Film Review: Operation Solstice

A film showing at the 1in12 club, Bradford of "Operation Solstice" marked the 25th Anniversary of "the battle of the Beanfield" which took place 7 miles from Stonehenge on 1st June 1985.

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On this day 25 years ago, police from around the country massed in large numbers to stop the Peace Convoy that was travelling to the annual Stonehenge Free Festival for the summer Solstice celebrations, one of the most important in the New Age calendar. Bowing to the wishes of the uper echelons of Wiltshire society, and against the general mood of support for the travellers from amongst it's 'ordinary' residents, the police numbering around 1300 blockaded the road leading up to the site around 7 miles from Stonehenge itself.

An exclusion zone of 3.6 miles had been sought by English Heritage and the National Trust in a civil court since the laws of the day (prior to the hugely unpopular Criminal Justice Bill) were not judged sufficient by the police to stop the festival from happening.

on the route the convoy was to take, tons of gravel were dumped on the road next to an area known as the Beanfield, and a police blockade of the only other road meant that this field was the only place for people to go to. The vehicles were all sheparded into this area by the police and others further back in the convoy were prevented from reaching the area, the drivers of these vehicles arrested.

What followed was some of the most shocking scenes of police brutality against a minority group ever witnessed in the UK as the police armed with batons and riot shields charged the camp now set up on the Beanfield. Police indiscriminately beat people with their batons, including children and heavily pregnant women desperately trying to leave the area. Some of the only survivng footage of the day shows police smashing the windows of vehicles and dragging the occupants out through the broken glass by their hair despite their protests that there are babies and children on board.

The mainstream media were kept well away from the scene of the brutality and the only information they received was that which had been distorted to fit an innacurate sterotypical picture that would sit well with their readerships. Of the few journalists that defied the police blockade to film and report from the scene, a very different picture was emerging. ITN footage of the events mysteriously vanished for some years afterwards, and some has never been found, despite protests from the journalists who filmed it.

As such, this film that was first aired in 1991 is the most complete publically available archive of the events of the day and is essential viewing for anybody who has ever been at the receiving end of British 'justice', or those who believe the many stereotypes peddled by the Mainstream broadcasters about the cultural movements that have steadily been evolving since then and underpin our society. Those who witnessed the behaviour of the police at recent events such as the Kingsnorth Climate Camp or the G20 demonstrations will see clear parallels, but also cannot help but be shocked by the scale of the violence of this particular episode.

Of those who attended the film showing, only one was of the generation that was active at the time (although not present at the event). It was heartening to see a new generation watching the film and discussing it's implications and relevance to modern day occurances. It was also a timely reminder of what a conservative government is capable of which is of course of particular importance to those who have not been politically active under one as yet.

For a background history to the events of that day and why it is being commemorated, check out some of the links below:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/05/312088.html - article by Alan Lodge (incl links to original photographs and footage) 20 years on - Indymedia

http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news25.htm " title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/jun/12/ukcrime.tonythompson  (20years on - review of "Battle of the Beanfield" book

http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/battle-of-the-beanfield/ Link to the book

http://www.batrewick.co.uk/Beanfield/index.htm 20years on - text and pics

http://www.urban75.com/Action/beanfield.html Urban75 - some text and pics from the book

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jun/01/remembering-the-battle-of-the-beanfield

24 years on - Andy Worthington, author of "Battle of the Beanfield"  (and some gormless commentators)

Contact email: imc-northern@lists.indymedia.org