- email: ldmgmail@yahoo.co.uk Postal address:BM Box HAVEN, London, WC1N 3XX
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new documents available
- 26/2/12
- Guide to young people and the police
- Guide to police search of premises
- Bustcard in french
- 29/1/12
- Do you have to give your name and address to the police?
- Survival Guide for Going to Prison (updated)
- Partners' Guide to Prison
- Suing the Police (updated)
- sentencing summary (updated 19.1.12)
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all about solicitors - new guide
- 14/1/12
- A
new guide about using solicitors - what they do, how to work with them
effectively, how to find a good one - is available - click here or
the 'about solicitors' link to the right
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recent sentences
- 14/11/11
- We have compiled a summary of some sentences from
recent student and anti cuts protest cases, it can be downloaded from
the menu on the right
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survival guide to prison
- 26/10/11
- Carl Cattermole has written this excellent guide - click here to read or download pdf
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write to james heslip
- 26/10/11
- Please write to James Heslip who was sentenced
on October 5th to 12 months for alleged violent disorder during the
Millbank protests. Please include his name on the letter inside and
address all mail to him to:
London ABC
c/o Freedom Bookshop
84b Whitechapel High street
London, E1 7QX
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Witnesses Need
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11 October 2011 - Your help is needed if you attended any of the
following: student protests. March 26th (UK UNCUT, Piccadilly, Oxford
Street, Trafalgar Square), June 30th.
What YOU saw during these demos might stop more people going to prison.
We need your help. Defendants need your help. Already we have people in prison when they really should not be there!
If you think that you can help please get in touch with LDMG and GBC asap
ldmgmail@yahoo.co.uk and please cc your messages to courtsupport@riseup.net
This is a very brief summary of a full article at
universityforstrategicoptimism.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/witness-call-out/ -
Prisoner Support
- 11 October 2011
It's Ed Woollard's birthday this week, and it's his tenth month in prison. If you can, send him a birthday message - go to support4edwoollard.wordpress.com/contact-ed/
- 10 October 2011
- Omar was taken into remand on friday 7th october,
pending his sentencing on 28th october. He is at Wandsworth .
Please write to him at
Omar Ibrahim
- c/- London ABC
Freedom Bookshop, Angel Alley, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 7QX
Omar was found guilty of violent disorder at March 26th, so there is no doubt he will get a custodial sentence and continue serving time.
- 10 september 2011
- and london abc is up and running, supporting all prisoners. If you know of any one in jail who'd like support please send email to london_abc@riseup.net
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Sentencing Summary
- 10 October 2011
- Download a snap shot summary of sentencing from student demos and M 26
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McKenzie Friends
- 10 september 2011
- If you want the
best result in
court then you need a good (and we stress good) solicitor and/or
barrister. There are however situations
when you may
want or have to represent yourself in court: if you want to present a
political (non-legal) defence: if you can’t get legal aid and
can’t
afford to pay the lawyers (even then if you were arrested in a protest
situation we may be able to get you free representation).
If you do represent yourself in court you will need to spend a lot of time researching and getting to grips with the law and procedure (if yours is a protest case LDMG may be able to help). One thing you will definitely need is a McKenzie Friend.- see our document for further information about McKenzie friends.
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Defendants Meeting 24th September at LARC
- 17 september 2011
- A meeting for defendants to meet each other and share information that might help them in the trials, for example cctv footage, witnesses, the way trials are being run etc.
- The meeting is for defendants from the student protests last winter, march 26th and june 30th & the wedding this year. It is not intended for defendants from the uk-uncut occupation of fortnum and mason.
- Venue - London Action Resource Centre, 62 fieldgate st, e1 1es. nearest tube Whitechapel.
- When - Saturday 24th September 2.30 pm
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Supporting defendants from London 'Riots'
- 15 August 2011
- We are sorry but LDMG does not have the capacity to support defendants from the disturbances. We have some documents which may be of use, in particular 'No Comment' about what to do if arrested and our Bustcard which has the phone numbers of good solicitors.
- We'd be very happy to give advice and support to
people considering setting up local support campaigns for defendants,
or to hear from anyone who might be interested in making contact with
local community groups
please do get in touch ldmgmail@yahoo.co.uk.
