Is policing the solution to problems?

There's a lot of talk lately about the ‘socalled' out-of-control behaviour of Fanshawe students in the student ghetto. The corporate media keeps pushing an image of Fanshawe students as no-good drunken hooligans. The cops harass us at our doors, extort us for money with their endless fines, and occupy and patrol our neighbourhoods like we live in a fascist dictatorship. And our own overpaid, out-of touch president is threatening us with suspensions and even expulsions for things that we do on our own time, off-campus. When I heard that police had laid charges on over 1000 people in and around the Fleming Drive area since the beginning of the semester I wasn't concerned about student behaviour, I was concerned about the police behaviour. Students have always, and will always get drunk and party, especially within the first couple weeks of classes. The only thing that has changed is the heavyhanded response from the authorities who have obviously too little work to do because of how overstaffed they are.

I know one of the people who was charged that week. He got a drinking ticket for having a beer on his own lawn.

More than a thousand people being charged with noise violations and drinking means that there isn't enough real crime happening to meet the demand of the endless supply of cops our police state is training and hiring to oppress us. Therefore, these cops must create new criminals out of anyone they can. And with a 24-hour noise by-law it's clear they are criminalizing students in this city.

Every time I see a police officer, I want to approach them and demand to know why they‘ve chosen to make a career out of repressing me and other citizens. I want to ask them how they feel about being used as pawns to protect the wealth and power of the rich at the expense of everyone else. I want to tell them they are not welcome in my community.

I want to live in a healthy community, and I know that trust, respect, and communication are the foundation of healthy communities. Most cops don't respect us, trust us, or care to communicate with us unless they're trying to get the evidence they need to arrest us, our friends, or our neighbours. If a cop stops you and asks you questions do not answer them, ever. It can never help us to talk to police because anything we say will be used against us. They wouldn't ask us anything if they didn't need our help to ruin our lives and the lives of others. I would never call the police or the ‘crimestoppers' snitch line on a member of my community, especially not for such minor issues. Just think of how many charges could have been avoided if people simply knocked on each others doors and asked their neighbours politely to turn the music down instead of calling in the city's armed thugs.

My tips for dealing with police and staying free

- According to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, you are not required to identify yourself to police, even when arrested (although not identifying yourself can lead to increased repression, even police brutality as I've experienced. Cops break the law too, but they usually don't get caught).

- There is no such thing in Canada as ‘being taken in for questioning'. Legally, you never have to answer any questions.

- If approached by police you have the right to ask them if you are being arrested or detained, if they say no, you're free to go.

- If you're arrested or being detained you can stay silent until you speak with a lawyer.

- Never let a cop enter your house without seeing a warrant first. Make sure you check that it's signed by a judge, has the correct address, date and items to be searched for and seized.

- Never consent to being searched. If the cops forcibly search you, or your vehicle, loudly proclaim “I DO NOT CONSENT TO THIS SEARCH”

- Start a ‘Cop Watch' program to monitor and document police activity and abuses in your neighbourhood. I've learned from experience at many protests that police act very differently when being documented. A camera can sometimes stop a beat-down, and if it doesn't it can be used in court and cause a lot of problems for that officer, and help the victim stay free.

Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.