My gorgeous girl, who should have being doing a History A level today was arrested yesterday whilst demonstrating against our loss of civil liberties. She went off to demonstrate at about 5pm yesterday carrying a placard saying Gordon Brown is a Dangerous Cult with a couple or school friends. Her Granny was coming up to help her revise and sort herself out so My Girl planned to be home by 8.30.
At about 1 oclock today she was released, charged with Affray and Assault. "What did you do?" I asked. "Nothing" she says, "just that I was wearing red and at the front." I said if you assaulted someone there would be evidence. She says "Right, I am not worried" What about Affray? "Well, I did call a policeman a bastard when I saw him battering the hands of a girl with his stick"...
So she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, nevertheless exercising her right to protest. What really bugs me was that although My Girl requested that her Aunt and Granny be informed of her arrest, none of us knew where she was until she rang me at 1pm today. True, I was reassuring myself that she was probably safe in a police station, but having a 17 year old go missing in London for 17 hours is not a comfortable experience. And will she get that Foreign Office Fast Tracking now?
What's that you say? Lots of teenage girls being criminalised? Yes. My Girl almost never swears, and she will have been very shocked.
Just spoken to her again. Apparently the plod taking her details asked her to marry him and said he wished they were all like her. He asked her how she would describe her build; "womanly" was the response. That wasn't on the list so he had to make do with medium. The officer said he hoped there was "refined" on the list for accent but they had to make do with "cultured" instead.
She was woken every hour in the wee hours to see if she was yet prepared to make a statement without a lawyer present. Sensibly, she wasn't, and when she did get one she made no comment at all.
Update: If anyone knows any shit-hot lawyer it would be a real help to have some names.
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64 comments:
Not quite sure the best way to articulate something here that expresses my sadness as to what England's coming to. As you say, the criminalisation and stigmatisation of young people at the start of their life journey is a tough enough millstone, without it being applied for something as ridiculous as this. For what its worth , I said 10 years ago I preferred employing (young) people without a degree as the unis were adult creches; now I'd probably be asking for some sort of criminal record before considering them...
Am in Low Ham, nr. Somerton from Friday for a few days, BTW.
It is shocking TT, and I am horrified, even though I too have been arrested in similar circumstances (25 years ago.) But at least I was doing what I was accused of! (obstructing a highway)
It just proves she was right to be demonstrating..and what a dangerous thing demonstrating is to do these days.
It would be lovely to meet TT. I will see what we can do. Will mail you.
And I agree TT. Adult creches. They were getting like that when I was there, but now anyone can get in. If you are a bit thick they just get you a special needs teacher to write your assignments for you.
Horrifying Lilith. I watched the protest on TV and I thought 'Good for them'.
What a fascist nation this has become. Let's hope David Davis can lead a popular revolt against state oppression. I never thought I would one day find myself living in the Soviet Union. I hope it all works out OK, children are getting criminal records for nothing whilst the tapeworms in Parliament get away with their wrongdoing and fraud. Something has to happen. I will see you on the barricades.
I saw some fat pig laying into protestors it made my blood boil.
Your daughter does you huge credit
If your lass PBUH fancies a drink one lunch time I will be glad to provide it (she will be safe, dont worry) I may even introduce her to ASBO fawkes , today he was wearing shorts with his tag, sort of Clerkenwell thug chic.
You must be so proud of her
*serious*
The police seemed very heavy handed.
I am hugely proud of her, Beast. She has made me glow with pride since the day she was born. She's quite a kid/young woman. I wonder if she'll take up your very touching (*serious*)offer of a glass of lemonade. :-)))
Fuchsia, My Girl seems to have got to the barricades before us. Looking forward to seeing you there :-)
My Girl is very articulate and has been interested in politics since she was seven when she denounced McDonalds and woebetide any relative or friend who admitted to dining there. Elby only got a pass into our lives because he has never eaten in a McDonalds. I have to do it secretly.
Her great grandfather was a tory cabinet minister during WW2
It doesn't sound much like she needs a good lawyer! Why are the CPS taking it on?
In the old days when arresting wasn't a punishment in itself I can see the advantage of diffusing a situation by locking people up for a few hours to let them calm down but these days everyone goes on The Database etc. and gets a black mark for life.
That's right Blu. My little whizz kid with 9 GCSEs at A or A* which she did in her sleep, deeply held principles and a strong natural sense of right and wrong, who deplores violence, (she can't sleep after Buffy yet somehow rates Kill Bill despite the ensuing insomnia) is well on her way to a criminal record. Shame on the Police. Shame on Gordon Brown.
