I warned Tesco and Bristol's council about violence, says Stokes Croft campaigner
A CAMPAIGNER says she repeatedly warned Tesco and the city council that violence would erupt at the supermarket's Cheltenham Road store.
Claire Milne, who co-ordinates the No Tesco in Stokes Croft campaign, believes a backlash was inevitable after objections and protests against the new store went unheard.
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Riot police on Gloucester Road
A full-scale riot, triggered after police raided a squat to prevent a possible petrol bomb attack on the Tesco Express store, engulfed the area on Thursday night.
Ms Milne, who witnessed the disorder first-hand, has refused to condemn or condone the actions of people who attacked and looted the shop. Crowds started to gather from 9.15pm when police sealed off Cheltenham Road to traffic and moved into a squatted building known as Telepathic Heights opposite the Tesco store, arresting four people.
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By 2.30am yesterday a series of violent clashes had unfolded, involving up to 300 rioters and 160 police.
Eight police officers and an unknown number of rioters and bystanders were injured as bricks, bottles and stones were thrown in Cheltenham Road, Ashley Road and Picton Street.
Ms Milne told the Evening Post: "The reality is that the council and Tesco knew this was going to happen. It was inevitable.
"For months, we have been saying to the council and Tesco that we were worried. In our community there are people who will break the law if their voices are not being listened to."
The 34-year-old, of Picton Street, said that when objections were lodged against a Tesco Express being opened in the former Jester's Comedy Club building, campaigners emphasised that public safety should have been considered.
But planning officers had already granted the premises a "change of use" before campaigners had their say.
During Thursday night's clashes, Tesco had windows smashed, shutters broken and goods stolen by looters.
Asked about the damage inflicted on the store, Ms Milne said: "I do not condone any violence or aggression to a human being and it's certainly not an approach I would take myself – to damage a building. Then again, I do not condemn the damage that has been done to Tesco, because I believe the damage Tesco causes across the world is far huger than the damage to one store in Bristol."
Avon and Somerset police said officers raided the property opposite Tesco acting on intelligence over a "very real threat to the local community".
Witnesses had reported seeing people bringing what looked like petrol bombs in and out of the house and a man on the roof with what looked like a petrol can.
After forcing entry to the building the police were not met with resistance. They say they recovered petrol and several ready-made petrol bombs.
One man was arrested on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage with intent to endanger life and three others were arrested on suspicion of public order offences.
Many of those gathered outside the building believed the police were trying to evict the squatters, and as the police involved in the raid started to leave the area, the crowd grew to several hundred.
People started barricading the road with street furniture, bikes and bins, many of which were set alight.
Bricks, bottles and stones were thrown at police by some people in the crowd, which included anti-Tesco activists, residents and late night drinkers.
At its peak, 160 police officers, clad in riot gear and shields, were required to quell the violence, which finally ended at about 4am.
During the clashes one police officer had teeth knocked out while others were treated for head, neck and shoulder injuries. One officer had a paving stone thrown on him from a roof.
As well as injuries to police officers, members of the public reported being hit by police with batons and shields.
Some eye-witnesses said a police tactic of "kettling" a crowd – forcibly confining them – into Ashley Road did not help and may have triggered the aggression.
But Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen yesterday insisted the overall police response, which included the use of 66 reinforcements drafted in from Wiltshire, Gwent and South Wales police, was proportionate.
"There was a very real threat to the local community from the petrol bombs that were being made and we needed to take positive action," he said.
"When 300 people congregated and a small minority from that group started small fires and throwing bottles, stones and other items at officers, we used well-rehearsed plans, which involved the use of officers from neighbouring forces to control what had become a volatile situation."
At 2.30am yesterday, after the police had retreated for a while away from Cheltenham Road, people started attacking Tesco while two staff – either security guards or shelf stackers – were still inside. A police 4x4 was also smashed up.
Five people were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.
Mr Hansen said: "It was a violent confrontation. Many people did comply with our directions and were there to protest in a peaceful, law-abiding way, but there was a hardcore who continued to be violent."
As well as Tesco, other businesses were damaged.
Next door Fred Baker Cycles – a family business that has been going for 40 years – had one of its window panels smashed.
Geoff Gardiner, 41, said: "Plate glass of that size will cost about £600 to repair.
"On a nice, sunny Good Friday like this we could have done some good trade. If we can't open again tomorrow, that's £6,000 or £7,000 we've missed out on."
Cath Archer, who has run the Bristolian café on Picton Street for five years, turned up for work to find a door pane smashed.
She said: "I would like compensation for the damage, which will cost at least £200 to fix."
