“Suspected of being a protester” should not be grounds for arrest and incarceration in a democracy.

I’m asking for your support to challenge the Metropolitan Police’s decision to arrest and detain me on suspicion that I was protester. 

I am a professional team building expert and founder member of the 70s and 80s band Scritti Politti. Using my 300 drums I motivate teams and groups of all sizes and backgrounds. I’ve been doing this for 20 years with my company Instant Teamwork.

My Case

On the morning of 1 September 2021 I was stopped by Metropolitan Police officers on my way to an annual CONFEX Trade Show at the ExCel Centre in London where I had rented a stand with the Delegate Wranglers organisation. 

Officers searched my car and found my drums, percussion and hand tools; all items that I use on a daily basis for my work as a team builder. They suspected I was on my way to an Extinction Rebellion protest. I was restrained in handcuffs and arrested on conspiracy to commit a public nuisance. I was detained in Charing Cross Police Station until the early hours of the next morning, completely missing the work I was booked to do.

Why I need your help

I was listed on the CONFEX website as an exhibitor and, even if I was ‘profiled’ as supporting good causes in the past, I was simply going to work on that day and knew nothing about the XR initiative. Even though I had supporting paperwork I was struck by the antipathy of the police to street protests, the criminalisation of protest, and the vulnerability of citizens who the police feel able to arrest with impunity for being ‘suspect protestors’.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, now gives police unprecedented powers to restrict the rights of protestors. The right to protest is extremely important to me. For 40 years I have attended protests, pickets and good cause rallies, which is why I want to bring this challenge, to protect our rights to protest.

I believe that this legal challenge is now more important than ever. The voices of dissent in this country are important for the government and public authorities to hear. I seek to raise enough money to sue the Metropolitan Police for false imprisonment, and make a stand for everyone's right to protest.

I would be very grateful for any donations of whatever you can afford and will keep you updated with developments from my legal team on this page.