Apparently chalking on the pavement is now to be considered criminal damage...
Paul Saville, a student at UWE, was sloganeering in chalk on the pavement. He was promptly arrested and taken to the police station where his DNA, fingerprints, and photos of him were taken and put on file. The police also went through the photos on his digital camera and noted the IMEI code of his phone. He is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates Court at 9:45 on Thursday 9th April, having been charged with criminal damage. Invite your friends, family, and whoever else you know to come and support someone who is on trial for something that should merit no attention whatsoever from the police.
1)
THIS TIME I WROTE ABOUT:
LIBERTY. THE RIGHT to question it, THE RIGHT to ask: 'are we free?' THE RIGHT to speak to and ask your neighbours: -ARE WE FREE?
2)
THE SECOND CHALK WRITING WAS:
'As the buildings go up, the wages go down.'
Please come along if you have time, I will need the moral support!
Unfortunately, the law regards writing on the pavement in chalk to be criminal damage. All the excuse the police need to haul you in to take fingerprints and DNA. Best not to give them the excuse. First example I can think of is the Greenham Common soluble paint markings - designed to wash away in first rainfall. Still found to be criminal damage by the Courts. Think it was Greenham Common anyway.
Wouldn't it be nice if towns had a Roman Style Forum area where people could write whatever they wanted. No issue over criminal damage and right to free speech preserved. That'll be the day...
make this your indymedia front page
Sunday March 15, 2009 17:43
by Chris
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Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4but what was he writing???
The WRITING CONSISTED OF:
1)
THIS TIME I WROTE ABOUT:
LIBERTY. THE RIGHT to question it, THE RIGHT to ask: 'are we free?' THE RIGHT to speak to and ask your neighbours: -ARE WE FREE?
2)
THE SECOND CHALK WRITING WAS:
'As the buildings go up, the wages go down.'
Please come along if you have time, I will need the moral support!
Paul.
Thanks for answering my question. Seems reasonable enough what you wrote.
Good luck in court.
Unfortunately, the law regards writing on the pavement in chalk to be criminal damage. All the excuse the police need to haul you in to take fingerprints and DNA. Best not to give them the excuse. First example I can think of is the Greenham Common soluble paint markings - designed to wash away in first rainfall. Still found to be criminal damage by the Courts. Think it was Greenham Common anyway.
Wouldn't it be nice if towns had a Roman Style Forum area where people could write whatever they wanted. No issue over criminal damage and right to free speech preserved. That'll be the day...