They Came for Paint and Chalk {RTS}

by redjade Tue Sep 23, 2003 17:24

Then they came for the chalk...

by conor (wsm personal capacity) Tue Sep 23, 2003 17:28

excellent pictures as ever !

by Chekov Tue Sep 23, 2003 17:44

Shortly after arriving at the RTS meeting point at the spike, my bag was suddenly grabbed from behind. I turned around and saw a uniformed guard attempting to open it. I grabbed the top of it and held it closed. He started pushing me and kept on trying to prise the bag open to have a look inside. I repeatedly demanded that he tell me what under what powers he was performing the search. He responded by continuing to force the bag open and pushed me backwards out of the crowd. This caused me to lose hold of my bike which fell over into several other people. Eventually, as I kept up my demands, he stated "section 4 of the criminal damage act". I replied that I did not believe that that act gave any powers to perform searches, but relaxed my grip on the top of my bag. He then finally succeeded in forcing the bag open to see nothing but an anarchist flag inside, at which point he said something to the effect of "right it's done now" and proceeded to move on to search another bag beside me.

The attitude of the cops in these searches was very aggressive and during my standoff I thought that I was about to be dragged away and arrested. I have since investigated the act that he quoted (linked to below) and confirmed that there is no provision for these searches in the criminal damage act. In all cases mentioned in the act, the search can only take place after arrest unless there has been a warrant issued. Perhaps I have missed something, and if so could someone point it out to me, but it seems that the gardai were breaking the law: invading people's privacy and even assaulting people in pursuance of this illegal act - if I had done anything remotely similar to a guard as he did to me I would be 100% sure of being convicted for assualt.

1 very severe and draconian law for the poor
1 laughably lenient and understanding law for the rich
No law whatsoever for the guards.

by Wat Tyler Wed Sep 24, 2003 02:42

Looks like the guards are on to you. Ireland's a small place and these country lads have no time for your urban smartness. Ireland's that sort of country, even a police search is done informally.

Don't get too worked up about it, the police can stop and search you anytime they want to. If people didn't break the law the police wouldn't have to do these sort of things.

by Ah now lads Wed Sep 24, 2003 02:56

I see in one of the photos one guard with about ten of ye close to him. There were more of ye and yez did nothing! That's the trouble with pacifists.
I've always wanted to say this: "When I was your age...."

Motto: "Always get your revenge in first"

by Chekov Wed Sep 24, 2003 15:00

the truth is I never really wanted it.

I was just pointing out that the police were breaking the law. The police can search people on the spot but only under the misuse of drugs act, when they have reasonable suspicion. Of course some people think that the police should be allowed to do whatever they want and we should be happy about it. I don't.