Many thanks to a long term activist whose name I won’t mention.
Don’t forget to take a bust card from your local event page. Also have the emergency details of a solicitor written on your arm.
If there isn’t one you can find a bust card on GreenBlack Cross website but this won’t have the numbers for local solicitors on it.
Some of these tips are for everyone others are more specific.
If arrested
In London Call Bindmans solicitor if you get arrested (in Manchester it’s Lizars solicitors) and then Green and Black London for station support
You don’t need to give the police your name or address until you are arrested or booked in at the station.
Make no other comment unless you need support, or a doctor – and don’t accept any charges unless told to by a solicitor. We often haven’t done what we were arrested for, even when we think we might have.
You and your clothes will be searched at the station so let them know if you have a preference for a particular gender of officer to do this.
If you were hurt
If you were hurt you can ask to see a doctor at the station. There may be a wait.
Interpreter
If you need a BSL or other interpreter, there can be a long wait. If you are lucky the police might ask you to attend on a different day. Otherwise wait until an interpreter is available.
Support
If you are taken to a station they might not let you outun til around midnight and they have been taking some protesters far from home. G&B may be able to meet you at station to support. Take more taxi money than you would expect to need, in case.
If you are a disabled person with mental health diagnosis, are learning disabled, or neurodivergent, or have communication support needs, you have a right to support IN your cell from a responsible adult because of your access needs. But you should mention this when booked in at the desk or they may not allow you to be supported. (Even if you are obviously distressed in your cell.) Best to have a friend or support worker ready to do this in case.
Medication.
Take enough medication to last until morning.
Take your next dose of meds if you are arrested -before you get to the station if you can.
All of your property will be taken at the station including your medicines. The medicines and creams are bagged for identification.
You won’t be allowed to take anything including your shoelaces or medicine to your cell, so tell them at the desk when it is due and ask to see the doctor.
Only the doctor will be allowed to give you your medicine back so you can take it. There can be a wait so the earlier they know the better.
If your friend is arrested
Find out where they are taken. If police won’t tell you ring the chosen lawyer on your bust card to find out their location.
Be there to help them at the station if they need it.
Be there when they come out if you can.
Stress
It is very stressful being arrested. Some of us find it harder than others being in a small space with nothing to do.
Some people try to keep their brain distracted by singing political songs. It’s easier if others are with you in nearby cells as you can sing together.
Mobile Phones and Protests
We recommend that you buy a disposable phone to take to any protest rather than taking your own. If you are arrested the police will go through your phone and record any information.
There are also now what’s called IMSI catchers.
There’s one above the arch in Parliament on your way in the front. It reads everything on your phone. Everything – Texts photos emails DMs location data etc.
Including signal and telegram encrypted chats. Cos they’re reading your phone not breaking in, it’s no problem.
They have mobile versions they use on protests now. Don’t bring your phone on a demo if you can help it.
Even if your phone is turned off you will be monitored as the catcher acts like a mobile telephone tower. Your phone sends out a message every 2/3 seconds to nearest towers saying ‘hey if there’s anything for me this is where I am’ – even when it’s switched off.
The only option is to take battery out completely or to use one of the new lined metal phone pouches to keep your phone in. Not all of them keep your phone safe.
You can see the mobile catcher nowadays, they look literally like a big ray gun. If it’s within a space of about size of Parliament Square it catches everything.
If you keep it in a metal pouch, or take out battery for all the time then you should be alright.
Taking time to get burner phone and put in other burner numbers the night before is best.
But – :
Don’t do it at your address or while you are near your regular phone as the phone will register straight away to the nearest masts and from there it’s very simple to locate and track back.
Random tips
If you smoke you may want to put on a nicotine patch.
Take a new bag, wear clean clothes and only bring what you need as they’ll take and go through the lot.
And always take more snacks and water than you think you’ll need to a demo.