The Rice and Things restaurant on Cheltenham Road did no trade for the last three hours of business on Thursday night.
Owner Barnatic Neufville said: "Damage is damage and that's criminality. As law abiding citizens we cannot condone that at all.
"While I can understand they have a voice, and a right, I cannot condone damage like that.
The 34-year-old added: "I think the legislation in this country needs to be changed to give the police more powers. If this had been in Jamaica the squatters would have been out on day one."
Pete Summers and Fay Curtis are two of many people living opposite Tesco who were kept up all night by the chaos outside.
They saw a man climb a lamppost, walk along shop roofs and throw a large piece of paving stone on the head of one of the police.
"It was horrible to see him get hit by a boulder," said Miss Curtis, 26. "It was 50:50 in terms of the aggression of the protesters and the police, I reckon."
Mr Summers, 26, added: "When it first started, it seemed like it was just people from Stokes Croft but as it went on, more and more people came and sort of latched on."
Madeleine Waugh was one of many people who had heard about what was happening and went down to look.
The 21-year-old photography student, of Cromwell Road, said: "It was pretty crazy down there and it was quite scary at times. Some people were being idiots, but most of them were trying to be peaceful."
MP Kerry McCarthy, whose constituency is elsewhere in Bristol, also decided to go down to the riots after finding out about them.
She said: "In many ways there was a typical Stokes Croft atmosphere. There was someone playing a saxophone on a bus shelter, someone playing the bongos and people walking around with lampshades on their heads, but then it got nasty. It seemed a bit heavy handed.
"There were some people who were behaving like idiots and were putting people in a potentially dangerous position and some of those were quite drunk.
"But there's no excuse for throwing big lumps of concrete and bottles.
"It was a small group of people who were throwing things and they were pretty young people from what I saw.
"It did not have the organised violence that I saw in London at the protests against tuition fees. It did seem to be drunk people getting caught up in the excitement of it.
David Nieberg, spokesman for Tesco, said: "We can confirm that an incident happened last night. Thankfully no staff or customers were harmed. We are helping the police with their enquiries."
Mr Nieberg could not comment on whether the store would continue trading after it is repaired, nor whether they would employ more security guards.
Ward councillor Jon Rogers (Lib Dem, Ashley) said that the issue of potential disorder had been raised at meetings about the Tesco planning application.
He said: "There were concerns about this kind of outcome but the planning committee decided that there was no lawful reason to refuse the Tesco application."
Last night a small number of police remained on Cheltenham Road and Stokes Croft as the Tesco shop was boarded up.
Comments
by barry, bistol
Sunday, May 01 2011, 11:36AM
“is this the same claire milne who worked for Bristol City Council as a Sustainable Food Coordinator. Yep take it to the man.”
by Tuesday blues, Horfield
Tuesday, April 26 2011, 9:28AM
“This discussion is getting a little sill andis therefore missing the point. Stop with all the name calling and meaningless unfounded slander - makes you sound juvenile and undermines anything of sense you are trying to say.
A few points:
- I'm a Horfield resident, but work in Stokes Croft and pass through there every day of the week and most weekends. I know just under 10 Stokes Croft residents. Amongst them, there is a 50/50 split between people who want the Tescos and people who don't care (because they have allotments and get all their food from there this time of year). None of them consider themselves anti Tescos.
- If you are going to rage against the machine then you have to offer something feasible in its place. The alternatives to Tescos in the area? A lovely Fruit and Veg shop on Picton St, whose ethical credentials are excellent, but which outprices many of the local residents, Licatas, who offer largely poor quality food (count the air miles people!) at average prices, and a handful of newsagents/corner shops. There is a gap in the market.
- Tescos is what it is because it gives people what they want. You may hate our capitalist world - and it definitely has its evils - but it is reliable in one respect (especially when it comes to retail): if a shop gives people what they want, it will succeed.
- What makes a small retailer intrinsically more 'ethical' than Tesco? Having worked in a grocers in Horfield in my youth and then Sainsburys, I was treated with more respect at the supermarket, I accrued holiday and sick pay, I was allowed flexibility and I was paid over the minimum wage. The arguments about how Tesco treat their staff appear to be unfounded and are also slightly irrelevant unless you can demonstrate that the lovely small retailers are better employers.
- Homogenisation of the high street: Is Glos Rd that bad, with its Tescos, Sainsburys, Co-op x2? People still seem to like it. Stokes Croft is becoming a nicer area (thanks in part to the efforts of the PROSC), but corporations and independent traders can co-exist. You only have to look around you to see this. Some indies may close - sometimes that can be because they're not that good.
