The 4th Annual Smokey Bears Picnic

I arrived at the Common at 2.00pm sharp to find it ringed with old bill, at least as many as last year (80 confirmed to be in attendance in '96). There was a mobile cell block, numerous riot vans, a couple of video surveillance teams and I spotted a spanial type dog in the back of a dog handlers van.

I walked onto the common with a group of a dozen or so including Howard Marks past a guy being searched by the occupants of a police Transit - the reason? he was carrying a guitar. Under council bylaws you cannot play musical instruments on the common! Being the most serious crime happening in the vicinity the plod were "only doing their job"!! Being the only sign of crime in the entire city they all wanted to be in on ensuring this very crucial rule was upheld and respected. Being a musician the guy was also clearly likey to be in possession of a controlled substance so the contents of his pockets, shoes, socks and his guitar were thoroughly examined.

On reaching the centre of the common I found 6 uniformed officers surrounding a man with a paste up table which he wanted to put up. But erecting a structure on the common was contrary to council bylaws and no expense was being spared to ensure that this also very crucial rule was adhered to. Looking around it was very obvious that not all the flatfoots were in uniform. The man was threatened with confiscation of his table and having his details recorded for the record if he made any move to put up the table. A stand off ensued. Everybody stood around looking at the table lying on the grass - would it make a run for it?.

My attention was taken by another incident a short distance away, a young woman had been spotted with a handfull of leaflets. She was now the subject of attention for several more uniforms. Apparently it was against council bylaws to distribute leaflets on the common, they wanted to confiscate them. The subject of the leaflets?, how to cultivate cannabis?, how to throw bricks at the filth without missing?, no, the young lady was a member of a local animal rights group and wanted to encourage people to write to their MP in support of the anti hunting private members bill.

At this stage in the proceedings only about 150/200 people had arrived.

LESSON 1. It is absolutly crucial to arrive at an event like this on time (don't give me any of that about the nature of the beast). A critical mass must be established as soon as possible or they are all over you.

Howard decided to make his presence felt. He walked over the the inspector who was giving the orders. "Can I ask you why you are stopping people distributing leaflets" said Howard. "And who might you be sir" said the sturn-faced one. "I'm Howard Marks" said the looking the worst for wear one. "In that case then Mr Marks, because of statements attributed to you in the press I have reason to belive that you may be in posession of controlled drugs and it is my intention to search you, do you understand?"

"Yeah, sure" said Howard.

By now several people including another uniform had gathered around.

"Are you objecting to being searched"

"No, not at all"

A demonstrator arrived with a video camera. A stills photographer was called for.

"Have you any objection to being searched in public"

"No, I don't mind, you've got to make the most of it havent you?"

"I'm not having this turned into a circus, I must inform you that you are being detained for the purposes of a search".

Howard was grabbed by the arms and marched away from the picnic towards the police control centre and the mobile cell block. Shouts of consternation went up from the crowd on the grass(!), they were nickin' Howard Marks.

A large group ran towards the prisoner and his escorts, several more uniforms also ran over and began helping to push a path through the now understandably less than mellow crowd, scuffles broke out, helmets went flying, plain clothes officers took some punishment and drew concealed extendable battons. An unsuccessful attempt was made to de-arrest an earlier victim from the back of a transit.

The anger subsided, both sides drew back. The police regrouped around the edge of the common, the picnic resumed, the numbers had swelled to five or six hundred, the stalls were erected, the ground had been won.

Howard was released after half an hour, they hadn't found his stash.

There was a total of ten arrests. Two people were charged with possession of cannabis and eight were cautioned. All the arrests occured right at the start of the picnic or round the periphery when people first approached the common.

As far as I am aware this is now the biggest and most established pro-cannabis rally in the country. It is also clear to me that a great many more people within an hours drive of Portsmouth could have made the effort to attend. It has taken a lot of work over the last four years to get this event to where it is now and many people have put themselves out and taken a lot of risks in helping to organise it. It would be a shame to waste all that with apathy and feeble excuses. Next year will be a watershed, lets hope we don't have to take our umbrellas.