Documents expose Police corruption in Oxford

May 15, 2007

Documents that have been disclosed at the trial of the SPEAK 16 havehighlighted a sinister relationship that exists between law enforcementofficers in Oxford and Oxford University.On Monday 30th April proceedings against sixteen SPEAK supporters who werearrested for public order offences arising from a peaceful demonstration atthe Oxford University Encaenia ceremony on the 21st June 2006 finally gotunderway at Oxford Magistrates court almost one year after the alleged"offences" had occurred. Due to legal arguments the trial was halted for afew days but now continues at Bicester Magistrates. Bicester is a smallmarket town about 12 miles north of Oxford.The damning documents came to light less than two weeks before the trial ofthe SPEAK 16. The sixteen defendants were served via their respective legalrepresentatives with a transcript of a dictaphone tape recording which aserving Thames Valley Police (TVP) officer had recorded on the day of theEncaenia Ceremony. What makes this tape remarkable was the content of theconversations which took place between TVP officers, including seniorranking officers, after the arrests of the defendants had taken place.Due to the ongoing legal case Arkangel cannot fully report the contents ofthe documents containing the transcript of recorded conversations betweenThames Valley Police officers but once the trial is over Arkangel will beable to disclose the damning conversations that took place between policeofficers - a conversation that exposes corruption at the very highest levelsof Thames Valley Police.From the transcripts of the conversation that were discussed in Court, it isclear that the officers heard on the tape had no idea the dictaphone wasstill active when they regrouped after the legal demonstration had been putdown. This also included comments at a de-briefing held in the presence ofthe commanding officer responsible for the policing of the demonstration onthe day and officers involved in 'Operation Rumble', the code name given forthe policing of all demonstrations related to the 'Oxford Animal Lab'campaign run by SPEAK. The transcript of the tape has revealed the trueextent of the relationship between senior Thames Valley Police officers andOxford University. It has also revealed a very disturbing picture of the'mind set' of serving police officers, who have by their own admissions beeninvolved in what is clearly a campaign of harassment and intimidationagainst those who are legally speaking out about animal abuse at Oxforduniversity.What can be disclosed about the recordings at this stage is that officersrefer to Oxford University as a "sleeping giant" and that the protestors donot realise just "how powerful the university is". The officers then go onto to talk about the influence Oxford University has, saying that "it's gotMasons" and "influence with MP's" and "barristers" The officers also mentionthat the university also has friends in the "DTI", Department of Trade andIndustry, as well as the "Home Office".In the transcript the officers talk about the need to: "incite people with adouble buggy" (prams) to go through the protestors so: "that they can't getthrough", they then go on to talk about how this would allow them to imposepublic order conditions.Probably most disturbing parts of the transcript are where officers refer toa leading SPEAK organiser saying that they need to "persecute him" and "Wagea dirty war".What is also disturbing about the tape is the attitude police officers taketowards female members of the public. Officers refer to passing members ofthe public who are female as "Bitches".The transcripts also clearly reveal that Thames Valley police have played anactive part in trying to create the conditions in which a draconian HighCourt injunction can be implemented against SPEAK.According to an article on the SPEAK website "the picture that is now beingrevealed at Bicester magistrates court is one which should cause the deepestconcern for anyone who truly believes in 'Free Speech'. It is interesting tonote that despite the sensational story unravelling at Court which ishighlighting the extent of corruption within Thames valley Police and theinfluence Oxford University exert within not just the police but otherpublic and what should be neutral bodies, journalists are conspicuous bytheir absence".The article goes on to say: "This case has taken on dimensions that go farbeyond the events of June 21st 2006. It is self evident that the politicalnature of this case eclipses questions of the limits of protest defined bypublic order legislation to a question of whether we any longer have anyrights to protest at all in the UK today."

May 16, 2007

Hi Jo

This is interesting... do you have a website link or something to keep an eye on it?

