Ash posted this message:

So, we need a volunteer who is knowledgeable, and can put our points forward politely and sensibly with good spelling and grammar, although we can all proof read and make suggestions for the emails.

Last time all communication was done by email and hopefully they will be happy to do it all by email this time too, but we cannot be sure they won't demand a face to face meeting.

So does anyone want to take on this job?

I'd be willing to accept the role, if there are no other volunteers.

I'm pretty good at scripting letters, but as far as being a point of contact that might not go so well. However, I gladly offer my letter-writing skills to any anon who takes this position up.

I would take up this task.

I've got average/good punctuation and grammar skills when it come to writing letters. If required i would also meet with police to discuss the protest for the 12th April.

I do think it would be better if a local anon takes up this task TBH. If the police want to arrange a meeting. Then I haven't got to travel an hour on the train to get there. Then try and find the place that the meeting would be held at.

I'll help to proof-read any written correspondance, and reword phrases where necessary etc.

I agree that if someone is required to meet with the police, then it should be someone local.

I think that putting up drafts of letters on here for appraisal and comment works well.

we just need person (or people) who can come up with the first drafts, and someone to be the one who actually emails/talks/meets the police people.
(and also the general anon population to give advice and such.)

they don't need to be the same person really.


ideally the police contact would need to be a local brummy, and someone who will be at ease talking face-to-face (or on phone) with police people in case that becomes necessary (it shouldn't).

anonymity remains preserved, and we're here to support you all the way.


I would volunteer, but I would bet quite highly that i'm the furthest away with the most difficult journey to get to birmingham.

who will answer the call?
well, anon76 if no one else volunteers, or tum tum if he's local enough, but
who else will answer the call?

I have the same problem as Tum Tum in not being local, however I can get to Birmingham relatively easily.

I've drafted an initial email which may be of use to whoever ends up taking on this role.

Please feel free to comment, criticize it. or tear it to pieces.

looks like a good email.

maybe we should pester ash for details like what sort of subject lines she was using and such.

if every email was "RE: Anonymous" then it would be useful to continue the trend.

Looks good can't see any problems with that email at all.

At this stage it doesn't matter who sends in the first email to contact the police. So go for it Anon76 if you want.

Well i live about 70-90 miles awhile i think from Birmingham so it's like a 45 min train ride.

But still think a local Brummie should do it. If not then Anon76 can go for

Pretty good - just to be picky though, i'd say you need commas after "communications" (first line), and after "Sincerely".
Maybe input a small part asking about there being any set things they need to know other than numbers?

Excellent.

I'd do that, but i am not a citizen of Birmingham city, so...

But can we say organise?

What with the whole leaderless thing?

However: I can't offer a better solution.

Well, the police had no problem with there being no leader on Saturday, but there was that one protester in America who was arrested for being a 'leader' of a peaceful protest.

I think to say we have no official leader is fine, but to say we have appointed stewards who will be wearing hi vis jackets (thank you clown faced anon) will be in our favour.

I am in Brum (10 minutes from the city centre) for IRL meetings and such, but I'm not good at letters/emails, always ramble on too much ;)

Well I was just thinking along the lines of: we're not the organisers... There are anons that come from the Chans, and (probably) other forums.

I have received a lot of feedback and useful suggestions about the initial draft, both on this thread and in PM's and have amended the email accordingly.

I'll try to get this sent as soon as Ash gets back to me with the Email address.

Excellent, anon delivers. :)

Anon76, I originally provided the e-mail address, I do believe it is p.mccormack@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

Thanks for that anonsrus, you're a star.

:D

Do we have any progress here?

2nd'd

The email has been sent but no reply yet, probably due to the easter break.

We've had a reply please see the reply and the proposed response below.

Draft of reply:

Just me, or does it seem like there should be another word in there?

Proposed response seems okay to me.

Ah yes, I did miss out a word.

should read:

Seconded.

Thirded.

fourthed and simultaneously fifthed.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with the proposed reply :(

I'm an anon who has been scared off protesting due to fearing the fair game policy and a hectic season at work.

