impressions...

Rip It Up, Issue 65, 1 December 1982, Page 12

impressions...

Ngila Dickson fashion designer Saturday night at the Windsor Castle should have left the punters with a very optimistic view of the summer ahead. When I arrived I was told I'd just missed This Sporting Life at their finest and Fish School not bad, either. The atmosphere was really good and even though it took Fetus Production's a little while to get themselves co-ordinated, the audience was amiable and attentive. Anyway, the police made one pass through the pub midset, noteable only 'cos they took outside probably the most inoffensive young person in the vicinity. No, I don't even think he was that young..; Still, its par for the course on- a Saturday night, isn't it (?), so I didn't take much notice. Later I went off in search of the local takeaway bar. There were no police outside then, but on returning the road outside the pub was liberally decorated with police cars and a paddy wagon. . Chris Knox already had a seat

in the back of one of the wagons, as had several others. There was general bewilderment. What had happened to that nice, low key evening we'd been enjoying quarter of an hour ago? Just then two police boys jumped out of • the paddy wagon and grabbed Paul Rose. As the policemen were hustling him away he was busily trying to explain he didn't say wankers. Paul,was lucky. He did convince them, several minutes later, Gary (Sporting Life) was not so lucky. The most appalling thing about this • tacky, little scene was the obvious provocation on the part of the police. The pub was closed, most people knew at least someone who was in the back of the vans, a great evening had been wrecked for no apparent reason. Paul Williams nurse A group of about ten peop ,r were outside the pub at 10.30-ish. Three police cars a' .' . wagon drove up the street, . police proceeded into the pub do usual underage trip while maintaining heavy presence outside randomly questioning) searching, threatening people, "What are you doing?" "How old are you?" "Watch what you say." "Keep out of this." Joking amongst themselves, a woman cop was using worse language than the arrested were accused of. I asked a policeman outside the paddy wagon "Why have you arrested my friend?" and was told ; to " off, off, go away." When I asked him why he could use obscene language and not me he replied "What did I say?" Clever attempt at entrapment but fortunately I had my wits about me, although quite perturbed, disillusioned, angry. I let out my feelings visibly, shouting "I don't believe this farce," waved my arms in the air and two of them grabbed me and told me to control my outbursts -in' public or I would be arrested for disorderly behaviour. ou can go home and beat up the wife but don't carry on like that in front of us." > Peter Meehan 22 year old sound technician I was in the lounge bar of the - Windsor Castle Hotel listening to Fishschool when the police came in at about 9 pm and hauled me out. I gave my name and address . but they wouldn't believe I was of age. They told me "Bugger off and

don't come back." I went up the road to a friend's place for a while and returned about 20 minutes later. There were no police cars so I wandered back in. I was sitting ; there when almost at closing time suddenly all these cops came in. I thought, I hope it's not the same lot. Then tap on my shoulder and oh no, , the same cop'dragged me out, "You come outside." Protested and told police to ring up computer, to establish age. Told "It's not up to us to prove your age —. its up to you." More protest 'Too bad. You came back on to licensed. premises after you were told to leave" and I was arrested. I don't i know what I was arrested for. Russell Jephson I was standing outside . the Windsor Castle while the police were pulling people out and main--1 -mg a very provocative stance, s standing with both arms ?tched over my head, holdn to scaffolding, when a .mg constable said, "Why don't >ou get a rope and do it properly." I replied, "Don't you think that's ,very bad for public relations?" to which he snarled, T couldn't give a you creep." I said nothing, though I was angry that . they could do this and get away with it. Richard Hanssens bookshop proprietor ; I was at the Windsor Castle from eight o'clock. It was a small crowd for a Saturday night, the atmosphere of the place ' was relaxed, people were more interested in the music than getting drunk. I left at the end of Fetus Productions' set, about quarter, past ten.' I walked up Parnell Road, it was a busy night, lots of pedestrians and traffic. A police car passed me, lights flashing, on its way up towards the Alexandra Hotel. There was a European male, . early • twenties, standing: between two police cars surrounded by policemen. He . was. red faced, angry and abusive. He looked as if he had just been in a fight. He was well dressed except his shirt) had been ripped, one sleeve hanging from his arm. He sounded drunk. I am certain I heard him scream out "f**king leave me alone." I didn't see anyone being taken aside by the police, nor did I see anyone being held in any of the cars or the van.

The purpose of this police pub task force is “to maintain orderliness in hotels, *’ according to the police press liaison officer. There was no disorderly behaviour at the Windsor Castle on the night of Saturday, November 26 until the police arrived. Some members of this task force were heard to make openly antagonistic remarks to pub-goers. Five people were arrested and detained until three and four o’clock in the morning, people who had gone out that night for a

good time. The police declined to comment on their visit to the Windsor, stating that direct references to the circumstances of arrest of the three people who have entered not guilty pleas would be in contempt of court as their cases have not yet been decided. One patron asked a task force member what they were doing at the Windsor Castle Hotel. The policeman replied: “There’s nothing else to do. ”