Of course you were worried, who wouldn't be? But I have to say I can only be glad she wanted to protest. Well done that woman :-)
She clearly has a lot to protest about. Was here DNA taken? Canny lass for not saying owt.
I hate the way people write me off because of my accent. I was congratulated by a girl camped next to me with her friend at the weekend, she said that after talking to me I was obviously of good stock and clearly striving to give my children a stable upbringing. Her married family upbringing sounded slightly horrific. They were a happy pair and I'm glad I met them.
Glad your babe came to no harm. Really think they should have phoned you to tell you where she was. Wasn't there a government directive for such thoughtfulness?
Oh Yes Pip. They said they would contact her Aunt/Granny...her right that they should let someone know of her whereabouts. But they didn't. But they covered their arses because an unidentified man called late and spoke to my mother. He said that "he just wanted to check that it was My Girl that had phoned him and that this was her number. He did not identify himself nor did he let my mother know of my daughter's whereabouts. What he did do of course, is cover his own arse by indicating on the phone log that he had MADE THE PHONE CALL.
Forget the lawyers, the QC, the parental worry ...
... tell her to marry the arresting officer.
A union made in heaven, I can assure you.
xxx
(It was such a joy meeting you, Lilith.)
That is outrageous L. I would make a complaint if I were you/your daughter.
I know of no shit-hot lawyers, lil. All the lawyers I know are shits, though, if that's any help.
I loathe the modern plod. Tell young Miss Shearer how sorry I am.
If she gets to sit the exam on her own, lil, the answers were:
1. Cromwell
2. Sirhan Sirhan
3. The Corn Laws
4. Ramsey Macdonald's mistress
5. A small vial of poison
I might have got the order wrong, but I gather that the A Level markers don't worry about that nowadays.
Thank you for making me laugh E-K :-))) It was gorgeous to meet you too. You are the real deal.
My Girl has already lodged a complaint. We are not laurel sitting. Your outrage is appreciated Blu.
Bless you Idle. No, quite, what decent citizen does know a decent lawyer? That's what makes it tough.
Love the History answers. Funnily enough I think the exam she missed was The Extension of the Franchise...I suspect there are a lot of plods who know a lot more about Magna Carta in central London than there were the day before yesterday....
Lilith, I am a recovering ex-non-shit-hot-lawyer, so can be of little practical help (other than to point out that Idle got one question wrong and the actual answer to question three is 'Eva Braun's knickers')
I do share the outrage of so many here, though, and hope your daughter knows how many of us are rooting for her.
Hello! I'm one of the two friends (I'm in her Greek class actually!) Your Girl was with when she was arrested. Was with her throughout, nothing dodgy went on on her end. Step-mother is a quintuple-judge, and barrister, really hot on civil liberties; will be contacting her posthaste. If she can't help you, then she certainly knows someone who can.
Maybe it's because she was wearing a blond wig?
Oh, and there's a lovely picture of her being carried off in this evening's thelondonpaper. She can also be seen (grainily) in the London Lite.
She's not even my daughter but dang ! I feel so proud.
You should be rejoicing, Lilith.
:-)))
Have to comment again
Effing brilliant!
Tell her to tell the next copper who proposes marriage to piss off and get some self respectand do his job properly.
The tide is turning ,thank God.
The sexualy ambiguous dross that floated to the surface during the 1960's is about to be routed.
I'd prefer hung from lamp posts, but life in prison will suffice.
Tom, thank Goodness for you! Loved your quote in the Standard. Your Stepmother sounds just the dame we need on side. Good luck in your unseen Greek translation today :-)
The blond wig, confiscated as evidence, is a bit of silliness. It actually belongs to one of Queen Victoria's great great great grandsons!!! Think carnival rather than disguise.
I am SO proud Beast and Kev
From mr kevin's goods siding:
ajdshootist said...
Lilith you dont know me but if you want a QC try Lord Ian Glem QC and Thos Byod White in Bexleyheath in Kent re the case of Mick Shepard.
Lilith: outrage is all I have, I'm afraid there's not much else I can help with :-((
Tell her to marry the arresting officer. A union made in heaven, I can assure you
I think there's a story here ;-)
You must be in total turmoil. What a very brave Girl, doing very grown-up coping too.
There seems to be dealing with the charges - and your Girl will be guided by her lawyers on that, and dealing with the non-legal stuff. What Elby must be feeling doesn't bear thinking about.
