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Poll tax demonstrations could be banned

01 January 1991

Poll tax demonstrations could be banned
artdoc May=1991

The Metropolitan police say they may now seek to ban anti-poll-tax
demonstrations. Their announcement came after trouble flared after a
poll-tax demonstration in Brixton when demonstrators were attempting to
march past Brixton police station. The Deputy Assistant Commissioner at
Scotland Yard, John Metcalffe, said that the trouble occurred `after a
peaceful demonstration had been hijacked by anarchists'. But the
Trafalgar Square Defence Campaign say police tactics were to blame and
that random arrests preceded charges by riot police into a largely
peaceful crowd. (Independent 22.10.90)
Meanwhile, Roy Hanney, a TV production engineer arrested during the
Trafalgar Square poll tax riot, was acquitted at Southwark Crown Court
after the jury, on the third day of the trial, sent a note to the judge
saying that the jurors had discussed the case briefly in the court room
lift and were `unanimously convinced on the defendants innocence'.
For a jury to tell the judge spontaneously their opinion is rare,
if not unprecedented. Mr. Hanney's solicitor now plans to sue the
police for wrongful arrest, assault and malicious prosecution. Mr.
Hanney says that he was repeatedly punched in his head, receiving
bruising to his forehead, eye brows and back, and a loss of sensation to
one arm. (Observer 11.11.90)

IRR Police-Media Bulletin, no 65. Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke
Street, London WC1X 9HS