"A group of environmental protesters have had their convictions overturned after senior judges ruled that crucial evidence gathered by [Mark Kennedy] was withheld from their original trial."

August 31, 2012

The new section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 comes into effect on 1st September 2012. This section creates a new offence of squatting in a residential building, which will apply throughout England and Wales.   There are already, as yet unconfirmed reports, of some police forces moving in on squats…even b…

Commencement of offence of squatting in a residential building

This circular includes guidance for criminal justice agencies on the new offence of squatting in a residential building and sets out the Government's plans for commencement.

pdf download at :

http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/legislation/bills-acts/circulars/squatting-circular.pdf 

Circular No. 2012/04 

TITLE 

Offenc…

Squatting law to commence 1st September

We have just received verification that the new law, criminalising squatting in residential properties will come into effect on September 1st 2012.

You can see the commencement order on the government’s website here

From the ASS website:

Not everyone who is squatting, or considered by others to be squatting, will be affected by the new law, but peop…

On Friday evening, the PCS union's regional Black Members Network organised a meeting about the use of police stop and search powers in Nottingham's Irish Centre. Around 50 people attended with contributions from as far afield as London and Birmingham.

The charges of aggravated trespass against the ‘Atos Two’ have been “discontinued”, i.e. dropped, by the CPS. In September 2011, two Nottingham residents, a retired paediatric nurse and a wheelchair user were arrested following a peaceful protest at the local offices of Atos ‘Healthcare’. Faced with an impressive solidarity campaign and having a pathetically weak case, the CPS and Atos backed …

Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone St, Nottingham, NG7 6HX

On Saturday 17th December, two protesters were arrested during a demonstration held by Notts Uncut. A supporter was arrested at Bridewell Police Station later that evening.

An update on the case and plans for the campaign.

Upcoming events:

• Solidarity demonstration outside Nottingham Magistrates Court on Monday February 27th from 9am. http://nottingham.tachanka.org/events/2247
• Demonstration in Nottingham against Atos, the attacks on the welfare system and the criminalisation of protests on Friday February 3rd 12.30pm. Meet at the crossroads Carlton Street; Broa…

Meet at the junction of Carlton Street and Heathcote Street, Hockley (outside Ice Nine).

On Friday 25th November, the ‘Atos Two’ appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court. Despite some confusion over times, the hearing itself was uneventful with both pleading not guilty and the trial being set for February 27th. Outside, around 40 supporters gathered for a demo to show their support and urge the CPS to drop the case, before making another visit to Atos’ offices where the defendant…

Friday 25 November 2011 

The "Atos Two" were due in Nottingham Magistrates Court. Bailed for 9.45am a solidarity demo had been called outside at 9.30am.

On Friday 25th November, the "Atos Two" were due in Nottingham Magistrates Court. Bailed for 9.45am a solidarity demo had been called outside at 9.30am.

On 15th November, two Nottingham residents, a retired paediatric nurse and a wheelchair user, dubbed the 'Atos Two', were charged with aggravated trespass.

Outside Bridewell Magistrates Court, Carrington Street, Nottingham

Two Nottingham residents, a pensioner and a wheelchair user, dubbed the ‘Atos Two’ have today (Tuesday November 15th) been charged with aggravated trespass.

The two local residents arrested following a protest at the offices of ATOS Healthcare, on Stoney Street, have been rebailed until mid-November.

Today [Monday April 18th] Keir Starmer QC, the DPP confirmed that following a review he instructed Clare Montgomery QC to conduct into the safety of the convictions of 20 defendants convicted of conspiracy to trespass at Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal fired power station, he has invited the defence to appeal to the Court of Appeal against those convictions, ‘in the light of non-disclosure of mater…

On Wednesday 5th January, the defendants in the Ratcliffe Trial were sentenced. The judge spoke highly of the defendants describing them as ""honest, sincere, conscientious, intelligent, committed, dedicated, caring"." Five were given community orders ranging from 18 to 90 hours to be carried out within 12 months. The remaining thirteen all received conditional discharges ranging from 18 months to…

Week 2 of the Ratcliffe Trial saw the defence open their case, giving some of the defendants an opportunity to explain why they took the actions they did. Among the witnesses called was NASA scientist James Hansen, former MP for Notttingham South Alan Simpson and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas.

The Manchester Airport Trial will begin next week, with 11 defendants facing charges of obstruction of t…

Yesterday the first witness was called by the prosecution - Raymond Smith, former plant manager at the Ratcliffe on Soar power station.  The defence probed him on E.ON's record on sustainability.

A year and a half after being pre-emptively arrested alongside more than 100 other people, 20 climate change activists began a month-long trial at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday.

On the newswire: Ratcliffe conspiracy to trespass trial opens today | Ratcliffe on Trial - Day 1 - cheap pix | Defendants & Supporters outside Nottingham Crown Court ahead of the Ratcliffe Trial today | Ratcliffe on Tr…

Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham NG7 6HX

A selection of 'issue based' images, messed about in photoshop and edited to video 640x480 .AVI

Nottingham photographer 'Tash' strongly supports the British Journal of Photography Campaign