Police made 80 arrests in a largely successful effort to stop a free festival on Brighton's waterfront. A bouncy Castle, giant sea horse and puppets, and sand were also confiscated - along with many drums and musical instruments.
Many arrests were made with the intervention of the London based Forward Intelligence Unit or political police attatched to East Sussex Police using specially put in place CCTV - the level of police intelligence should not be over estimated though as a scientologist was also arrested.
Common charges early in the day were for littering [ie handing out leaflets] or for public speaking at a banned gathering. 3 legal observers were arrested and charged with conspiracy to obstruct the highway.
As the party began many arrests took place as police squads went for individual drummers and then more arrersts as the riot police backed up these arrests.
The party was initially forced into the main road leading to the beach - at which point 20 plastic balls were released and a game of beach volley ball began. Police allowed many people to leave this area but also made many arrests and used police dogs very freely to 'subdue' protestors - there was very little violent resistance from our side here or throughout the day.
Somewhat of an hour later, as police stoppped allowing people to leave this area, about 500 people gathered on the marine parade - thereby opening a second largely unpoliced party. This group ended up marching 3 miles through Brighton followed by up to 200 riot police - a was rammed by a rolls royce at one stage.
The writer left the demonstration at 5 pm.
Activists from Brighton are confident the most of the charges will be defeated and are looking forward to sueing the police! One commented that this could be seen a a local payback by the sussex police in return for their drubbings by the Brighton scene over the last few years.
It appeared at many times that the police were very stretched by this action - despite full mobilisation within the county. Many times many village based police were seen to have to be ordered into the fighting as they were hanging back. This has to be seen in a context of the strength of the 'alternative' scene in Brighton, but also it's unusually middle class nature.