Spy in the Camp

Writing On The Wall
Wednesday 21st May 2014
The Bluecoat, Liverpool

Reviewed by John Owen

Rob Evans and Janet Alder (right), the sister of Christopher Alder who died in a police cell, joined Phil Scraton, noted Hillsborough author and social justice campaigner, to discuss recent revelations of deceit and violations by British Police. Janet Alder reported the experience she’d had in uncovering the circumstances surrounding her brother’s death in police custody 16 years ago. Although the incident was captured on CCTV, only 11 minutes of footage were given to her, eventually the full 100 minutes was handed over. The police claim he died as a result of an injury on a night out.

The truth was far from this. He had been assaulted and taken to hospital, then on to the police station where he was left to die on the floor of the reception as 4 officers stood around refusing to help. The trial found them not guilty! And, in November 2011, when Christopher’s body was discovered in a mortuary, it was revealed that the family had in fact buried Grace Kamara, a 77-year-old woman, in his place.

A litany of cover-ups and professional courtesies from the police to pathologists, funeral directors and morticians all assisted in the delaying the truth emerging. The underlying theme institutionalised racism. Janet fought like a tiger to bury her brother, find the truth and bring the cops to book.

There were some obvious parallels with Phil’s talk; his was a rather melancholic speech concerning women who’d died in custody, at the hands of professionals, either being driven to suicide or left to die restrained. Most of these women had been incarcerated for petty or minor things, powerless, silenced and unable to resist the oppressive mental institutions or prisons.

The Hillsborough news headlines were used to show the blatant disinformation peddled by the press to cover up the police and distort the victims into the aggressors. The powers that be have systematically covered for the boys in blue at the drop of a hat using teams of lawyers and barristers to boost the weak cases of the police against their victims a sort of flexible dictatorship of classes.

Finally, Rob Evans spoke of the sinister role of police informants and infiltration of left-wing and environmentalist groups for as long as 5 or 7 years at a time, the most high profile one being Mark Stone, also known by his activist nom de plume Mark Kennedy.

These long-term infiltration tactics include even having relations with activists leading to having children, some women were devastated to find out their partners were already married with children and just using them to hoover up information. These tactics dated back to the 60s and the paranoia of police agents was well and truly justified.

The meeting was both profoundly moving and disturbing but extremely revelatory as things seem to be coming to light. The papers’ headlines had the story of Tory government – a blow to the police – in the form of Teresa May attacking their federation. But, as Phil Scraton observed, they’re not ‘our brothers in uniform’ and ergo a trade union like the POA (screws) who are affiliated to the TUC.

Much more was said – and needs repeating – there were some good questions from the audience as well as more contributions. The issues were carried over to the next meeting, the next one being Seamus Milne – enemy within – regarding the 30 years of the miners’ strike.

Check it out and see an event that is a cool, well-observed contrast to the confetti corn candy blast of pop culture with the misnomer of Liverpool Biennial.

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