30 June 2008 – Home Office Consultation Demonstration
We staged a one-hour demonstration outside the Carlton Hotel.
The Home Office was holding a consultation meeting on the "Delivery Plan for the National Identity Scheme". The event was part of a series held in secret since March 2008.
We wanted to highlight their secretive approach and refusal to talk honestly with the public. The protest was completely peaceful: the main activity was to hand out leaflets.
Photographs from the demonstration
The nine demonstrators were arrested and charged with breach of the peace owing to the alarm or distress caused by their costumes. Some demonstrators wore Stasi uniforms, some were in robot costumes and others were in plain clothes.
Recollections from those involved
Publicity
There had been good media coverage with a piece on the 10pm STV news and coverage in the Daily Mirror for two days. Patrick Harvie MSP had also given support in a press statement.
It seemed the Home Office had scored an own goal and that the publicity had been beneficial to NO2ID. Since the charges were dropped no precedent had been set.