DIRECT ACTION AND CAMPAIGNING TOOLKIT

SECURITY WORKSHOP 45 mins 

1. Why security? 5 mins

Emphasise: long term effectiveness
need to consider your profile before the police do
protecting your mates etc
state interest once you start becoming effective 
Empowering to protect yourself

2. Paranoia v security 5 mins

adjusting your needs accordingly 
historical convictions
databases and echelon
animal rights
NETCU, corporate surviellance (state monitoring, Plane Stupid BAA mole etc)

3. Closed culture v. Open culture 5 mins

Barriers, inclusiviity, affinity groups
Pairs: personal experiences of activist security (cliquey? Cloak and dagger?  Importance of explaining protocol to new people) one  positive and negative experience

4. Different aspects of security 20 mins

Group work: why do you think I've included these headings and what do you think the main issues are for each area of activism?   Feedback
-Security for actions
-Security for campaigns
-Security for demonstrations
-Personal security
-Electronic surviellance

Points to emphasise in feedback: 
-Security for actions (choosing people, rekkies, equipment, scouting, communiques, debriefing, shitting in your own backyard)
-Security for campaigns (media, addresses, sources, meetings, surveillance, gatherings)
-Security for demonstrations (FIT, Red Watch, rules, provocateurs)
-Personal security (home, with police, car, neighbourhood, self-defence)
-Electronic surveillance (mobile phones, email, PGP, facebook)

5. Practical examples 10 mins

Group work, think about relevant security measures for each situation
Calais camp/getting food to asylum seekers
criminal damage
blockade
march

LEGAL 45mins

1. Why get clued up? 5 mins pairs and whole group feedback

Never know when you might be arrested (e.g. of climate camp this year, animal rights activists etc)
Help your mates
Empowering

2. Range of practical examples and possible legal procedures that might be incurred 10-15mins 

Small groups discuss each action and think of state response

-a march
-street stall
-office occupation
-blockade
Feedback 

3. What are my rights? 5 mins

Brainstorm in small groups one topic each
Stop and search, Name and address, At the police station, Talking to the police

4. Best defence no comment 5 mins

Dangers of giving the police any information, incriminating yourself or friends, or giving away useful info to them on organising methods etc.

5. Experiences with the police 5 mins

Pairs, have you ever been arrested? How did it feel?  If not, what scares you about getting arrested?  How could these fears be assuaged?
Impacts of convictions?

6. Representing yourself 5 mins

Resources out there, Positive and negatives
Preparing a defence
Legal aid

7. Common penalties 5 mins

Sentence, community service, bind over, conditional discharge,

8. Conclusions 5 mins

COMMON MESSAGES to reinforce:

-Empowering to know about legal and security
makes you more effective
means you will protect yourself and friends
minimises unknowable future legal issues/historical convictions etc

-Learn basics
practise, learning through doing
importance of debriefing and sharing experiences
asking others for info
common sense

-Giving out minimal info
before, during, after action is best protection/defence

FOR MORE INFO

http://activistslegalproject.org.uk/
http://www.activistsecurity.org/
http://www.freebeagles.org/
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/node/455