Camden-news- mace

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden New Journal - PICTURE EXCLUSIVE by RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 21 June 2007

Amid the chaos, a protestor manages to pluck the mace from its pedestal, before hurling it to the ground

Revealed: What really happened in Town Hall tax riot

CCTV footage of ‘Macegate’

AS protesters burst through the wooden doors of the Town Hall’s main chamber and politicians look on in horror, a CCTV camera secretly captures the shocking moments a council meeting descended into chaos.
This exclusive footage shows in detail for the first time how a campaigner, apparently angry at budget cuts to a play centre in Kilburn, picks up the golden ceremonial mace used by generations of Camden mayors and then throws it to the ground. Other protesters later fill the debating floor, sitting down on the carpet and refusing to budge.
Bitter exchanges followed with some councillors squaring up to the objectors, while others retreated to their private rooms.
The drama unfolded at the Town Hall on February 28 as Camden made cuts to several services in a budget that allowed the Lib Dem and Conservative coalition to freeze council tax.
Four months later, detectives who have been put on the ‘Macegate’ inquiry – it was given tongue-in-cheek nickname by mischievous council officers – have not brought charges against anybody involved.
Senior figures had hoped that a charge of criminal damage could be brought after shelling out around £3,000 to fix the mace’s broken crown. Statements are understood to have been taken from several councillors and officers – including former Camden mayor Jill Fraser who was chairing the meeting.
The startling footage was released to the New Journal as part of a request under the Freedom of Information Act. Other footage shows the confusion that followed the outburst and how uniformed police officers entered the chamber to try to calm down the tension. Several documents could not be supplied to reporters because lawyers said their release could adversely affect future criminal investigations.

Click here to view footage

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Your Comments: