02.08.2012

Behind the ‘spectacular success’

Shawn Carter documents the mistreatment of Critical Mass cyclists, including himself

Just as at the time of the official jubilee celebrations, the Olympics have seen a severe and heavy-handed clampdown on the right to protest - nothing must be allowed to detract from the splendour and efficiency of the British establishment’s organisational effort.

The regular monthly cycle event known as Critical Mass happened to coincide with the July 27 Olympics opening ceremony. On the last Friday of the month dozens of cyclists gather at an agreed point and ride around together to symbolically “reclaim the streets of London”. Supporters say that there is no need for police permission, as the event is not a demonstration, but merely a ‘spontaneous cycle procession’, with the route usually being determined by whoever happens to be at the front.

I am an occasional participant in Critical Mass and the event usually passes off without incident, but this time 182 people were arrested simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Scores of us were held overnight on a police bus and only released the following morning. We had gathered south of the Thames and unusually there was an attempt by police to prevent us crossing into central London in one body. Police even used pepper spray near Blackfriars Bridge in one incident, but people made their way via various routes to the Embankment, and we headed off to the east - those at the front had decided to go towards Stratford and the Olympic Stadium.

As far as I can tell, most of those taking part were not ‘anti-Olympics’, but people who are passionate about cycling and things like cycle lanes. Most were not intending to disrupt the ceremony, but thought we would certainly get noticed near the Olympic venue.

We were stopped just after we crossed the Bow flyover at about 9pm and soon found ourselves kettled in Stratford High Street. There were about 50 in my group held near the Tesco Express, including a couple of cyclists who were not even part of Critical Mass, but just happened to be riding by. We were kept there for about three hours without toilet facilities, but the police kindly told us we could go behind a rubbish bin to urinate and we were let out one by one.

At around midnight I was assigned an ‘arresting officer’, who I later found out is based at Harlesden police station and is part of the ‘disruption team’. Other arresting officers were from Yorkshire. I had my photograph taken and an orange tag was attached to my bike so that it could be identified later on.

I was told to board a single-decker bus which was already full and we were driven to Charing Cross police station. For the first time since our arrest we had access to drink - we were offered a bottle of water on the bus. Ours was the third bus to arrive at the station. We were kept waiting on board until about 3am, when we were transferred to another vehicle, this time a double-decker.

By now people were complaining about the lack of food and drink - the officers brought themselves drinks but we had nothing until about 4.30am, when we were given a hot drink. We were informed that in any 24-hour period we were entitled to two meals and one snack, but, as we had only been detained for seven hours, everything was in order. I found it impossible to sleep, as the bus was full and we had to remain sitting upright. We were, however, allowed ‘comfort breaks’ - we were accompanied to the toilet by our arresting officer.

When we asked how long we were going to be held on the bus, we were told that the police station can only process so many people at a time. They don’t normally have to deal with scores of arrested cyclists and didn’t we know it was Friday night?

At 7am, things started to move at last. Those of us upstairs were taken to the lower deck and gradually, one by one, we were escorted into the police station. An officer typed up the details given to him about the time and nature of my arrest and I was asked to state my address, age, eye colour, height … I was subjected to an airport-style search (I had to take off my shoes and belt) and the contents of my bag were listed, put in a plastic bag and sealed. I was kept standing throughout this lengthy process.

Next I was taken upstairs, where a female officer took side and front photographs. She also took my fingerprints and the arresting officer took a DNA sample using a swab inside my mouth. As I was not on the electoral roll, the arresting officer telephoned the driving licence authorities to confirm my address.

When it came to my turn to be taken to the main desk, I was told the reason for my arrest - we had been warned that a mass cycle “north of the Thames” might result in a “threat to public safety”, which the police had powers to prevent under section 12 of the Public Order Act - and, although I was not charged with any offence, was bailed until September 18. I was read out my bail conditions, which included a ban on riding a bicycle in the borough of Newham, and asked to sign an electronic reader to confirm I understood the conditions. I was told my bike was at Charlton car pound and that I would need some photographic ID to reclaim it. The officer wrote down the address of the pound and I finally left the station just before 9am. A mere 12 hours without food or sleep.

Later that day I went to the car pound, but was told that the bike could not be released until Monday July 30, as the details had “not yet come through”. When I returned two days later I was made to wait for three hours. Yes, once again it was a case of the police ‘only being able to process so many people at a time’ ...

Obviously the whole thing was a thoroughly unpleasant experience. But clearly that was the intention - a form of intimidation. Our cycle procession was entirely peaceful and only three people were charged with minor offences, but I am sure most of the 182 people arrested will think very carefully before failing to heed police ‘advice’ about where they can cycle next time.