My heart goes out to you all Lilith - this is the fear of all of us, as all our Girls, and Boys, make their banners and step out.
She must immediately convert to Islam and appear at court in a Burqa. Dress the dog up in her place and see if they dare convict an Islamic spaniel
She's a grand girl. A credit to her mother and a credit to her gender. And I am sure that somewhere "up aloft", as my dear departed Gran used to say, her Great-Grandfather, Minister For Shipping at the time of D-Day, will be applauding her actions made in the cause of freedom.
This is outrageous Lilith.
I can only assume that you must be thankful that your daughter wasn't injured by the bullies. I do hope she can get the proper representation she needs, to sort this out.
Such a distraction too from all her studies too.
Just a mild ticking off would have sufficed (if she had done something unlawful)and she is quite clear that she didn't.
As I write this I am incensed with loathing for this Goverment and it's self serving so-called public servants. 'Eat your heart out Joe Stalin'.
The mighty Russian Bear rears its ugly head again, Stalinism/Marxism now rules us in the UK. I never thought I'd see the day.
I do hope she will be allowed to sit her exam....please give her my best wishes...and good luck in her battle for justice..
Di.xx
P.S. Just back from holiday in France this is my first comment on your site... A true honour indeed ! He he !
This must be very upsetting for you, and it is certainly dismaying for the rest of us. Perhaps the best thing to come out of this in the long term will be that the young will have been inoculated against left-wing Fascism. My best wishes for a vigorous legal rebuff to the overweening plods and securitos.
P.S. History A level? Your daughter now has an insight worth ten of them.
Meanwhile, I have added my small voice to the noisy chorus this incident should rightly provoke - please see today's post.
Welcome Sackerson, and thank you for your kind wishes. I am a mess frankly but getting on with it. Brain like a seive and stomach like a washing machine.
You are so right Trubes. But they don't tick off young women any more. They make them criminals. 25% more of them than 2005. Besides, My Girl is Innocent (in so very many senses) and one of the most upright intelligent funny darling citizens this country has.
Thank you HG. Your post made me cry for the first time since this has happened. Generally I am Fierce Mum, doing my best to convince her father we shouldn't rely on the duty solicitor and dismissing advice from her Aunt's legal advisor that My Girl should accept a caution.
Yes Old Holborn. We could try that. She is unlikely to be interested in converting to Islam. Very unlikely. But I am sure she could be persuaded to wear a veil.
Thank you very much ajdshootist/anon. I will check him out. Shocking the poor bloke hasn't got his guns back yet. There is so very little justice.
On the other hand, if one of my daughters (I have 5, 3 in one year, don't ask, I'm so very very tired) came back from a demo with the State now owning her DNA, her fingerprints and her utter contempt, how worried would I be?
If she converts to Islam for a day, no one will fucking dare touch her and she might be in for a £4K payout
Try and get her into really violent poetry
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7459180.stm
Old Holborn. That's shocking. My ex and me had four in eight years, and I'm only just recovering. Fair play to you. Either that, or you are clinically insane and should seek urgent medical advice. Abstain from all sexual relations with your loved one - for God's sake, if you have another three in one year you will be knackered for ever.
However - respect! There is much recompense in the rearing of offspring, and L's daughter has been a bonus for me after my own four.
Lilith her is the web address you might fide usefull.
http://www.5kbw.co.uk/profile.php?id=2 that will take you to Lord Ian
Glen QC all the Best AJD
Four girls in three years. I am SO in touch with my "feminine" side, the bastards. Not just that, my (ex) wife...
ah bollocks ....read it here...it's worth it
http://www.grumpieroldmen.co.uk/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1757&hilit=fat+wife
Sorry to be late to comment. Bless her and you to. This country is a crock right now - and the Police as well. I have been arrested 3 times on demos - the first time I said I might committ suicide and they took all shoe laces etc. and woke me every hour in the night... also I was arrested on another ocassion by a man who smelled. I kept referring to him as PC Smelly and he punched me!!
God Bless the rozzers!!
Why not join my attempt to collapse the banking system by pledging not to pay an credit card bills in September ..
Speechless. All the outrage I still have left, and affectionate ineffective solidarity to you and your great girl.
Another latecomer with expressions of Solidarnosc for Daughter: I know how this feels for Parent
stay proud, & don't let the buggers get her down !
(and I'm no lawyer - but try to get the arrest nullified or whatever, if such a concept exists, otherwise Stateside travel becomes problematic: yet another wretched aspect. Bastards !)
Lils!
Only seen this in a day or so!
Well done that Gal! I'm proud of her!
