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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Rastas Defeat Babylon
Dale McNish The Voice
Friday 11 May 2007 A Rastafarian group was awarded thousands of pounds in legal costs following a botched attempt by police to have their ‘temple’ closed. Camberwell Green Magistrate’s Court ruled last week that £8, 500 in legal costs should be paid to the Ethiopian World Federation based in St Agnes Place, Kennington, south-east London. In a pre-dawn raid last month, 250 police officer – including 60 armed officers – stormed the 32-room four-terraced property seen as the headquarters of the UK’s Rastafarian movement, after intelligence suggested that up to 600 people a day were visiting the ‘temple’ to buy drugs. The operation was described as ‘significant’ by police who said they had recovered several kilos of cannabis, along with a quantity of crack cocaine and six rounds of ammunition, as well as recovering several spent shells. Following a six month surveillance operation, police claimed it had become overrun by drug dealers and gun-carrying youths. The raid netted 23 arrests. Only three were eventually charged – two for cannabis and one for ammunition. An application was made to have the property demolished on the grounds that it was a crack house. But Deputy District Judge Julia Newton refused the submission saying the cops had not presented enough evidence that class. A drugs were being stored there. Lambeth borough commander, chief superintendent Martin Bridger said the decision of the court had to be respected but insisted that pre-raid investigation supported their theory that class A drugs were being supplied from the premises. Councillor Kingsley Abrams, deputy cabinet member for enterprise on Lambeth Council who refused to comment on the outcome of the court case said the council is keen to prevent criminal activities within the building. “The action was taken by the police based on the information received, they briefed us on the operation and we accepted it… the outcome of the court case is not something the Council can comment on.” Published: 11 May 2007; Issue: 1268 http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=11299
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