Coaches with anti-war protestors travelling to RAF Fairford were searched and turned back to London in March 2003 Police surveillance Unlifting samba sounds at demo outside RAF Northwood in January 2003

Download the workshop briefing papers

read a report of the conference

The following 8 workshops were held at the conference. You can download the briefing notes for each workshop in PDF format.

These papers are copyright free for not for profit purposes.

1. Q & A session on laws and legislation affecting protest:     What are the laws which are being used to suppress protest, in particular which laws have been recently brought in or further proposed? What kinds of activities and groups are they being used against, and to what effect? What are the long term implications? Download notes in PDF format

2. Suing the police or proactively taking a case:    What options are there for campaigners wishing to take legal action against the police and others seeking to restrict protest and criticism? What are the prospects of success? How can it be done effectively? Download notes in PDF format

3. Defending cases in court:     How can campaigners defend themselves effectively when charged with civil or criminal 'offences'. What are some of the legal procedures and tactics they need to understand and use to get the most out of the situation? Download notes in PDF format - short version; long version

4. Importance of protest: empowering ourselves as individuals, groups and movements:      How can people overcome isolation and fear - and see through the negative media portrayal of protesting? How does opposition to injustice and oppression become popular? How can we all gain strength from the many struggles and movements around us - including some inspiring examples of movements successfully overcoming repression in UK history, and also around the world. Download notes in PDF format

5. How to continue to protest effectively:     What practical tactics can protestors use to remain strong on the street and in other protests, in the face of official harassment and physical repression? How can campaigners stay in control of their own events, able to assemble and move freely, and to communicate effectively with the wider public? Download notes in PDF format

6. Setting up support/defence/defiance campaigns:     Why is it important to organise support campaigns for people arrested, sued or jailed etc? How can people set them up and what kind of activities should they focus on? What can they achieve? Download notes in PDF format

7. Resisting anti-terrorism measures that suppress protest and criminalise movements or communities:     What can be done to challenge the increasing use of anti-terrorist laws against protestors and the criminalisation of groups and communities which are questioning Government foreign policy? How can those targeted continue to express their views openly? Download notes in PDF format

8. Dealing with the police face to face:      How can protestors deal with individual or groups of police in various situations - on the street, during arrests or raids, or in negotiations etc? What are the best ways of responding to friendliness, aggressive questioning, threats and violence? No notes available.