At a peaceful demonstration against Brighton arms company EDO MBM on July 18th 2007
a protester was arrested and a sound system seized in the latest show of
force by Sussex police. Police used an obscure council bylaw which has
never been used in a prosecution to confiscate the equipment. Last week the
same protester had charges for a public order offence dropped after having
to spend two days in court.
The weekly protest was policed by around 10 police officers including two
inspectors and an evidence gathering team filming the protest.
Sussex police have made over 40 arrests during the three-year campaign
against the US-owned bomb component manufacturer EDO MBM, the vast majority
of which have resulted in acquittals or charges being dropped. As well as
the two activists who had charges against them dropped last week, two
protesters who staged a rooftop demo at the EDO MBM factory against
Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon last year won their court case last month.
Spokeswoman Sarah Johnson said ’ Despite Sussex Police repeatedly failing
in their attempts to criminalise peaceful protest they continue to target
activists who demonstrate against a company on their doorstep responsible
for war crimes committed across the globe. We refuse to be intimidated and
will continue our campaign against EDO MBM until they shut down.’