By Sian Ruddick
Activist speaks out: Police tried to recruit me as an informer
This article is over 9 years, 4 months old
Police in Glasgow are searching out and harassing activists, hoping that some of them will become informers.
One man called Mark, who witnessed a rape at the Occupy camp in the city, has been one of their targets.
Mark told Socialist Worker, "I got a phone call from the police saying for me to come in and be interviewed about what I saw.
"So I went to the London Road police station today [Tuesday]. They took me into a side room and told me that they used the rape as an excuse to get me there."
Mark was devastated. He had only gone to the police station in the hope that he could help the woman who was attacked.
"The police said to me, 'We both know that austerity isn't going away. We need people to tell us what's going on in your movement.'
"They wanted to know what protests would be happening and if they'd be peaceful. I told them they were barking up the wrong tree and that I wanted to get out of there.
"They gave me a number to call saying it would be valid for a couple of weeks if I changed my mind. I deleted it straight away and I'm going to change my phone number."
Mark has been shaken by the experience, "It's gut wrenching really. They're not investigating the rape and instead are trying to find people to do their dirty work.
"It's important to let people know that these things are going on. We must never give in to police pressure—it's the solidarity of the movement that keeps us strong."
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