Help needed setting up a Cop Watch group

[Black Dagger]

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about or places where i could find information about organising a Cop Watch group?

Anything at all.

Cheers.

[ahab]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 23, 2007 12:40 pm
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about or places where i could find information about organising a Cop Watch group?

Anything at all.

Cheers.
try to contact the folks at media island in olympia washington, they have one set up and theyve been doin it for a while so talk to them

[Forward Union]

There is a bit about it here (http://raisethefist.com/racun/sd.html)

I found this article very interesting, and indeed practical. Though it doesn't really go into the logistics of setting up a group, but I guess we can discuss that here.

[Black Dagger]

Some stuff i've found on the net so far,

How to get a cops address (USA):
http://www.copwatch.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35

How to Fuck the Police:
http://www.crimethinc.com/police/how.html

Video of live performance of &#39;Cop Killer&#39; <_< by Body Count:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OzmI-b4W1Tw

Video by copwatch.org (i think), talks a bit about the historic origins of the police department (at the start) and then a short doco with an interview with a copwatch member talkin about copwatching, your rights (USA) in relation to the police generally, and as a copwatcher, lots of very good advice (def worth checkin out):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vqqj4b04cP4

[apathy maybe]

Have you or other crew been harassed? If so that sucks.


My advice, it is legal (in all parts of Australia) to take photographs or movies of people in public*, that includes cops in the middle of operations. So long as you stay a good distance away they can&#39;t get you for interference, but they may threaten it. If they ask you to move on, ask them why and then "move on" a little bit or just walk past them continually (staying a distance from them). Remember to be polite, don&#39;t break the law, but don&#39;t be intimidated.

Make sure to turn off any power saving devices on your still camera when filming, or what happened to me might happen to you (I lost like 3 minutes of footage because the power saving thing kicked in).

Get their names and numbers and so on, try and find out the lawyer for the people getting arrested so that you can get your footage to them.

Have fun&#33;



* In malls and other private places, the management can legally say no photography or filming. They can kick you out for breaking this, so do it covertly. But they can&#39;t require you to delete or hand over footage or photos. See also http://www.4020.net/words/photorights.shtml for photo rights in NSW at least.

[apathy maybe]

That article link above has lots of good stuff in it for Internationals as well (the USA, UK, NZ and more). It is well worth a complete read, no matter where you are from.