Met police are accused of pursuing a 'vindictive' case against UK Uncut tax protesters

[cory777]

Source: Observer

They were, say prosecutors, the ringleaders of one of the most high-profile protest acts of recent years – the occupation in March of the luxury Fortnum & Mason store in Mayfair during an anti-cuts demonstration. But supporters of the 30 activists whose trial starts this week say their treatment is irrational and vindictive, and that charges of aggravated trespass should be lifted, as they were for more than 100 of their fellow UK Uncut activists last week.

Lawyers have written to the Crown Prosecution Service ahead of hearings, claiming that the continued targeting of selected activists could amount to a misuse of the law to undermine peaceful protest.

Prosecutors remain intent on taking 30 "ringleaders" to trial. Critics claim police are pushing ahead with the case in order to "break" UK Uncut and put an end to the growing trend for "direct action" by demonstrators.

Protesters in Fortnum & Mason were told by police that they would not be arrested if they left the store peacefully, but it emerged last week that their subsequent detention had been planned.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/24/uk-uncut-fortnum-mason-police?CMP=twt_gu

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