The Tooting Five – wrongful arrests UPDATE
6th December Update- charged but going to appeal
The Tooting Four reappeared at Westminster Magistrates Court and were duly charged with causing harassment although it isn’t clear who to, and how, as there were no victim statements. This protest passed off much like any another with the addition of calling for support for Susan Hall for Mayor. Who knows whether or not it was this support for rival Mayoral candidate so close to the election that caused the “alarm and distress”. Either way it sets a dangerous precedent that any peaceful protesters, who are not causing obstruction or damage, could be arrested on the premise that someone, somewhere, might be offended…an appeal has been lodged. Here’s the post appearance summing up outside the court, and an interview with Nick Arlett by The Daily Sceptic
27th November Update – a lengthy day for the (now) Tooting 4 at Westminster Magistrates Court.
The court saw videos and Police body worn footage of the events of the 6th April. The public gallery was full with interested parties and supporters, including Susan Hall and Howard Cox, who took turns to view the process. The feeling was that many of the police accounts of the day suggested obstruction and at no point were any of the accused seen obstructing the highway or the public. There was a focus from the prosecution on the word play on the placards, and that somehow these were the sole cause of the distress Sadiq Khan felt, despite him not being anywhere near the protest or them being used on placards for the preceding 18 months. The 4 accused were cross questioned and the day ended with an adjournment until 6th December with no indication for the expected outcome.
The Tooting Five went to court on 9th August where they all pleaded not guilty.
The charges against one of them were dropped and the other four are now to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 27th November. Their spokesman, Bromley Councillor Simon Fawthrop, spoke on their behalf outside the court and also explains the situation further in this interview with Lembit Opik on TNT Radio
!! TOOTING 5 CHARGED FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST !!
The Tooting Five were arrested at a peaceful ULEZ protest in April just for not moving quickly enough when asked (some elderly and disabled). They were bailed to return to Charing Cross police station on July 5th and the expectation was that the charges would be dropped but this was not the case and are now to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on August 9th on Section 42A charges and one for obstruction.
Tooting ULEZ Protest
All the previous ULEZ protests passed by with limited police presence and no trouble. They were organised in advance, usually good natured and happened between 12 and 3pm so locals and the police knew exactly what was happening. As time went on, each protest had a fun title or theme and were always family friendly. Protests took place in many locations, around Outer London border of the extended zone, monthly in Trafalgar Square so people could come together from all corners of London, and a few at the inner zone border. Two previous and peaceful protests took place in Tooting, one at the station and one whole weekend event at the common about 800m from the event on 6th April. Tooting was chosen for two reasons, one was that is was Sadiq Khan’s hometown so we were hoping to bring awareness closer to the source as he had ignored us on all previous occasions, unwilling to meet anyone and far too happy to dismiss us with insults. The other reason is that Tooting is on the border of the inner and extended zone and close to the Streatham Wells LTN that caused so much disruption that it had to be suspended. At no point was anyone intending to protest outside Sadiq Khan’s house or to cause distress to his family.
The Police Response
The event started as planned, the early protesters set up a gazebo and banners, even helped by the few local police already in place. There was no indication that we were not allowed to be there and as peaceful protest is still permitted, there was no reason to suspect anything untoward would happen. During the first hour or so, the police started to amass. Protesters arriving late were surprised and horrified to report that they had seen riot vans lined up in the backstreets, all somewhat unusual and worrying. What were they expecting to happen?
At some point later, the protesters were told to disperse and started to pack up – the events that followed can be seen in the videos taken on the day with more personal viewpoints in the subsequent radio and YouTube interviews – thank you to The ULEZ Warriors channel for collecting them all:
Richard Vobes YouTube interviews
Claire Dyer’s perspective of events, interviewed by Sean Finch
The Tooting Five Fundraiser
A fundraiser has been started specifically for the legal representation of those involved so they can access the best legal support as quickly as possible. These protestors involve maintain their innocence and this kind of non proportionate response by the police could easily happen to anyone on a similar peaceful protest. The ULEZ resistance continues…