Fabulous post and what about you doing it all just a few years ago too...
It's the air here ... give K my love and tell her that next time she drifts past, to call in and she'll get a huge welcome!
S xxx
Kev,
Do you think it was these guys nicked KD?
http://seorant.ath.cx/police/ladybird.html
Times have changed, as Mr. Dylan noted.
I am busy right now with other things and had no idea there was a demo or whatever. EK probably knows why the police are always complicit in these things, fuck knows why, they are, after all people like us.
All strength to Lilith Junior. I thought this generation was gutless and prepared to let our freedom go down the crapper, but apparently not.
Well done.
What's the latest L?
Thank you again for your solidarity. Not much has happened yet, a few solicitor's phone calls, My Girl has lost the piece of paper she was released with (this would not surprise you if you saw her A level notes: all subjects mixed together, bits of paper sticking out of drawers, bags, and from under the bed, no files to speak of..not really civil service material...) I am a bit sleep deprived and her Aunt's blood pressure is through the roof. A levels every day this week. My Girl has written down what she can remember about it all whilst it is fresh. I agree Nick, we gotta get this gone.
Elby, I am sure those were the police that arrested her. Perhaps it was the one who is so tall he can see into the Queen's bedroom.
Lilith - she sounds perfect civil service material -> the Home Office.
Sorry Kilod, no disrespect meant, I meant about losing documents. I'm the worlds worst but then I'm not responsible for national security.
Lilith, you have only yourself to blame. If you had concentrated more in teaching her how to darn, and make soufflés, then you would be enjoying the sunny pastures of your middle years less red eyed.
Today is my birthday, and Mrs Modo has offered to take me the thirty miles to the nearest cinema to see 'Mongol'. Being such a pc fellow I wasn't at all sure that I should be condoning such a film. However my local rag tells me that Ghengis Khan is portrayed as very loving.
Well Lucien, you'd be cross if your parents had christened you Temudgin. I hope you find the film an "awe-inspiring tale of survival and triumph, and a love story for the ages."
As to darning and souffles, that'll be where my Gran screwed up. She only taught my mother to darn, and my mother only taught me how to get the bath taps really shiny. My daughter has no idea how to get the bath taps really shiny.
Pip, you could be right. My Girl would spray laptops, files, mobiles all over the country. Without meaning to. The poor child has no computer access at the moment as her aunt's pc is roto and, for all her privilege, she doesn't have her own. Thank god. She would have lost it by now.
Ha ha, Elby,
That was before day-glo, stab-proofing, CS gas etc
My, how things have changed.
At least nowadays you wouldn't get clipped round the ear'ole for scrumping.
I've always said she could come here to 'The Estate' if there was any bother now didn't I!
She knows the place anyway, and could have Bunt's old cottage (Tibbles is still here as well - which is surprising after all the commotion...).
Pop by 'The Estate' anyway, Nick Drew is hopefully going to sing something for us all...
Mannerings has a load of Private Eyes in the attic, and I'm going stright up there to see if I can recognise you on the cover of 'The Grosvenor Square edition'!
We were in 'The Barley Mow' that day, didn't see you there though...;0)
You and Elby take care here - PC Bottle can be very nasty if his duodenum is assuaged).
D xo
Doris, you are so right! Of course Little Lil must have the cottage...Buzzxx
just a thought lilith...but as she is only 17...they detained a minor without the notification of a parent...that is against the law here and the police could be sited...perhaps if you talk to a lawyer there and ask about that this could all go away quietly...sometimes the threat of impropriety makes the police rethink their moves...just a thought
Lillith’s Girl is fair of face,
firm of purpose, full of grace.
Lillith’s Girl, behind cell door -
Shame on Brown ! shame on the law !
Lillith’s Girl is upright, and giving
pride to Fierce Mum: and pride to be living
when this innocent child that is unafraid
carries all our hopes at the barricade
Yes Daisy. We will be persuing that particular outrage.
Nick! That is so sweet, so very sweet. Her very own poem. Her Granny and I think we should start a scrap book :-)
> Just spoken to her again. Apparently the plod taking her details asked her to marry him and said he wished they were all like her
It sounds like she had a wonderful adventure! :-) From her responses to the plod, I'd guess she's one of those who makes adventures happen to them. I wish I were like her :-)
Well Eve, I think it has been an adventure. She finished her exams yesterday and her mobile broke simultaneously so I think she's fine :-) but can't say for sure. You wish you were like her? Don't be daft! You are FEARLESS woman. :-)
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