THE letters from David Stubley and David J Crawford (October 7) on signs of a police state have particular resonance for me. In 200I en route to participate in the perfectly legal G8 protest in Genoa, I was arrested on arrival in Italy, detained overnight, and deported under armed escort back to England. This for no reason other than the fact that I had been arrested at Faslane for participation in peaceful non-violent direct action against Trident. For this I was deported back to the UK as if I were a drug dealer or an international terrorist.
There was obviously co-operation between the British Special Branch and the Italian security services. This is alarming and deeply worrying. At the time, verbal explanation from the local officials about Schengen Agreement and so on were meaningless and unhelpful.
Intending to visit italy the following year, I subsequently had a long and enitrely fruitless conversation with the Italian consul in Edinburgh, a charming man who could give me no guarantee that I would not be deported should I attempt to enter his beautifuul country again.
Since that time I have not attempted to enter Italy.
I wonder what would happen if I did?
Brian Quail,
2 Hyndland Avenue, Glasgow.
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