CAMPAIGNERS will be policing the police at protests against one of the world’s biggest arms fairs in London this month.

The Defence & Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) takes place at the ExCel Centre in Newham, east London, and will involve 2,800 arms dealers offering their deadly wares to some of the world’s most repressive regimes.

It runs from September 12 to 15, but protests began today targeting firms setting up the exhibition.

Protest organisers say previous protests against the annual event have been troubled by excessive and violent policing that has included blanket use of stop-and-search powers, arrests, police surveillance, harassment, use of “spycop” plants among the protesters and racist behaviour against minorities.

Police will have even more powers to act against protesters this year following the government’s passing of new public order regulations.

But the police will be monitored by the Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol), which will report on their behaviour during the two weeks of protests. 

Campaign Against Arms Trade media co-ordinator Emily Apple warned police: “You will be watched and you will be held accountable for repressive policing.”

Netpol’s campaigns co-ordinator Kevin Blowe said: “Netpol believe new police powers exist primarily to further criminalise the right to dissent and to intimidate people into not joining protest movements that the police recognise are likely to grow.

“That is why we are monitoring the impact of policing on the right to freedom of assembly during DSEI and are urging campaigners to tell us about their experiences.”

Quakers will join the protest; they will be worshipping in silence outside the event this Thursday and on Monday and Tuesday (September 11 and 12).