Star date: 22nd December 2014 

DISABLED SERVICES CUTS CAMPAIGNER QUESTIONED BY GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE

Despite it being Christmas and one of the busiest periods for police in the year, officers from Greater Manchester Police found time today to visit the home of a campaigner against cuts to transport for disabled people who took part in a protest outside the home of Salford Mayor Ian Stewart last August.

Apparently police officers told the campaigner that it was part of an ongoing investigation.

Full details here...

Back in August, campaigners, disgusted at Salford City Council's cuts to transport for severely disabled adults, peacefully protested outside the home of Salford City Mayor Ian Stewart to show him what it would be like to lose his transport for a while.

Stewart called the police, and the officers who attended did nothing apart from make sure the Mayor could get his car out of the drive, deciding that it was a peaceful protest. The light hearted demo, about a serious issue, was covered by both the Salford Star and the BBC (see previous Salford Star article – click here).

Today, two police officers called around to the house of one of the campaigners, Anthony Dowd, to question him about the `ongoing investigation', apparently instigated by the Mayor, alleging that bins were placed in front of his drive, that people banged on his car and that he was threatened by a picture and comment on Anthony's Facebook page. All of which has been denied.

"I asked the police to arrest me so that it could all go on record and I could get a solicitor and they refused" wrote Anthony on Facebook this afternoon "I then asked them to leave my house... I asked them whether Stewart was identifying me or other individuals as specifically being responsible for the alleged accusations. They said `No!' Just for being part of the group!! Crime?

"As the policeman left, he kept saying `We will be back to talk to you again'" Anthony added "...Threats? Democracy in Salford eh! This is what happens when anyone gets in the way of Ian Stewart."

Paul Gerrard, from Salford Against The Cuts, who was also at the protest wrote: "Stewart throwing his weight around again. Officers attended the incident, witnessed it all for themselves and could have interviewed participants at the time (four months ago in August!!!). Stewart has lent on the press/TV too, we know, so this shouldn't surprise us."

Others on Facebook called the police visit "a waste of police time"... "ludicrous" and "an absolute disgrace"...

• The fight to preserve transport for severely disabled adults is still ongoing with a decision awaited from the Royal Courts of Justice and the founding of the Salford SEARCH Committee (see here)

• See also Salford Mayor wins China In Your Eyes Salford Star Award – click here