Monday, March 09, 2009



The criminalisation of protest

People raising their voices against the government often complain that they are treated like criminals by the police. And in the UK, it is literally true. over there, merely participating in a peaceful public protest is enough to get your name, photo, and personal details stuck in the police criminal intelligence database and retained for at least seven years. It is not necessary to be convicted, prosecuted, or even arrested; merely speaking out is enough.

Meanwhile, the government continues to claim that fears that the UK is turning into a police state are overblown. Turning? With protestors catalogued, a camera on every corner, and now ID cards, I'd say it already is one.