Deputy Mayor Asher Craig will be on the call tomorrow with me, Habib Kadiri of StopWatch UK and Mayor Marvin Rees. Here are a few things you should know about stop and search from our awesome policy research team at Bristol Copwatch. #WeCopWatch

The Home Office has today announced that new protest bans on individuals - Serious Disruption Prevention Orders - come into force today. Read Netpol's explainer on the implications for campaigners netpol.org/2024/03/14/ser…

There were lots of other interesting presentations, from StopWatch UK's work on stop and search to the human labour issue precipitating the witch-hunting trials, from Welsh language rights in prison to the characteristics of the Scottish system, to the dangers flag independence

Police pursuits end and ruin lives.

Want an introduction to why we're supporting the family-led campaign to #EndPolicePursuits ?

Here's your afternoon reading!

Thanks to Red Pepper for this piece.

Eric Adams not only revived police units that were disbanded in 2020 for their disproportionate abuse against Black and brown New Yorkers, he revived stop and frisk. Since he became mayor, 97% of all stops and searches have been on Black and Latino New Yorkers.

The inspiring women activists at Police Spies @Out_Of_lives have got a new film about the #spycops scandal.

We had a fantastic and empowering time with #NPMP
#JET and our friends from StopWatch UK.
Here's the latest from one of the greatest. #WeCopWatch

bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-n…

Despite what the police may tell you about community support for stop and search #Section60 is an ineffective and racist police power. We will be in a meeting with StopWatch UK and Mayor Marvin Rees to discuss this and stop and search on 8/4/24.

Credit StopWatch UK

Bring on the armchair brigade!

stopwatchuk.substack.com/p/march-2024-b…

If anyone is still unconvinced that the current model that stands for UK policing, cannot be - and should never be - allowed to police itself, they are advised to read Charged: How the Police Try to…

A Greater Manchester Police officer has been removed from frontline duties after he detained and handcuffed a nurse outside Royal Manchester Children's Hospital following an apparently enraged 'welfare disagreement' with her over a missing teenager. bbc.com/news/uk-englan…

#BlackLivesMatterUK Big Brother Watch Liberty Lewisham Anti-Raids London Renters Union - Lewisham Branch Lewisham Copwatch UNJUST-UK StopWatch UK Erase the Database UK Another man has been stopped and harassed by police - before being let go.

Police surrounded and stopped him for being ‘wanted’ on their list - but he wasn’t.

We're excited to announce the launch event for our upcoming new report 'Criminalising Distress'. Panelists include Dr Jay Watts, former StopSIM members, Avani Ela (MRN) & others tba.

Fri April 26th, online & in-person.

Read more and register: link.medact.org/CDReportLaunch

#BlackLivesMatterUK Big Brother Watch Liberty Lewisham Anti-Raids London Renters Union - Lewisham Branch Lewisham Copwatch UNJUST-UK StopWatch UK Erase the Database UK Police in Catford just stopped someone ‘for covering his face’ going past the face recognition cameras.

There’s no law against covering your face (and no s60AA in place).

We reminded the police & their chief confirmed it - so they let him go.

Police break any laws they want.

🚨Police face recognition surveillance van now active in Catford🚨

Cameras facing both ways up Rushey Green.

Police are in groups around the van to stop, question & search anyone ‘identified’ - or misidentified.

Children as young as 14 have been wrongly stopped in the past.

TODAY:

Police face recognition surveillance van has arrived in Catford.

The van is just north of the Catford cat, on Rushey Green.

Avoid the area if you can, or mask up and keep out of sight of the van.

Location:

🧵Just off the phone with Josh, who owns the company that was subjected to this racist stop and search, now NFAd.

The Met Police eventually admitted they were stopped because they were in a ‘nice car’, how triggering.

You’ll be hearing more soon. 1/2

LFR cameras scan the faces of every person that walks within the view of the camera; the system creates a biometric scan of every viewable person’s face; it compares those scans to a database of images on its ‘watchlist’; and retains photos of individuals ‘matched’ by the system

A child first approach is to not involve the police

On the Stop and Search charter survey
❗️ We already know stop and search powers are a key factor in the erosion of trust in the Met. The Met needs to address these longstanding concerns
❗️ The best intentions of the charter risk becoming yet another hollow tickbox exercise