The riot police did not act with intelligence when they arrested the people at the beginning of the march at the Labour Party conference (The Argus, October 12).

They acted with a lack of intelligence

The reason I can say this with conviction is that I and a friend were standing with those people and were, prior to their being dragged off, also surrounded by the riot police.

The only reason they were arrested was because of the garb they were wearing and because they refused to take it off - not that what they were wearing was outrageous or in any way confrontational.

They had white overalls on and motorbike helmets covered in sponge - more comic than anything else.

They did not look dangerous or intent on mischief, otherwise I would never have stood next to them since I was certainly not looking for trouble.

It is appalling the police give a fabricated story and are believed. It is shocking, really. These people deserve to be heard above the shouting of the authoritarians.

-hazel.walton@virgin.net