16/11/10_PRESS RELEASE:
London NoBorders condemns suppression of free speech by Metropolitan Police
The website fitwatch.org.uk, the website of civil rights initiative
"Fitwatch"[1], has been shut down on behalf of the London Metropolitan
Police. "Fitwatch" aims to report police surveillance of public protest,
especially as done by the Forward Intelligence Team (FIT).
In a request send to JustHost.com, the US-based provider of the
website,the police stated that the website is "committing offences of
attempting to pervert the Course of Justice under Common Law." However,
without exactly specifying what part of material on the website the
Metropolitan Police has a problem with, the police requested the provider
"to de-host this website for a minimum period of 12 months." It appears
that JustHost.com has followed up on this request, although it remains
unclear in how far any common UK law can be "perverted" in the US. Such an
extensive request, to shut down a whole website for at least a year
without a court decision, seems unprecedented.
On July 5th people demonstrated for freedom of movement and the right to protest at the home office buildings in Croydon. This party is a post event benefit for the demonstration and to support the people who were charged for protesting the Forward Intelligence Team (FIT) in the run up to the demo. No Justice, No Peace!