Star date: 22nd March 2010

Anti Fascist Arrested In Bolton `For Reading Out A Message From TUC'

…Home Searched Without Warrant… Documents Copied From Computer…
National Union of Journalists Accuse Police of `Outrageous Violation of Human Rights'…

Human rights campaigner Rhetta Moran - who appeared in issue 5 of Salford Star, accusing Salford Council of `trying to destroy me' - was arrested by a police snatch squad in Bolton last Saturday at the protest against the English Defence League's presence in the town.

According to Dave Toomer of the National Union of Journalists, whilst Rhetta was detained for ten hours by the police, her house keys were confiscated, her home was searched without a warrant and documents were copied from her computer…

Full story here…

Here is the full statement in relation to the arrest of Rhetta Moran last Saturday from Dave Toomer, National Union of journalists National Executive Council member for North West England…

"On Saturday March 20th NUJ member, Rhetta Moran, was arrested by a police snatch squad  at a lawful protest against the English Defence League in Bolton.

Rhetta was arrested while reading out a message of support from TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber at the protest in Bolton town centre. She was not engaged in any violent activity at the protest.

She was detained for 10 hours and while in detention her house keys were confiscated and her home was searched without a warrant. Documents were copied from her computer.

She was not charged but released on police bail until May 10 on condition that she does not attend any meetings or gatherings of Unite Against Fascism anywhere in the country. Rhetta is joint secretary of Greater Manchester UAF.

I believe the actions of the police, and in particular the bail condition, is an outrageous violation of my member's human rights and is in breach of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights which protects freedom of association and assembly.

Since the Human Rights Act 1998 makes it unlawful for UK public authorities to act in any way which is incompatible with Convention rights, Greater Manchester Police has clearly behaved unlawfully. I have therefore protested to the Chair of Greater Manchester Police Authority and I am calling for an investigation into police behaviour at the protest.

It is perfectly legitimate to protest against the English Defence League which has proven links to extreme right wing groups and football hooligan gangs. Where they have gone unchallenged they have caused havoc in ethnic minority communities.

I have received several approaches from NUJ members who say they have been threatened by BNP and EDL supporters. The police, I believe, should be concentrating on investigating these individuals rather than illegally curtailing the right to protest."