BB

Peter

On 15/05/07, jo <jo.heartwork wrote:

Documents that have been disclosed at the trial of the SPEAK 16 havehighlighted a sinister relationship that exists between law enforcementofficers in Oxford and Oxford University.On Monday 30th April proceedings against sixteen SPEAK supporters who were

arrested for public order offences arising from a peaceful demonstration atthe Oxford University Encaenia ceremony on the 21st June 2006 finally gotunderway at Oxford Magistrates court almost one year after the alleged

" offences " had occurred. Due to legal arguments the trial was halted for afew days but now continues at Bicester Magistrates. Bicester is a smallmarket town about 12 miles north of Oxford.The damning documents came to light less than two weeks before the trial of

the SPEAK 16. The sixteen defendants were served via their respective legalrepresentatives with a transcript of a dictaphone tape recording which aserving Thames Valley Police (TVP) officer had recorded on the day of the

Encaenia Ceremony. What makes this tape remarkable was the content of theconversations which took place between TVP officers, including seniorranking officers, after the arrests of the defendants had taken place.

Due to the ongoing legal case Arkangel cannot fully report the contents ofthe documents containing the transcript of recorded conversations betweenThames Valley Police officers but once the trial is over Arkangel will be

able to disclose the damning conversations that took place between policeofficers - a conversation that exposes corruption at the very highest levelsof Thames Valley Police.From the transcripts of the conversation that were discussed in Court, it is

clear that the officers heard on the tape had no idea the dictaphone wasstill active when they regrouped after the legal demonstration had been putdown. This also included comments at a de-briefing held in the presence of

the commanding officer responsible for the policing of the demonstration onthe day and officers involved in 'Operation Rumble', the code name given forthe policing of all demonstrations related to the 'Oxford Animal Lab'

campaign run by SPEAK. The transcript of the tape has revealed the trueextent of the relationship between senior Thames Valley Police officers andOxford University. It has also revealed a very disturbing picture of the

'mind set' of serving police officers, who have by their own admissions beeninvolved in what is clearly a campaign of harassment and intimidationagainst those who are legally speaking out about animal abuse at Oxford

university.What can be disclosed about the recordings at this stage is that officersrefer to Oxford University as a " sleeping giant " and that the protestors donot realise just " how powerful the university is " . The officers then go on

to to talk about the influence Oxford University has, saying that " it's gotMasons " and " influence with MP's " and " barristers " The officers also mentionthat the university also has friends in the " DTI " , Department of Trade and

Industry, as well as the " Home Office " .In the transcript the officers talk about the need to: " incite people with adouble buggy " (prams) to go through the protestors so: " that they can't get

through " , they then go on to talk about how this would allow them to imposepublic order conditions.Probably most disturbing parts of the transcript are where officers refer toa leading SPEAK organiser saying that they need to " persecute him " and " Wage

a dirty war " .What is also disturbing about the tape is the attitude police officers taketowards female members of the public. Officers refer to passing members ofthe public who are female as " Bitches " .

The transcripts also clearly reveal that Thames Valley police have played anactive part in trying to create the conditions in which a draconian HighCourt injunction can be implemented against SPEAK.

According to an article on the SPEAK website " the picture that is now beingrevealed at Bicester magistrates court is one which should cause the deepestconcern for anyone who truly believes in 'Free Speech'. It is interesting to

note that despite the sensational story unravelling at Court which ishighlighting the extent of corruption within Thames valley Police and theinfluence Oxford University exert within not just the police but other

public and what should be neutral bodies, journalists are conspicuous bytheir absence " .The article goes on to say: " This case has taken on dimensions that go farbeyond the events of June 21st 2006. It is self evident that the political

nature of this case eclipses questions of the limits of protest defined bypublic order legislation to a question of whether we any longer have anyrights to protest at all in the UK today. "

May 16, 2007

Hi Peter

Not yet - it came from Patricia, who is from the Vegan Society. I'll get back to her to see if there is one. I know she will keep me informed anyway.

