Woman held on drugs charge

10:08am Wednesday 9th May 2001

A SYDENHAM woman arrested during the May Day demonstrations is to be tried at Crown Court accused of possession of herbal cannabis.

Claire Woolston, of Kingsthorpe Road, appeared before Bow Street Magistrates where she elected to be dealt with by the higher court after denying the charge.

The 21-year-old, who has purple dreadlocks, was arrested in Suffolk Square, central London, during the anti-capitalist protests.

Police made 92 arrests, including 18 for criminal damage, 28 for public order offences and 10 for the possession of offensive weapons.

Arrests were also made for drunkenness, theft and assault.

A total of 32 charges have been laid so far. After a series of largely peaceful demonstrations last Tuesday, a stand-off developed between police and about 5,000 protesters in Oxford Street.

Police believe there are still a number of people responsible for committing offences who have yet to be identified.

Witnesses are being sought and officers are collecting CCTV footage from businesses in the area where the trouble broke out.

Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner Michael Todd, who led operations, said: “The Metropolitan Police Service is extremely proud of its officers, civil staff and other London colleagues for the way they handled the May Day protests.”

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