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Dear Peter Fahey, Police Chief Constable, GMP,
I write to express serious concerns shared by many representatives from organisations across Greater Manchester regarding recent developments of policing policy on demonstrations which have emerged since the G20 protests.
In any review by Chief Constables and others please accept for consideration the letter below which has been sent to yourself as well as the MEN Postbag.
May I make clear that in Manchester the Event Planning Department at Bootle St has over the last eight years enabled and facilitated many protest demonstrations in the City - all of which have taken place without incident and without complaint from march organisers like myself. The right to peaceful protest and the need to maintain public safety have been well balanced.
However the policing of the London protests were severely problematic as evidenced by both media footage and reports from people who travelled down to attend from Greater Manchester.
In Manchester and Liverpool the high profile arrests of 'Pakistani Muslim students' was conducted against a high profile media campaign which implied that the 'suspects' must be guilty of 'terror' crimes - before any charges were made, never mind any trial being concluded. That after no evidence was found they all now face deportation suggests to many that this further course of draconian action is designed to prevent theses students speaking publicly about their ordeal.
Please take our concerns seriously. A return to a policing policy which commands greater confidence and respect from all sections of community is both desirable and necessary for community cohesion and safety.
Yours truly
Mark Krantz
Convener Greater Manchester Stop the War Coalition
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To The Postbag Manchester Evening News
To Peter Fahy, Chief Constable Greater Manchester Police
Dear Sir,
Remember Ian Tomlinson!
No to police brutality!
For the right to demonstrate peacefully!
Ian Tomlinson died after being attacked by police in London. At the G20 protests a woman demonstrator was slapped and truncheoned. Over 100 climate change protesters have been arrested for planning a protest at a coal fired power station. 'Pakistani students' were arrested in high profile police raids like those we have seen over the Viva Palestina! Convoy - where they were later released without charge. Gaza demonstrators, many in their teens, were attacked by riot police outside the Israeli embassy.
This is all evidence of a change to a more brutal approach of the police towards protesters. Is it now a crime to demonstrate?
We demand the right to protest without fear of assault or arbitrary detention! Nahella Ashraf, Chair, Manchester Stop the War
Cllr Afsal Khan, Labour Councillor - Cheetham Ward
Cllr Marc Ramsbottom, Liberal Democrat Councillor - City Centre Ward
Lily Walker, Military Families Against the War
Geoff Brown, Secretary, Manchester Trades Council
Dr Aziz, Muslim Association Britain
Brian Candleland, The Green Party
Karen Reissmann, Chair, Manchester Community Health UNISON
Chris Rae, Chair, National Union Journalists Manchester Branch
Ameen Hadi, Equalities Officer, Salford Unison
Ian Allinson, UNITE Executive Council member (personal capacity)
Daniel Lee, Campaigns Officer, University of Manchester Students Union
Dr Kay Phillips, National Chair, RESPECT Party
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