BB

Jo

-

Peter Kebbell

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 9:41 AM

Re: Documents expose Police corruption in Oxford

Hi Jo

This is interesting... do you have a website link or something to keep an eye on it?

BB

Peter

On 15/05/07, jo <jo.heartwork wrote:

Documents that have been disclosed at the trial of the SPEAK 16 havehighlighted a sinister relationship that exists between law enforcementofficers in Oxford and Oxford University.On Monday 30th April proceedings against sixteen SPEAK supporters who were arrested for public order offences arising from a peaceful demonstration atthe Oxford University Encaenia ceremony on the 21st June 2006 finally gotunderway at Oxford Magistrates court almost one year after the alleged "offences" had occurred. Due to legal arguments the trial was halted for afew days but now continues at Bicester Magistrates. Bicester is a smallmarket town about 12 miles north of Oxford.The damning documents came to light less than two weeks before the trial of the SPEAK 16. The sixteen defendants were served via their respective legalrepresentatives with a transcript of a dictaphone tape recording which aserving Thames Valley Police (TVP) officer had recorded on the day of the Encaenia Ceremony. What makes this tape remarkable was the content of theconversations which took place between TVP officers, including seniorranking officers, after the arrests of the defendants had taken place. Due to the ongoing legal case Arkangel cannot fully report the contents ofthe documents containing the transcript of recorded conversations betweenThames Valley Police officers but once the trial is over Arkangel will be able to disclose the damning conversations that took place between policeofficers - a conversation that exposes corruption at the very highest levelsof Thames Valley Police.From the transcripts of the conversation that were discussed in Court, it is clear that the officers heard on the tape had no idea the dictaphone wasstill active when they regrouped after the legal demonstration had been putdown. This also included comments at a de-briefing held in the presence of the commanding officer responsible for the policing of the demonstration onthe day and officers involved in 'Operation Rumble', the code name given forthe policing of all demonstrations related to the 'Oxford Animal Lab' campaign run by SPEAK. The transcript of the tape has revealed the trueextent of the relationship between senior Thames Valley Police officers andOxford University. It has also revealed a very disturbing picture of the 'mind set' of serving police officers, who have by their own admissions beeninvolved in what is clearly a campaign of harassment and intimidationagainst those who are legally speaking out about animal abuse at Oxford university.What can be disclosed about the recordings at this stage is that officersrefer to Oxford University as a "sleeping giant" and that the protestors donot realise just "how powerful the university is". The officers then go on to to talk about the influence Oxford University has, saying that "it's gotMasons" and "influence with MP's" and "barristers" The officers also mentionthat the university also has friends in the "DTI", Department of Trade and Industry, as well as the "Home Office".In the transcript the officers talk about the need to: "incite people with adouble buggy" (prams) to go through the protestors so: "that they can't get through", they then go on to talk about how this would allow them to imposepublic order conditions.Probably most disturbing parts of the transcript are where officers refer toa leading SPEAK organiser saying that they need to "persecute him" and "Wage a dirty war".What is also disturbing about the tape is the attitude police officers taketowards female members of the public. Officers refer to passing members ofthe public who are female as "Bitches". The transcripts also clearly reveal that Thames Valley police have played anactive part in trying to create the conditions in which a draconian HighCourt injunction can be implemented against SPEAK.According to an article on the SPEAK website "the picture that is now beingrevealed at Bicester magistrates court is one which should cause the deepestconcern for anyone who truly believes in 'Free Speech'. It is interesting to note that despite the sensational story unravelling at Court which ishighlighting the extent of corruption within Thames valley Police and theinfluence Oxford University exert within not just the police but other public and what should be neutral bodies, journalists are conspicuous bytheir absence".The article goes on to say: "This case has taken on dimensions that go farbeyond the events of June 21st 2006. It is self evident that the political nature of this case eclipses questions of the limits of protest defined bypublic order legislation to a question of whether we any longer have anyrights to protest at all in the UK today."