- For this week (beg 15th august) we have someone
co-ordinating court support at westminster magistrates court, if you
would like to be part of this please email us at ldmgmail@yahoo.co.uk
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Witnesses needed - Support during trials
- 10h August 2011
- Trials are underway for people from various demonstrations. Please visit our witness appeals page to see who you might be able to help if you were at the following places:
Parliament Square 9th December 2011 2.30 to 3.30- near Topshop in Oxford Street on March 26th 2011 around 1-2pm
- and who is requesting support at trials on
- 22 - 23rd September 2011
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Were you arrested at Fortnum & Mason and just had your case dropped ?
- 25th july 2011
Time to look into suing the police then.
If you were arrested at the Fortnum & Mason’s protest and your charges have been dropped now is the time to sue the police.
Although success in such a case cannot be guaranteed you have nothing to lose and potentially a lot to gain. £2,000 would be a typical payout for 6 hours “unlawful detention” which is probably what happened to you. Even if you don’t need the money, or you think it will be a hassle (it won’t) we strongly urge you to sue.
Firstly, being sued helps discourage the police from violating people’s rights in future. Secondly, you can donate some of your gains to Legal Defence & Monitoring Group (LDMG) or Green & Black Cross (GBC) to be used to support other protestors who face court actions. It will pay for publicity & fares to court for those less able to pay. For example the booklet “No Comment” was paid for by money paid out by the police in previous cases – so it will be put to good use – as well as you getting money for the trauma and harassment you went through.
Most of you had Bindmans or Hodge, Jones & Allen as your solicitors and both of these firms have good solicitors who will help you sue the police.
Or you can contact Bhatt Murphy who also specialise in police actions. Tel: 020 7729 1115
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Support activists being sent to prison from recent demos
11th august 2011 - Please visit our web page to support comrades being sent down after recent london demonstrations:
- Francis Furney - 12 months for violent
disorder
- Charlie Gilmour - 16 months for violent
disorder
- Edward Woollard - 32 months for violent disorder
- Jonnie Marbles
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Anti Fascist activists imprisoned after protest in Welling, held on 28th March 2009
- 25th july 2011
- 7 Anti Fascist activists have been
imprisoned
after a protest on 28th March 2009 in Welling, S.E. London. The full story and
support details can be found on the Leeds
ABC web site.
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Stokes Croft Prisoner Support
- Stokes Croft Prisoners (see Bristol
Defendant Solidarity page on our website):
Joe Foster (A1421CD) HMP Bristol, 19 Cambridge Rd, Horfield, Bristol BS7 8PS.
Note that Joe struggles to read and write.
On remand pending further legal dates after riots in Stokes Croft, Bristol late April 2011.
Steven Farthing ? (A2939CD) HMP Channings Wood, Greenhill Lane,
Denbury, Newton Abbott, Devon TQ12 6DW
Now serving 2½ years for involvement in Stokes Croft.
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Antifa Prisoner Solidarity - please write letters of support to the imprisoned comrades!
Six antifascists were recently fitted-up and sent to prison. Because of ongoing legal issues, for the moment we are unable to say more about their case, but a full report will eventually be issued. Suffice to say, they have been well and truly fucked over and deserve our fullest support and solidarity.
Please write to them. As always, assume your letters are being read by our enemies and ensure you do not compromise your own security or that of others. Also please note that Thomas Blak and Austin Jackson are as yet unsentenced. For advice on writing to prisoners see the Leeds ABC website leedsabc.org and click on 'Writing to prisoners' FAQ
La lucha continua!
Andy Baker (21 months) A5768CE HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757 Du Cane Rd London W12 OAEThomas Blak (Unsentenced) A5728CE HMP Wormwood Scrubs PO Box 757 Du Cane Rd London W12 OAE
Sean Cregan (21 months) A5769CE HMP Wormwood Scrubs PO Box 757 Du Cane Rd London W12 OAE
Ravi Gill (21 months) A5770CE HMP Wormwood Scrubs PO Box 757 Du Cane Rd London W12 OAE
Austen Jackson (Unsentenced) A5729CE HMP Wormwood Scrubs PO Box 757 Du Cane Rd London W12 OAE
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BRISTOL DEFENDANT SOLIDARITY
Were you arrested at or after the recent unrest in Stokes Croft? Do you think the police might be looking for you ? Do you have friends in trouble? Or fear they may be ?