If the police request a meeting, then it is appropriate. They get to decide that, not us. Having been involved in organising large events before now, I know that this cannot be neglected.

What I would suggest would be that we offer a group of three volunteers (maybe just two, but not a single individual) known to most to attend a meeting, but stress that they cannot agree to anything at that time.

At the same time, we state that, because of the nature of anonymous and the fair game policy, we would prefer to deal with this via e-mail so that all may contribute.

And meeting or not, a proposed agenda with any specific points would be a useful thing to have from the police and local authority.

A quick google reveals Mahendra Chauhan to be in charge of booking the use of city centre space. Given Scientology's new tactics of counter protests, we need to get on his good side as soon as possible.

Yeah man, i would go along to the meeting if you can. Scary idea, i know, but still... Give it a go.

Buit having said that squigglefish could be a $ci wanting to set you up...

Send the email, if they really, really want a meeting.. then go along.

For the lulz. :ph43r:

Couldn't it be arranged for the meeting to take place at a police station... seems the safest place to me

That asked for one last time, Ash sent a similar response, and it turned out it wasn't necessary. We all went ahead as planned, and it was great. All we have to do is repeat that.

But... What can be organised face to face that can't be organised via email??? If anything, conversing via email is far more coherent, as it can include links O_o

That, if anything, is the best idea. Also, if it comes down to it, remain masked if possible.

And, it can also give the correspondant chance to check anything, such as any questions they may be asked, with the 'hive', as opposed to having to come up with it on the spot.

You can just imagine the meeting now:
Police: So, what's going to happen regarding *insert anything here*
Anon: Hang on, i'll go and ask everyone, get the group opinion.
*goes off to post, comes back couple of days later with agreed response*

One person at a meeting cannot successfully speak for the group.
Unless, the police send a list of questions beforehand, so they can be discussed in advance.
EVen so, e-mail is much better for our purposes.

Its like on the day last time, that police-officer came over and asked who the leader was, we all said, we have no leader. So she spoke to all of us and we liaised quickly and fairly,.

Quick update,

The 2nd Email to PC Boland was sent last week. It was pretty much as per the draft that was posted above with a few bits switched around to make it scan a bit better.

Today we have received an email from PC McCormack, who is now back from leave. His email was in response to the first email that was sent, he seems not to have seen the email from PC Boland or our subsequent response to that.

He has requested that his email is not posted to the forums. I don't know why he has made this request as he has said little that has not already been said and posted previously.

I would appreciate any feedback on whether or not his email should be posted here in spite of his request and we will go with whatever we decide as a whole.

I think we should try to clarify whether we are dealing with PC McCormack or PC Boland and I'd suggest we respond with a short email explaining that we have been in contact with Boland and asking whether we should continue our communications with her or whether he will be resuming his role as Police point of contact.

Thoughts, suggestions, feedback?

Don't post the e-mail itself - as in, no copy/paste. Let us know all of the main points though. We can hardly correspond if we don't know what he's saying.

I'd say advise we've been taking to Boland, and see if the pair of them are able to sort out between themselves who is going to communicate with us.

Email back and ask which PC we are now in contact with, just so that we know.

I wouldn't post his email if he has asked you not to; I can't understand why he wouldn't want it published, but if there were anything new I suggest posting a summary rather than the entire email.

EDIT: Falco has faster fingers than me :rolleyes:

Yeah, don't post the email if he has asked you not to. Just fill us in on anything new.

As requested, the main points of PC McCormack Email:

1. He was not aware whether we have been in contact with PC Boland during his absence.

2. He accepts that I am not a leader or organiser but does request the identity of 'the organiser' he would prefer a meeting with the organiser.

3. He says that the reason for requested council involvement is that they are responsible for the location.

4. He acknowledges that the previous 2 protests have take place without any incident and caused minimal problems.

5. He would prefer Victoria Square as the location.

6. If the numbers increase significantly then he may look to impose conditions on the protest.

7. He has requested that we don't copy/paste his email in full.