Video footage shot in Fortnum & Mason’s Saturday while the store was being occupied by UK Uncut protesters appears to show police asking activists to remain inside the store, and assuring them that they will be allowed to disperse peacefully once outside. The protesters were later arrested en masse as they left the premises.
Of 201 arrests made in connection with Saturday’s demonstrations, at least 138 came at the Fortnum & Mason’s occupation, despite the fact that police and store officials agree that property damage at the action was minimal and violent disruption to the store’s operations non-existent. Police made few arrests at the far more aggressive “black bloc” actions that day, in some cases being videotaped standing by as masked protesters vandalized shops and offices.
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March 29, 2011 at 12:13 pm
26 March Police provocation and snatch arrests « StokeSWP – Stoke Socialist Workers Party
[…] made on Saturday, 138 were against UK Uncut at the Fortnum and Mason’s occupation where property damage was minimal and violence non-existent. Furthermore a video on the Guardian appears to show police agreeing to allow UK Uncut protestors […]