I emphasise here that at no time did I so much as raise my voice, merely asked whether I could go to the public gallery. I acted peacefully and reasonably the whole time.
Despite the phone call from the Chief Inspector on Monday the police had decided to keep away. At one point I phoned the police myself and said I had been prevented from entering the Gallery and could someone escort me there. I then received a message 15 minutes later to be told, (correctly I suppose) that it 'wasn't a police matter and I would have to deal with Carmarthenshire County Council' - How strange, only 4 weeks ago it was all definitely a police matter to the tune of four officers, two cars and a trip to Llanelli Police station - and why did the Chief Inspector phone me on Monday??
Looks like the police have had a complete gutsful of Carmarthenshire Council and it also means they realise they were completely in the wrong, ie wrongful arrest, last time.
What next? Well I will now make my complaint against Dyfed Powys Police over #daftarrest and I am now in search of a good lawyer to challenge the increasingly strange and undemocratic behaviour of Carmarthenshire County Council and it's very senior officers.
By the way, one of the reasons I wanted to attend the meeting was to see whether the Minutes from the last meeting were approved. Two Councillors, Cllr Caiach and Cllr A Davies put forward an amendment to the effect that I had not disrupted the meeting, I have been told that they and two others voted for the amendment but the other's voted against. The two Councillors then voted against the main vote to approve the minutes, and according to those who were admitted, there were several abstentions but it was passed. The issue of the minutes therefore is still to be addressed.
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| No filming? This is on the front door to County hall, they can film us but we can't film them. |
Carmarthenshire Council really need to do their homework, they inadvertently let in a fellow blogger this morning, read his post it is very interesting and describes the sudden 'lock down' very well, including the fact that members of the public, who did sign, had to be escorted by two security guard in and out of the Gallery - Y Cniefiwr - Democracy Under Lock and Key
and now Part 2! - spot on - Democracy Under Lock and Key Part 2
Another great post from The Photon; Carmarthenshire - The Hole gets Deeper
More from The Photon; Carmarthenshire - The Lemon Files (1)
Political Scrapbook; Council at centre of filming row locks doors of public meeting
madaxeman; The daft story of #Daftarrest
All brilliant posts, please have a read.
13 comments:
THIS IS A TOTAL SCANDAL AND MUST BE CHALLENGED.
OUR DEMOCRACY IS PREDACATED ON THE SYSTEM BEING TRANSPARANT AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SOMETIMES DEMOCRACY IS NOT THE EASIEST WAY TO GO, BUT SURELY, BEING ABLE TO TWEET FROM THE PUBLIC AREA DURING A COUNCIL MEETING IS HARDLY AN EXAMPLE OF SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITY.
THIS NOW SEEMS TO BE A STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE CHIEF EXEC AND YOU AND I THINK YOU WILL OVERCOME EVENTUALLY. ONE GOOD DEVELOPMENT IS THAT THE POLICE KEPT AWAY TODAY - THEY SEEM TO HAVE LEARNT A LESSON. (WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE FOUR CONSTABLES IN ONE PLACE - COME TO THINK OF IT WHN DID YOU LAST SEE A SINGLE POLICE OFFICER ON THE BEAT ?)
I went along today - quite preposterous the level of security involved. Had to sign and wear a pass, read a sign, plus several other notices along the route to the gallery, regarding not filming - escorted both ways by 2 officers! I wouldn't have been surprised had they snapped on surgical gloves and asked me to drop 'em and bend over!
A total abuse of authority. This really MUST be challenged either at Ombudsman level (for all the good that ever does) or, better, at a court. This is entirely wrong, discriminatory and arbitrary. Like my father says: 'go after them!'
locking people in is this not against health and safety rule
Councillors would do well to remember that they are not figures of authority but servants of the electorate.
Their behaviour is a disgrace, they have brought shame on their office and on the council's reputation.
These actions are likley to further erode the public's confidence, in their elected representatives, in particular, the ability of these councillors to make rational and important decisions.
It could lead other more cynical folks to question their grip on reality.
Any action has to be proprotionate. Seeing as there has never been any threat, disturbance or rule-breaking, what the council is doing is wholly disproportionate.
I think I will write to Michelle Evans Thomas, whose title is "Democratic Officer" to ask if she is ashamed of working for an outfit which is making a joke out of her job title.
As for the minutes, these are by no means the first to be incorrect. They are sometimes wildly so. But they all get passed.
Readers of this week's Carmarthen Journal will also learn how a motion to debate the closure of day clubs for the elderly was rejected (by the unelected chief executive) because this is an "area which comes under the remit of the Executive Board". As practically everything comes under the remit of the EB, it means that councillors can only ask him nicely and hope that they will be granted a debate.
I know it's not Friday but it is the 13th-unlucky day for Carmarthen council.This must surely be evidence enough showing the panic and paranoia sweeping through the council chamber.I believe that the majority of councillors and certainly senior officers are totally oblivious to the fact that they are making themselves the object of nationwide ridicule.I say ridicule but it is really quite serious when they go to such lengths in their pursuit to stifle democracy.
I notice the 'undertaking' says the council need it whilst they 'review' the policy in relation to filming.
So, as a review is something that looks again at what is already in existence, the council must have a policy on filming, then? But where is it?
I suggest two FOI requests. One to Carmarthen for the cost of:
- extra security
- staff time for signing people in etc.
- staff time for drafting the fictional rules on filming
- printing of the laminated cards and paperwork that people were made to sign
and one to the Police for ths cost of:
- petrol and depreciation on the police car to get you to the police station
- officer time involved in your wrongful arrest
Both have an impact on council tax payers - perhaps you should let the press know the answers when you get them
Whilst it is against your and my principles, you should have signed the declaration and gone in.
Then you could have tweeted / filmed or whatever, they would have no doubt ejected you (without police help this time I suspect).
What else could they do , take you to court for breaking a rule they don't have the power to make, yes please lol lol.
Anon (1st post) I fully agree
Anon 13/7/11@ 19:08 - this does not appear to be the councillores but the executive,someof the councillors certainly appearto be supportive.
Anon 13/7/11 @ 19:33 - it is more than disproporionate , it is anti democracy and probably illegal 0r misuse of the law/powers, rather like labour throwing an old man out of a meeting using the anti terror laws.
Just to add, it certainly needs fighting.
I often quote this for these "occassions"
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists
and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me -
and by then there was no one left to speak out for me.
If you don't speak out early it can soon be too late.
Yes to all the above, but rumours abound as to another scandal and I wonder if anyone can enlighten me.
Does anyone know any of the details surrounding the disposal of the building known as Noddfa Teilo in Crescent Road, Llandeilo? Until recently this building was used as an old people's day centre but it fell foul of the 'restructuring' of day care services and soon it will be empty.
Surely there is no truth in the rumour that the purchaser is a councillor who voted for the 'restructuring', and that the property was never placed on the open market. I am entirely confident that such a scenario could not possibly imply a conflict of interest. What is more I feel certain there is someone out there who can scotch such rumours once and for all, and quite right too!.
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