Preparing for Climate Camp 2008 at Kingsnorth, Kent IMG_4430

Wannabee police FIT loitering with suspicious intent outside SUMAC (a perfectly respectable social centre in Nottingham) whilst a few people assemble therein to discuss this year's ('08) forthcoming Climate Camp.
One can't help wonder why, in an allegedly "free" and "democratic" society the cops should deploy such surveillance against a previously-announced legal and peaceful public meeting.
Is this the freedom our forefathers gave their lives to defend against a fascist dictator in the '40s?