Below is advice on how to deal with the police at Convergence Spaces. There is also a notice to the police which can be downloaded and printed out.

[Download Notice and Advice as a PDF]

We strongly advise each collective running a convergence space to talk about their response and approach should the police try to enter the building in advance and to come up with an agreed approach or policy. This should be flexible enough to cope with a variety of situations. You may wish to revise the policy as numbers increase as the event gets closer. Different people can have very different ways of interacting with the police.

Some key points to consider are:

• How many people should deal with the police at once in each circumstance?

• Should two people always answer the door?

• Should people stay off roof spaces while police there?

• Should a small a group be given space to deal with the police?

• Do people dealing with the police go outside or not?

• Should police be dealt with only at one entrance (and redirected if they turn up at others)?

• How will you communicate the presence of the police to other users of the space quickly and effectively but without causing panic?

• If you agree a policy how will it be communicated to others in the space?

• Do you wish to encourage people to film encounters with the police or not?

• Should the space be used as a refuge for traumatised/wanted people?

• How should people react if the police force their way in?

We advise everyone to make sure they know the name/phone number of a solicitor. Lawyers numbers for in advance of the summit are on our website. From the start of July for the week of actions there will be a Bust Card available with lawyers numbers and a legal support number on it. Everyone should carry a Bust Card, whatever their plans.

Remember that other officials (e.g. Fire Brigade, Environmental Health) may have wider powers of entry than the police and would anyway warrant a different approach. You may wish to discuss your approach should these sorts of officials seek to enter but it should be a separate discussion from that about the police.

NOTE:

1. This notice applies to legally rented/owned properties in Scotland only

2. We advise you to stick this notice up inside near every entrance

3. We advise you to display the Bust Card information prominently in the space.

4. You may wish to stick an emergency contact list or phone tree up next to it as well.

5. You may also wish to stick a copy of An Activists Guide to Scots Law up as well