Bristol Arrestee Support is a group of local people committed to offering support & help to anyone arrested or facing charges.
bristolarresteesupport@riseup.net
Tel: 07746741104
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Prisoner Support
Edward Woollard is in prison. As a movement we have a duty to support all political prisoners.
Please write to Edward:
Email - writetoedwoollard[AT]gmail.com
or by post
C/o. Please consider enclosing a stamped addressed envelope.
Chris Rawlinson,
Student Union
Brockenhurst College
Lyndhurst Road
Brockenhurst
Hampshire
SO42 7ZE
Information and advice on writing to prisoners can be found here: http://www.brightonabc.org.uk/writing.html -
Meeting for Defendants
Student Protest Campagin: Meeting Sunday 15th May at 6pm in the Lucas Arms http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/clubs_bars/venue-1583.php
Arrests in the lead up to and on the royal wedding day: Saturday 14th May 3pm at the London Action Resource Centre http://www.londonarc.org/
March 26th arrests non-F&M defendants meeting: Sunday June 12th 4pm at the London Action Resource Centre http://www.londonarc.org/
F&M defendants should check www.fortnum145.org
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March 26 - Arrest Witnesses
30 March 2011LDMG is seeking witnesses to arrests on Sat 26th March 2011 to help defendants.
Did you witness the arrests in the video below or any other arrests. If so please email us: ldmgmail[AT]yahoo.co.uk
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Were you arrested at the Anti Cuts demonstration on March 26th?
27 March 2011Defendants' meeting - Saturday 2nd April - 2pm - University of London Student Union, Malet Street, WC1E 7HY
Were you either charged with an offence or bailed to return to a police station soon? We know it's a worrying time and information can be difficult to come by. We also know from previous experience that it can be isolating and intimidating. The best way to deal with this is to meet others in the same position as yourself and stick together. The police want you to feel isolated and alone - but meeting and talking with other people facing the same pressures, and working together, can make everyone stronger. So, we are calling a DEFENDANTS' MEETING on Saturday 2nd April - 2pm - University of London Student Union, Malet Street, WC1E 7HY
It could help your case to attend and it will definitely help your confidence. This is a meeting for DEFENDANTS ONLY. If you are not a defendant or accompanying a defendant you WILL be asked to leave.
If you haven't been arrested, but you are worried you MAY yet be arrested, or if your face has been publicised as somebody the police want to question, it's probably best to stay away. BUT don't be put off from coming if you have already been arrested: attending meetings does not breach your bail conditions.
There will be people with legal knowledge, and we can talk about police use of bail conditions. But, the major part of the meeting will be for defendants to come together and decide if they want a defence campaign, and if so, what type of campaign they want: campaigns like this need to be led by the defendants themselves.
Please pass this on to anybody you know who may have been arrested and charged or on police bail, and please circulate as widely as possible, to anybody who may know of anybody arrested.
Above all - DON'T BE AFRAID! Many people support you and are willing to help, some of us have been in this position ourselves in the past. The police are not all-powerful, they can be challenged, and even getting charged does not mean you will be convicted. Defence campaigns in the past have helped people to win in court, and helped to win support for people facing charges.
This meeting is being organised by the Legal Defence and Monitoring Group (ldmg.org.uk ) and the Green & Black Cross (www.greenandblackcross.org ).
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Bust Card for March 26th Demo
24 March 2011Before you go please download a bust card here and bring it with you.
Legal Observers from LDMG and the Green and Black Cross will be wearing orange bibs. We are not working with Liberty and our role is to monitor police misbehaviour.
Legal Observers in orange bibs with 'Legal Observer' on them will distribute 50,000 Bust Cards on March 26th.
These Legal Observers are totally independent from the police and march organisers. They will be there solely in support of those attending the demonstration.Please note that there will also be Legal Observers from 'Liberty' wearing green bibs who will be 'monitoring' the events generally, but NOT doing legal support work. Due to the scale of the event the Legal Observers handing out Bust Cards will not be able to reach all those participating, so please copy and distribute the attached bust card in:
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No Comment: The Defendants Guide to Arrest
21 March 2011No Comment: The Defendants Guide to Arrest has been updated and republished by LDMG.
This little booklet is essential reading for anyone at risk of arrest, which means anyone involved in protests. You can download a copy of "No Comment" here or for a hard copy please send a self addressed envelope with a 2nd class stamp on it to No Comment c/o BM Haven, London WC1N 3XX. Groups wanting bulk copies should email us.
