimum. See also rationalisation, privatisation, fire
station.
Regime change. Military coup engineered or imposed by dominant
global superpower to replace ruthless dictator with pro-American ruthless
dictator.
War. Terrorism with a much bigger budget.
Progress. Rapidly accelerating downward spiral to planetary
extinction.
PORK-SCRATCHINGS
WE were intrigued to hear of the row
involving Worthing Tory councillor Andrew Garrett and his
unwillingness to return a laptop computer dished out to him in the heady days
when his party ruled the borough and he was someone important
(Argus, November 13). Andrew, we hope you have not been put off
giving the computer back in case sensitive personal... err.. data falls into
the wrong hands. Why not pop down to Boots and ask them to give your hard disc
a bit of a clean?
* * *
What a splendid tip for providing quality leisure services was provided in
Worthing near the Guildbourne Centre last month. Simply stick together 30
plastic chopping boards and you have the perfect ice rink! Add in a
photocall with Timmy Mallett and Worthing is transformed into a
sparkling, magical Winter Wonderland. Marvellous!
* * *
GEORGE Orwell has come back from the grave and set up a satirical website
called "UK Resilience" http://www.ukresilience.info/, which
claims to be an official government emergency website for dealing with
dastardly threats to the Big Brother state ranging from the firefighters to
terrorists (aren’t they the same thing these days?). It even has a logo
of a fluttering Union Jack to reinforce the Churchillian title. It can’t
be for real. Can it? Please? Meanwhile, internet users can cross that
wafer thin line to genuine satire with some superb US pseudo-propaganda
posters at http://homepage.mac.com/leperous/PhotoAlbum1.html
We knocked up a few of our own, too, for a laugh. Send s.a.e. for copies.
* * *
MORE of the popular Worthing Green Socials have been arranged
for the upstairs room at Barney’s Café Bar in Portland Road,
Worthing. They are on Wednesday January 15 and Wednesday February 12, both 8pm
for 8.15pm start. Contact Richard at rdocwra@hotmail.com
* * *
WORTHING eco-action’s next meeting will be on Tuesday
January 7, 7.45pm, at the upstairs room at The Downview pub opposite West
Worthing railway station. A guest speaker is planned. Details later on events
section of this site or by emailing worthing@eco-action.org
* * *
QUICK quiz. In which militant UK town did striking firefighters hang an effigy
of our beloved Prime Minister Tony Blair from its neck with the
aid of a sturdy noose? Was it Liverpool? Brixton? Glasgow? Nope, you’ve
got it - it was Worthing! So much for sleepy seaside retirement resort -
hotbed of insurrection more like! The spirit of the Skeleton Army lives
on!
* * *
Did you know that M.E.Clifton-James, the man who starred as
himself in the based-on-truth 1958 film "I Was Monty’s
Double" lived in Worthing until he died in 1963? With this in mind, we
have our suspicions about the Worthing Herald columnist of the
same name. We have very recently spotted a subtle change in his now legendary
sense of humour. Is it the same Monty or an imposter? And what have they done
with the real one? We should be told!
* * *
RESIDENTS in Worthing, Brighton and beyond who "bombarded" emergency services
with reports of a mystery stink were told the likely cause was the
oil spill off Spain (Argus, November 21). Or was it the
all-pervasive stench of the decaying industrial capitalist system whose fetid
corruption is contaminating and choking to death the very stuff of life itself
in every crevice of the planet’s surface? Just wondering.
Firefighters: official correction
The following statement was
issued yesterday by the Ministry of Truth and UK Resilience:
"The Ministry has in recent weeks been keen to stress the vital role played by
Britain’s brave and selfless firefighters. We have gone so far as to
suggest, on the eve of the first stoppage, that without these outstanding men
and women being on constant stand-by, the country was in danger of descending
into chaos, with our cities blazing out of control, hundreds of people trapped
in wrecked cars and thousands of lives lost if the firefighters insisted on
taking industrial action. Our warnings having proved incorrect, we now wish to
state categorically that the firefighters are a useless bunch of troublemaking
idlers whose pathetic excuse for a job anyone could do with their hands tied
behind their backs, in their tea breaks, without even trying, and we feel
confident we could reduce their numbers by 85%, and abolish the night shift
altogether without anybody even noticing. God save the Queen."
All the pig stories
The Pork-Bolter is a local independent
newsletter named after an old nickname for Worthing people. It is not really
produced by cartoon pigs but by three-dimensional human beings resident in the
Worthing borough who, we should stress, have never knowingly tricked any
police officers into falling into a huge cauldron of boiling water. (REFERENCE
TO CARTOON SADLY NOT AVAILABLE ON WEB VERSION!)
If you can help distribute copies in any way, big or small, or know
anyone else who can (for instance, by having them available in a shop, cafe,
hairdresser’s, dentist’s, police station waiting room etc) just
get in touch. A free and independent media is vital to any democracy and
together we can achieve that for Worthing!
Drop us a line at PO Box 4144, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 7NZ or send
e-mail porkbolter@eco-action.org e-mail
subscriptions are available on request
Printed and published by The Pork-Bolter, PO Box 4144, Worthing BN14 7NZ.
No copyright. No Boots tokens for Christmas, thank you.
and finally ...
Reclaim Your Town, Reclaim Your Life!
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