- There are concerns in the area that the PROSC is starting to dominate local discourse to an unecessary extent. The residents that I have spoken to like much of what they have done but would rather they simply focussed on the positive action they have been very good at as opposed to becoming a protest voice. It will always be the naysayers who shout loudest, but it doesn't mean theirs is the only voice.
- I don't believe that the majority of rioters were PROSC or even local residents. I think most people - even in the anti Tesco brigade - would have been saddened by these events. It is a little counter-productive to have a riot in an area you wish to regenerate. Hartcliffe residents will testify to that.
- Re the police/protesters/squatters. There is a lack of trust on all sides, but the bottom line is that the Police are at least accountable. Maybe not always 100% but at least more so than those standing against them. And their numbers were justified. If you're talking about Petrol bombs the need to ensure that the public keep a safe distance should be pretty apparent. Sometimes, esp in an area like this - this can take force. Would have been nice if there could have been a couple of officers chatting politely, but what would have been the chances of people paying attention?
Anyway, I realise that this is a rather pro-Tesco comment. This is not because this is my default position, more because I think that those against the store - many of whom do have compelling reasons - need to start putting together arguments that extend beyond big = bad, and need to start looking at positive protest for a realistic, feasible alternative.
Joe Strummer realised punk was pointless unless it could do more than simply rage and destroy. You ca”
by jbrumpole, Bristol
Tuesday, April 26 2011, 3:03AM
“brizboi-ld, Bristol
Well said !! Lets hope that the people of Bristol cut Little Miss Twitter down to size at the next election.
The Police and Citizens of Bristol clearly Do Not need Members of Parliament that behave in this disrespectful manner.
Shall we all tell her where to go ?
----------------------------------------------------
Following her Twittering of the riot & involvement, http://louderthanwar.com/blogs/an-eye-witness-account-of-the-bristol-stokes-crofttescos-riot-from-kerry-mccarthy-mp why hasn't Kerry McCarthy MP been interviewed by Police with a view to a possible charge of Incitement to riot, or voilence, or other public order offence, after all she has a Police caution? Could she have broken the law again?
brizboi-ld, Bristol”
by pete, easton
Tuesday, April 26 2011, 12:15AM
“it seems clear from reading these comments that people are angry on both sides of the coin - understandable .. and violence is definitely not to be advocated, BUT neither is finger pointing and slandering people's personal credentials and putting their CV's over the internet, etc - as usual people take delight in slandering others, and missing the point entirely so they can have their 2 bobs worth .. i guess as the saying goes, "two wrongs dont make a right" .. and as far as i can see, from talking to many peaceful people that were there that evening, it seems that there has been a MASSIVE confusion and misunderstanding created around this, and actually the reality is, that over 100 police turned up on a busy friday night to evict a squat with 4 people in it, and the ensuing chaos and violence was actually only instigated by a few drunk youth, who probably would be fighting on most friday nights regardless of police or tescos !! does everyone really think the people that were carrying out the violence had anything to do with the tescos campaign ?? how ridiculous .. they have probably never even thought about it and probably shop at tescos themselves .. do people really think that someone capable of throwing bottles and bircks at police would be the kind of person to be involved in a no tesco campaign ? i doubt it .... all you have to do is look at the clips of the riot i you tube and u can clearly see it is a bunch of a few random tanked up drunk lads vs the police who are causing all the mayhem .. there is no actual specific connection to the anti tesco campaign , it just happens that tesco got smashed up ( aswell as few other shops but i do not see anyone connecting those to this story) .. and the reality is, that now tesco has been smashed up sure, and it has been dragged into this whole debate now, and thus tainted the original reason for the whole "no tesco" argument i may add ... when actually it was nothing to do with the original reason the police came .. the smashing up of tesco was simply a reaction from angry young drunk people at being pushed around by police with no explantion .. take tescos out of the whole equation, and something like this could have happened anyway on an average friday evening in a busy city and maybe another shop would have been smashed or whatever .. its random basically and its been turned into something specific but its not like that.. .. i think if anything we should be addressing issues of WHY the youth reacted so violently, and WHY the police felt it neccessary to be so heavy handed to begin with and to do this operation on a busy friday evening in an area with a reputation for late night drinking .. what kind of soceity are we co-creating where our young people go out every weekend and get totally obliterated and have massive fights in the street ? alcohol and dodgy police organisation is the major villain here as far as i can see .. and i do not condone alcohol in moderation . . but it is well known that alcohol fuelled young lads are likely to have a scrap .. i have observed it many times !! its pretty obvious ! .. cheers .. pete ..”
by Gary,W, Downend
Monday, April 25 2011, 10:36PM
“I am a Director of a business in Montpelier employing 28 people, we have been looking forward to the Tesco store opening as it offers good quality products at very reasonable prices, please don't let these idiots force permanent closure of this store, instead let market forces decide. If Stokes Croft and Montpelier residents really don't want this store then they can vote with their feet rather than force their opinions on those of us that do want Tesco in the area.”
by BS3 & Proud, no crusty juggler PRSC over here, thankfully
Monday, April 25 2011, 8:29PM
“Embrace the supermarkets & food outlets.