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Training for Legal Observers - Sunday 20th March
14 March 2011Sunday 20th March 2011 at 2pm in central London. Please email ldmgmail[At]yahoo.co.uk to book a place.
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Arrested on Student Demo? Do you have a court date?
27 Feb 2011The Legal Defence & Monitoring Group and the Green & Black Cross are committed to supporting defendants arrested on the student demonstrations through the court process, but we can only be there if we know when you are in court. So if you have a court date and want some moral and practical support - someone who has been through this before or even just a friendly face in the public gallery - please email your name and court dates to Studentdemodefendants[AT]riseup.net and ldmgmail[AT]yahoo.co.uk and we will be there!
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Contact Edward Woollard, Student Protest Prisoner
13 Feb 2011You can contact Edward in various ways. It really does help to keep up Edward's spirits when he receives messages of support, so please consider sending yours.
Leave a comment on the website, on the messages of support page
Email - writetoedwoollard@gmail.com
Write to Edward c/o. Please consider enclosing a stamped addressed envelope.
Chris Rawlinson
Student Union
Brockenhurst College
Lyndhurst Road
Brockenhurst
Hampshire
SO42 7ZE
http://support4edwoollard.wordpress.com/contact-ed/
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Cops clampdown before demo on Sat 29th January 2011
28 Jan 2011The cops appear to be clamping down in advance of the demonstrations in London and Manchester on Saturday. They have been busy briefing journalists defending the use of "hyper-kettling" and charging protesters with horses - see for example:
Guardian:Police could use more extreme tactics on protesters, Sir Hugh Orde warnsSeven people have been charged with public order offences and a further 5 cautioned from previous demos. Reports are also coming in of people being arrested at their homes this morning following previous demos.
If you are arrested say "NO COMMENT" and contact one of the following solicitors:
- Bindmans - 020 7833 4433
- Birnberg Pierce. 020 7911 0166
- Hodge Jones and Allen 07659 111 192
If you or someone you know has been arrested please contact the Legal Defence and Monitoring Group by email: ldmgmail@yahoo.co.uk
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Were you arrested at any of the recent Student demonstrations?
25 Jan 2011Were you either charged with an offence or bailed by the police to return to a police station soon? We know it's a worrying time and information can be difficult to come by. We also know from previous experience that it can be isolating and intimidating. The best way to deal with this is to meet others in the same position as yourself and stick together. The police want you to feel isolated and alone - but meeting and talking with other people facing the same pressures, and working together, can make everyone stronger.
You may be under pressure from your family or college to co-operate with the police. But it is YOUR decision, your future, it is up to you how you defend yourself.
So, we are calling a DEFENDANTS' MEETING on Sunday 6th February at 12 noon. It will be in the KHALILI LECTURE THEATRE at the School of Oriental and African Studies which is on Thornhaugh St (near Malet Street) London WC1H 0XG. (MAP)
It could help your case to attend and it will definitely help your confidence. This is a meeting for DEFENDANTS ONLY. If you are not a defendant or accompanying a defendant you WILL be asked to leave.
If you haven't been arrested, but you are worried you MAY yet be arrested, or if your face has been publicised as somebody the police want to question, it's probably best to stay away, as police have in the past had spotters outside these meetings. BUT don't be put off from coming if you have already been arrested: attending meetings does not breach your bail conditions.
There will be people with legal knowledge, and we can talk about police use of bail conditions. But, the major part of the meeting will be for defendants to come together and decide if they want a defence campaign, and if so, what type of campaign they want: campaigns like this need to be led by the defendants themselves.
Please pass this on to anybody you know who may have been arrested and charged or on police bail, and please circulate as widely as possible, to anybody who may know of anybody arrested.
Above all - DON'T BE AFRAID! Many people support you and are willing to help, some of us have been in this position ourselves in the past. The police are not all-powerful, they can be challenged, and even getting charged does not mean you will be convicted. Defence campaigns in the past have helped people to win in court, and helped to win support for people facing charges.
