Yesterday’s ‘partnership day of action’ between Lambeth Council, Lambeth Police and Trident Central Gangs Unit, saw large amounts of police and enforcement officers concentrated around the transport hubs of Brixton. 

The already watered down exercise under the name of ‘Brixton Unite’ turned into something of a PR disaster, with the action coming on the day that a damning report detailing suspected corrupt police activities during the Stephen Lawrence enquiry was published. 

Brixton railway station was staffed with heavy-handed Railway Enforcement Officers who immediately pounced on me en masse for taking this photo. 

Various officers took it in turns to harass me, while this officer incorrectly asserted that I needed prior permission to take a handheld photo on a station (I don’t). 

I politely stood my ground, but was eventually instructed to leave the station for uncertain reasons, with the officer in the photo amusingly playing the ‘security’ and ‘terrorist’ cards. 

Meanwhile, at the tube station a fairly large gathering of protesters voiced their opposition to what they felt was an inflammatory and unnecessary action, and one that appeared particularly crass and insensitive given the current news. 

Protesters held up placards warning travellers about the large police presence inside the station. 

Update: Although there were no police dogs in attendance when these photos were taken, there were reports of dogs being used around the station. 

Protesters by the station entrance. 

Officers were lined up on both sides of the barrier inside the tube station. 

Several locals robustly questioned the need for such a large gathering of police. 

Lee Jasper gets into an argument with the police. 

Front cover of the Standard. 

Tempers became frayed by the tube entrance as travellers tried to get past the police. 

This chap took a certain relish in booming out details of the police’s misconduct as reported in the newspaper. 

In nearby Windrush Square, the ‘Engagement Event’ proved to be something of an embarrassing flop, with little more than empty tables and marquees on show. 

Advertised as running from 2-6pm, this was the desolate scene at 4.50pm. 

Empty marquee. 

Even the Battersea Dogs Home staff were packing up their stuff with still an hour scheduled to go. 

Most people we spoke to on the day had no idea what the purpose of this event was, with many interpreting it as being more like a ‘Day Of Harassment’ than a day of community action. 

Let’s hope Lambeth think the next one through a bit more thoroughly – and trouble themselves to get the community onboard in advance of the event. 

Channel 4 posted a report, although its integrity has since been questioned by a local resident, seeing as it appears all the interviewees work for the same ad agency. 

Discuss this action on the urban75 boards: Police and UKBA to ransack Brixton (currently over 80 responses).