Unlawfully Questioned by Police at the Edinburgh Festival
Date: 1.9.2021
- The Fair Trial Project are currently running a campaign for the release of prisoner 14704, James Casey. We have a short documentary online at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and on YouTube.
- I, Tom Muirhead, went to Edinburgh on the 24th of August 2021 to distribute some leaflets advertising the documentary. Around 13:30 I had just finished leafletting on High Street. I was taking photos of the banner I had put up when a lady approached me and asked if the ‘James Casey is innocent’ banner is mine (I had put the banner on an unused, boarded up building). I said it was. She then said ‘sorry, but you have to take it down as it isn’t licensed.’ I said that I was just about to take it down (I had planned to go to the Grassmarket). She walked away and said, ‘I’ll get someone that will make you take it down.’
- I was concerned. I folded up the banner and walked towards St Giles Cathedral. I noticed a lot of security with vests had now appeared. I thought, and it looked like they were looking for me. I was now more concerned. I stood next to St Giles Cathedral and tried to disappear into the background and calm down. I drank some water.
- Next, two police officers came up and one asked if they could have a chat. They said that a colleague had informed them ‘I was doing something with a banner.’
- I asked if I was a suspect. I was told no. The Officers numbers are 669 and 990. The Officers then went on a fishing expedition asking me what I was doing in Edinburgh, where I was from etc. I contend that it is unlawful to question someone for no reason. It is also embarrassing to be approached by two uniformed police officers on the High Street in Edinburgh.
- I said that I didn’t want to answer any questions and asked for a senior officer as I wished to make some complaints.
- My complaints were that a) I had been ‘attacked’ by their colleague (but I didn’t go into any details with the two officers); and b) I wished to make complaints about them.
- The two officers kept on asking what the complaints about them were. I kept on saying that I would tell the senior officer.
- The senior officer didn’t arrive. I asked if I was under arrest. Was told no, so I left. Rather than handing out more leaflets publicising the documentary and enjoying an Edinburgh evening, I went home. I was very concerned about what had happened and about reprisals.
- I have now made complaints of criminality against officers 669 and 990 and the lady who complained to the police about me (and possibly sent ‘security’ looking for me).
- I have also made criminal complaints that concern the underlying subject-matter of the James Casey is Innocent documentary and our web-site (https://fairtrialproject.org/) and arise from the facts that I have set out above.
- These are complaints of criminal fraud against the Scottish Judges, all advocates and all solicitors. Click here to see the complaint.