This meeting is being organised by the Legal Defence and Monitoring Group (www.ldmg.org.uk ) and the Green & Black Cross (www.greenandblackcross.org ).
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New Bustcard - December 2010
06 Dec 2010Here's our latest bustcard.
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Millbank Defence Campaign
11 Nov 2010Were you or anyone you know at the National March against Cuts or at the Conservative HQ in Millbank London?
"We are a network of people committed to unconditional solidarity with those demonstrating at the Conservative Party HQ in Millbank on 10th November 2010. This is the least we can do. The state and corporate media have already started a campaign of repression. We have experience of dealing with state repression with defence campaigns. From the Poll Tax Rioters to the Demonstrators against the Israeli Invasion of Gaza (Dec 08-Jan 09) and the EDO Decommissioners (Jan 09-May 2010) experience tells us you should be calm and careful what you say and do from now on. Irrespective of whether you did anything you feel was criminal, the fact that you were at the Conservative HQ on the day in question means you will be treated as a criminal if the police can get away with it." Read more. -
IHRC Policing, Protest and Conflict
10 Feb 2010Islamic Human Rights Commission report on the policing of the London Gaza demonstrations.
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LDMG Returns
03 Mar 2009After several years of absence, LDMG has returned to the web, we'll be gradually updating and improving this site, much of the information here is out-of-date, but in the meantime here's our latest bustcard.
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NO COMMENT
22 Jun 2004Getting arrested is no joke. It's a serious business.
All convictions add up: eg. if you're done three times for shoplifting, you stand a good chance of getting sent down.
If there's a chance of you getting nicked, get your act together: know what to do in case you're arrested.
Unless you enjoy cells, courtrooms, prisons, you owe it to yourself to wise up.
The third edition of No Comment, the Defendant's Guide to Arrest is now available on this website.
It has been updated and reprinted by former members of the Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) in conjunction with the Legal Defence & Monitoring Group (LDMG).
No Comment is an invaluable guide for anyone at risk of arrest.
If you cannot download a copy then send a self-addressed envelope with a 2nd class stamp to No Comment, C/o BM Automatic, London WC1N 3XX -
DSEI Arms Fair Searches Info
4 Jun 2004Were you searched in London by police during the DSEI arms fair last September? Liberty needs your search receipts ASAP for the second stage of a High Court legal battle against the Metropolitan Police. 020 7378 3653 www.liberty-humanrights.org.uk
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LDMG is no longer contactable by 'phone
18 Mar 2004LDMG has got rid of its 'phone line and cannot be contacted by phone. We can still be contacted by email and post. This decision was taken as the 'phone was in the office of another organisation (we don't have an office) and we did not pick up the messages often enough. Whilst it appeared to be a quick way of getting in touch, it was actually a long winded way, as we had to ring everyone back and often just had to leave messages in return. Email was and remains the quick way to get in touch with us.
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WITNESS APPEAL – Anti Bush demonstration Thursday 20th Nov 2004.
18 Mar 2004On the evening of nov 20th during the anti-bush demonstration 3 people were arrested & charged with various public order offences. They are all arrested on lower regents street. We are urgently looking for people who were on & around the area with or following the samba band.
more... -
DSEi evidence
13 Feb 2004Moss & Co solicitors have recently had disclosed to them by the CPS video footage of DSEi shot from the police helecopter. This shows a number of arrests. Anyone represented by a solicitor should get their solicitor to contact Andrew Katzen (020 8986 8336); anyone representing themsleves should ring Andrew to check if it will help their case.
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MASSIVE AWARD TO ANTI-MONARCHY PROTESTERS
12 Feb 2004MASSIVE AWARD TO ANTI-MONARCHY PROTESTERS FOLLOWING JUBILEE DAY 2002 ARRESTS MET APOLOGISE, ADMIT LIABILITY FOR FALSE IMPRISONMENT AND BREACH OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND AGREE TO PAY DAMAGES
- bustcard
- Do
you have to Give your name & address to police?
- police Information Guide
- young people & the police
- Police search of premises
- Suing the Police
- about
solicitors
- should you ignore police bail conditions?
- reasons not to plead guilty.
- Woollard Sentencing Remarks
- No comment
The defendant's guide to arrest - shout out poster
- Mckenzie friends
- Suvival Guide to Prison
- Partners Guide to Prison
- Sentencing Summary