Preparing for Arrest

If you consider that being arrested is a potential outcome from participating in an action, then here’s some things you might like to consider in preparation.

The Day Before

  • Notify your friends or family that you may be arrested, and ask them to contact the City Watchhouse or the police station you are most likely to be taken to, to confirm your safety and location.

  • If you use facial recognition or a fingerprint scan to unlock your phone, change your password to a digital code. This makes it harder to accidentally unlock it for the police simply by them handing you the phone.

  • Ensure you have complex passcodes on your devices, even if you intend to leave them at home on the day.

  • Download and fill out the Bust Sheet to take with you and/or give to an action buddy.

On the Day

  • Check your bags and pockets for anything that could result in an offence, eg weapons or drugs. Do not take anything that might result in a fine.

  • Write the phone number of a contact person on your arm, in case you do not have access to your contacts if you are arrested.

  • Consider leaving your phone at home or leaving it with a friend during an action.

  • Do not take unnecessary electronic devices or items you do not want to be seized for any reason.

  • Bring any required medication in case you are in custody for some time.

  • Bring extra clothing to be used for comfort and privacy. This may include an extra pair of undies, layers of clothing, and an extra jumper. You can use these items as a pillow, blanket, eyeshield, or privacy screen.

  • Avoid wearing shoelaces, belts, and scarves, which may be confiscated because they are a safety risk for self-harm.

  • Notify your friends or family that you may be arrested, and ask them to contact the City Watchhouse or the police station you are most likely to be taken to, to confirm your safety and location.

  • If you use facial recognition or a fingerprint scan to unlock your phone, change your password to a digital code. This makes it harder to accidentally unlock it for the police simply by them handing you the phone.

Prepare Yourself

Consider how you can entertain yourself if you are arrested: what type of things might you do:

  • Sleep

  • Meditate

  • Exercise eg yoga, situps, pushups, squats, aerobics, pilates, stretching etc

  • Remember an uplifting activist song or poem

  • Teach yourself a body rhythm hand clap routine

  • Imagine stories in your head

  • Reflect on good memories. 

Be Purposeful

Be careful to avoid being arrested or charged for offences unrelated to the protest action. This could detract from the action’s purpose and not be strategically useful.

Unrelated or unintended offences could include:

  • Jaywalking

  • Public urination

  • Speeding

  • Public nuisance (swearing, offensive language etc)

  • Hindering police in the execution of their duty (see below)

  • Carrying a weapon or something that could be seen as a weapon (eg a pocket knife or climbing knife).

More serious accidental offences might include trespass. Make sure you know if the protest you are attending is on public or private land.