Cardiff activists imprisoned following anti-McDonald's protest
Ian Brown | 19.10.2003 15:57
Cardiff police admitted in court to beating Val Swain while she was handcuffed. The judge then sent her and a fellow protester to prison despite the fact that neither have any previous convictions and represent no threat to any member of the public.
In the early hours of Thursday, 16 October, Cardiff police arrested three people on Newport Road. After handcuffing all three detainees and securing them in a police van, officers removed Val Swain from the van and beat her on the legs with a telescopic truncheon. Several hours later police raided the suspects' houses removing anti-McDonald's leaflets.
In Cardiff magistrates court the following day, the arresting officer admitted in a statement that he had beaten Val in order "to change her thought processes".
The three are charged with criminal damage, conspiracy to commit criminal damage and assaulting police officers.
None of the detainees have ever been convicted of any criminal offence and all hold down responsible jobs. Despite this fact, the judge, who earlier in the day released on bail a man who had threatened to kill his neighbour, remanded Val Swain and Geoff Cornock in prison pending appearance in Cardiff Crown Court on 28 October. Unquestionably, the judge has denied the right of Val's three daughters (aged 13, 10 and 3) to the care of their mother. The judge had endangered not only Val's job, but also that of her partner and, by so doing, places the integrity of the family in jeopardy.
The imprisonment of the two people is wholly disproportionate to the alleged offences. The confiscation of the anti-McDonald's leaflets, the brutality shown by police officers and the imprisonment of the accused demonstrates the true motives of the police: the victimisation of those who protest.
Val Swain and Geoff Cornock are political prisoners, detained for challenging the power of the state and the transnationals.
Is this tolerable?
Geoff Cornock is being held at HMP Cardiff, 1 Knox Road, Cardiff CF24 0UV
Valerie Swain is being held at HMP Eastwood Park, Falfield, Wootton-Under-Edge, Gloucester, GL12 8DB
In Cardiff magistrates court the following day, the arresting officer admitted in a statement that he had beaten Val in order "to change her thought processes".
The three are charged with criminal damage, conspiracy to commit criminal damage and assaulting police officers.
None of the detainees have ever been convicted of any criminal offence and all hold down responsible jobs. Despite this fact, the judge, who earlier in the day released on bail a man who had threatened to kill his neighbour, remanded Val Swain and Geoff Cornock in prison pending appearance in Cardiff Crown Court on 28 October. Unquestionably, the judge has denied the right of Val's three daughters (aged 13, 10 and 3) to the care of their mother. The judge had endangered not only Val's job, but also that of her partner and, by so doing, places the integrity of the family in jeopardy.
The imprisonment of the two people is wholly disproportionate to the alleged offences. The confiscation of the anti-McDonald's leaflets, the brutality shown by police officers and the imprisonment of the accused demonstrates the true motives of the police: the victimisation of those who protest.
Val Swain and Geoff Cornock are political prisoners, detained for challenging the power of the state and the transnationals.
Is this tolerable?
Geoff Cornock is being held at HMP Cardiff, 1 Knox Road, Cardiff CF24 0UV
Valerie Swain is being held at HMP Eastwood Park, Falfield, Wootton-Under-Edge, Gloucester, GL12 8DB
Ian Brown
Comments
Hide the following 8 comments
Letter sent
19.10.2003 17:54
Matt
Matt S
What is the criminal damage?
19.10.2003 20:52
What is the alleged criminal damage? And... was there any criminal damage? Or any assault on police officers?
Brian B
Respect to those inside
19.10.2003 23:17
The filth (judges) protect the filth (cops) who protect the filth (McShits and other abominations that are considered 'normal').
Solidarity! Will write to the two activists banged up for 'doing what should be done BY EVERYONE'!.
GetOutThereAndDoIt!
Reply to Brian
20.10.2003 09:16
During the bail application, it was argued that the maximum possible financial costs of the damage would be approximately £1000, which would make it a case triable only by magistrates. It was also argued that even though there was a conspiracy charge, the CPS had presented no evidence of this. There is an assault (of a police officer) charge. It was alleged that whilst the police were beating val (whilst she was in handcuffs) she tried to kick back. So the only serious (triable by crown) charge is the conspiracy, for which even the magistrate admitted there was no tangiable evidence.
Taking all this into account it was argued that for the case to come to trial in crown would take several months. Considering the evidence, it would be highly unlikely that a person with no previous convictions or cautions would get a lengthy custodial. Further the remand would not only jeopardise Val's job but that of her partner, due to childcare problems.
We do not know more details because no-one (except the solicitor) has been allowed to speak to Val since Thursday evening. She has not even been informed of the welfare of her children or anything for nearly 80 hours!
bozavine
there are many ways
20.10.2003 13:32
Do it right and perhaps the Magistrate will lose that job. Perhaps there is mistaken Masonic solidarity in that decisino. Or orders from Blunkett for increased Police brutality. He is finding the jollies of keeping honest innocent people in jail for longer than the guilty convicted of the same offence does not now gratify him enough. He needs the kick of knowing that his minions can beat handcuffed female captives with impunity. And his Magistrates will destroy the economic base of those verminous dissident families stupid enough to be working.
Go on Policeman, Go for it, do a Blunkett! Earn a pay increase.
Ratty
NewsTravelsFast
20.10.2003 17:57
In struggle,
PACA.
PeopleAgainstCrueltyToAnimals (W.Mids)
e-mail:
paca242000@yahoo.com
released on bail
21.10.2003 15:24
Crown Court, and having found a judge who wasn't a total knob.
CAN are considering sueing the police for beating Val....there's also still
the small matter of the trial to resolve...
info conduit
Many thanks to all who sent letters of support
21.10.2003 21:25
From now on I'm a confirmed letter writer to anyone who ends up being incarcerated.
Thanks again
In solidarity
Val
Val Swain