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Barnet anti-war campaigner guilty of shouting at prime minister

11:31am Monday 5th November 2007

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A BARNET peace activist has been convicted of disorderly conduct last week for protesting against Gordon Brown's role in the Iraq war on the day he became prime minister.

Miranda Dunn, 45, of Glenhill Close, Finchley, was identified by police as a "potential security risk to the Prime Minister" before she broke through a barrier outside the Treasury, in Whitehall, on June 27, and shouted "Gordon Brown is a war criminal".

At the time, Mr Brown was preparing to leave the building to meet the Queen in his first act as prime minister.

Police at the trial, at Horseferry Road Magistrates Court last week, described how the world media, tourists and members of the public witnessed the protest.

Ms Dunn was arrested after running to within about 20 feet of the Treasury doors. The prosecution argued that her actions had caused distress and alarm to the policemen who were forced to chase after and arrest her.

Representing herself, Ms Dunn took to the stand to read out a lengthy statement defending her reasons for protest, including the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, the military use of depleted uranium and the under-funding of the armed forces.

She said: "My attempt to call Mr Brown a war criminal opposite the Treasury was provoked by the way in which the event was about to be portrayed by the world's media as an unopposed celebration of a new prime minister.

"The event was, in reality, the replacement of one warmongering supporter of President Bush for another. When I saw the police were moving to remove Maria another activist and myself from the scene, to eradicate all symbols of dissent, I felt it my duty to call Mr Brown a war criminal in the loudest voice I could manage."

According to notes made after the arrest by PC Stacey, one of the police officers at the scene, intelligence officers identified Ms Dunn as a political activist and "a potential security risk to the impending prime minister".

Ms Dunn was known to police for her active support of peace campaigner Brian Haw, who has been protesting in Parliament Square against British foreign policy for more than six years.

She was also arrested in 2004 for throwing tomato juice at George Bush Snr at a fundraising event for the election campaign of George W Bush.

Ms Dunn argued that the effect of being labelled a security risk was to excite the two arresting officers, who she accused of using excessive force.

She said: "The fact that I was immediately assaulted by two adrenalin-high young policemen, making the cries of an overweight middle-aged housewife into a strangled whimper, shows the fragile status of free speech in Brown's Britain."

The arresting officer, PC Allan, denied using excessive force. Ms Dunn was found guilty, given a six-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay £200 towards the cost of the trial.


Your Say YourTimes Series

Rog T, Mill Hill says...
6:55pm Wed 31 Oct 07

I think Gordon Brown should take a long hard look at himself. Does he believe in free speech and the right to protest. Surely a security risk is someone who poses a serious threat to other people. I wonder how much money was wasted trying to prevent this lady exercising a right which we all used to take for granted.

Donald Lyven, Finchley, London says...
8:33pm Wed 31 Oct 07

How many crimes were committed in London that day that the Police have not solved? How many hundreds of police, many armed, were on duty that day in central London?

I hardly think Ms Dunn was a threat, unless the Police are admitting to being useless at their job of keeping the peace, by having to use excessive force, like PC Allen shoving his boot into Ms Dunn's back.

Police brutality, no free speech - this is the true Blair Legacy for the UK.



Noel Lynch, Finchley says...
12:01am Thu 1 Nov 07

The fact is that Miranda has absolutely no record of violence in many years of campaigning, so why the excessive force? Maybe it was because the world media were present and Miranda upset their staged photoshoot.
Isn't about time that police were put back on the beat instead of persecuting Brian Haw, guarding arms dealers and foreign despots and breaking up peaceful climate camps?

Dr. John Hunt, Isleworth says...
12:21am Thu 1 Nov 07

"I was immediately assaulted by two adrenalin-high young policemen, making the cries of an overweight middle-aged housewife into a strangled whimper, shows the fragile status of free speech". Quite! Just as we witnessed at the Heathrow Climate Camp in August, where police with truncheons hit protesters attempting to exercise their right to peaceful demonstration. No explanation, apology, or reply of any description has so far been received from the police.

Jonathan, says...
11:38am Thu 1 Nov 07

Not guilty!

Dr S Ali, London says...
11:47am Thu 1 Nov 07

You report, "The prosecution argued that her actions had caused distress and alarm to the policemen who were forced to chase after and arrest her."