With co-op arriving, that'll be no.7 in our area. More choice, better prices.”
by Great Post, Stokes Croft
Monday, April 25 2011, 8:05PM
“Oh I forgot point 8
8) The individuals squatting in Telepathetic Heights or any of the other buildings are quick to use the law to protect themselves.
Here is a typical poster that they put in a window:
LEGAL WARNING
Section 6 Criminal Law Act 1977
As amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
TAKE NOTICE
THAT we live in this property, it is our home and we intend to stay here.
THAT at all times there is at least one person in this property.
THAT any entry or attempt to enter into this property without our permission is a criminal offence as any one of us who is in physical possession is opposed to entry without our permission.
THAT if you attempt to enter by violence or by threatening violence we will prosecute you. You may receive a sentence of up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.
THAT if you want to get us out you will have to issue a claim in the County Court or in the High Court, or produce to us a written statement or certificate in terms of S.12A Criminal Law Act, 1977 (as inserted by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, 1994).
THAT it is an offence under S.12A (8) Criminal Law Act 1977 (as amended) to knowingly make a false statement to obtain a written statement for the purposes of S. 12A. A person guilty of such an offence may receive a sentence of up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.
Does it seem funny to everyone else to use the law when it suits you (such as when you are squatting) and then to ignore it when it doesn't.?
Hypocrites
Bill, Bristol
Report abuse
commented on 25-Apr-2011 18:23”
by Squatters are not welcome, please move out and far away
Monday, April 25 2011, 8:02PM
“It is not your property, and never will be.
NEVER.”
by col, Bristol
Monday, April 25 2011, 6:34PM
“The overwhelming impression from most of the posts is that of frustration, bordering on violence.
The opinions of a small, but highly vocal group, that feel ignored and a greater group who normally silent are now unhappy hanging isn't back on the statute books.
All share a disaffection with a system that engages them less than once a year and ultimately disappoints more than half the electorate.
With almost universal access to the Internet, setting up local and national e-voting systems would give everyone an opportunity to not only have a say, but feel counted.
I hate the idea of small groups of activists holding communities to ransom, because they feel unrepresented in local and national government, but i also have every sympathy for their need to be heard above the clatter of a biased media and agenda riddled bureaucracy.
Many years ago it would have been a nonsense to poll every resident on every issue and so we invested our trust in elected representatives, who, good or bad have served us.
Well, those days could be numbered, we could take back the decision making from most parts of Government, leaving only sensitive areas of policy for them to concentrate on.
What happened in Stokes Croft was appalling and I never want to see the like again, but I do want a community lead change to policy and I can only point to e-voting as the fairest path forward.
Thanks for listening.”
by Bill, Bristol
Monday, April 25 2011, 6:23PM
“Oh I forgot point 8
8) The individuals squatting in Telepathic Heights or any of the other buildings are quick to use the law to protect themselves.
Here is a typical poster that they put in a window:
LEGAL WARNING
Section 6 Criminal Law Act 1977
As amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
TAKE NOTICE
THAT we live in this property, it is our home and we intend to stay here.
THAT at all times there is at least one person in this property.
THAT any entry or attempt to enter into this property without our permission is a criminal offence as any one of us who is in physical possession is opposed to entry without our permission.
THAT if you attempt to enter by violence or by threatening violence we will prosecute you. You may receive a sentence of up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.
THAT if you want to get us out you will have to issue a claim in the County Court or in the High Court, or produce to us a written statement or certificate in terms of S.12A Criminal Law Act, 1977 (as inserted by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, 1994).
THAT it is an offence under S.12A (8) Criminal Law Act 1977 (as amended) to knowingly make a false statement to obtain a written statement for the purposes of S. 12A. A person guilty of such an offence may receive a sentence of up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.
--------------------------------------------------
Does it seem funny to everyone else to use the law when it suits you (such as when you are squatting) and then to ignore it when it doesn't.?
Hypocrites”