10/05/2007 16:00:00
UK: Rastas Defeat Babylon
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A Rastafarian group was awarded thousands of pounds in legal costs
following a botched attempt by police to have their ‘temple’ closed.
Camberwell Green Magistrate’s Court ruled last week that £8, 500 in
legal costs should be paid to the Ethiopian World Federation based in St
Agnes Place, Kennington, south-east London. In a pre-dawn raid last
month, 250 police officer – including 60 armed officers – stormed the
32-room four-terraced property seen as the headquarters of the UK’s
Rastafarian movement, after intelligence suggested that up to 600 people
a day were visiting the ‘temple’ to buy drugs.
The operation was described as ‘significant’ by police who said they had
recovered several kilos of cannabis, along with a quantity of crack
cocaine and six rounds of ammunition, as well as recovering several
spent shells. Following a six month surveillance operation, police
claimed it had become overrun by drug dealers and gun-carrying youths.
The raid netted 23 arrests. Only three were eventually charged – two for
cannabis and one for ammunition. An application was made to have the
property demolished on the grounds that it was a crack house. But Deputy
District Judge Julia Newton refused the submission saying the cops had
not presented enough evidence that class.
A drugs were being stored there. Lambeth borough commander, chief
superintendent Martin Bridger said the decision of the court had to be
respected but insisted that pre-raid investigation supported their
theory that class A drugs were being supplied from the premises.
Councillor Kingsley Abrams, deputy cabinet member for enterprise on
Lambeth Council who refused to comment on the outcome of the court case
said the council is keen to prevent criminal activities within the
building. “The action was taken by the police based on the information
received, they briefed us on the operation and we accepted it… the
outcome of the court case is not something the Council can comment on.”
Published: 11 May 2007; Issue: 1268
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=11299
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12543
Author:
The Voice via UKCIA
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