Let's get this straight, officers. You are distressed. You are alarmed. Therefore you are "forced" to chase after the person you claim is causing you such alarm and distress?

How about some medals?

Susceptibility to irrational fear is not a good basis for a police officer to be acting upon, or serving us. Make no mistake, officers, you were meant to be protecting us not attacking us.

Acting on irrational fear could however stand you in good stead for a role in the criminally incompetent agency (CIA).

M Murniati, Edgware says...
2:28am Sun 4 Nov 07

It was worthwhile to make it the front page. I think it is a bit too much and my disillusion towards democracy in the UK is ascertained. I thought such thing did only happen in developing country like Indonesia where I come from (and no longer exists).

Peter, Hackney says...
11:50pm Tue 6 Nov 07

The guilty verdict is unbelieveable! How can this woman be a security threat? Gordon Brown is the security threat. The government is really scared of people speaking their mind and that says it all. We need a pacifist and honest government. Maybe a Green one?

John Snow, Whetston says...
9:18pm Wed 7 Nov 07

How ironic. A peaceful person being prosecuted for being noisy. But then, I remember her being noisy at a Town Hall meeting a few years ago as well:

http://www.bfcsa.co.
uk/newground/270202.
htm

A NETHERWOOD, sussex says...
12:32pm Sat 10 Nov 07

Having read the above comments and knowing about the incident in detail here's how I see it from a third party aspect.
This country has the right of free speech and protest (too many others do not. The right to protest is based on the understanding that it will be peaceful, ie not doing acts which are or are percieved to be of danger to persons or property. Therefore when said lady (previous history irrelevantas nobody knows it at this time, she could be an axe murderer !) leaps a barrier and runs towards the serving and soon to be prime minister she IMMEDIATELY becomes a threat ( as officers do not MIND READ) They have no idea whether she wants to ask for an autograph, throw an egg or tomato juice or set off a suicide bomb. Dont forget these are the times we live in. The officers have seconds to assess the threat and deal appropriately. In this situation with the proximity of those people mentioned robust action was required until further info could be gained.
This was done, suspect arrested for minor offence as set in the law of the land that applies to all. found guilty CASE CLOSED.The moral of the story being when you make a conscious decision to do something that you know isnt allowed STANDBY TO RECIEVE THE CONSEQUENCES. You would expect the same protection if you were vulnerable and YOU WOULD GET IT.
Well done the officer for doing his job properly.

Dave, Colindale says...
5:12pm Sat 10 Nov 07

If you read the story properly you would notice that the police did know her past history - and therefore probably that she was not an 'axe murderer.' The job of the police was, of course, to stop her, but I think the point is that you have to question the purpose of the judicial pursuit of this case. It cost time and money, not least the hours that it took the police to do their paperwork and appear in court and criminalised a woman for an attempt to exercise her freedom of speech, and voice a view which has become far too muted in recent years. It's interesting that you think the police did their job properly despite the fact that her arrest was quite violent. Also, if you read article, the crime for which she was prosecuted was causing 'distress and alarm to the police' who had to chase her. If I was a Daily Mail reader like you, A Nether-regions, I would probably be concerned about the impact that dangerous terrorists would have on our police if they could be distressed and alarmed by a middle-aged peace activist.

A NETHEREGIONS, sussex says...
2:35pm Sun 11 Nov 07

Thankyou "DAVE" for the personal attack on my name on the basis that we only have a difference of opinion. Firstly having read the article yes I was aware the police knew her history, but still did not know her intentions or state of mind. Secondly the police are never swayed from their duty on the basis of paperwork ( not those below Sgt rank anyway) only with doing their best to protect and serve all of society. Thirdly the lady exercised her freedom of speech and then tried to take it further.As for a violent arrest she was detained using home office approved techniques quickly and efficiently. ( remember she made the decision to do what she did and had the choice and freedom not to do so). Maybe a prosecution was over the top my mind is open to that. As for the impact of dangerous terrorists, I can proudly say I am at the forefront of fighting terrorism at home and have done so abroad. The arresting officer is also at the forefront of similar. What skills will you bring to the defence of freedom other than negativity and name calling. I can see why people get upset when their friends get arrested but if they didnt commit crimes it wouldnt happen.

Comments are closed on this article.

Digging for victory: Miranda Dunn working in her allotment after the trial Digging for victory: Miranda Dunn working in her allotment after the trial

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