Have you heard about the ABC Trial? Come and listen to a unique panel discussion in Bristol. Tickets available here.
The ABC Trail was a trail of charges under sections 1 and 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 in the United Kingdom. The case emerged after Duncan Campbell and Time Out reporter Crispin Aubrey met with former Ministry of Defence employee John Berry. It was discovered that John Berry’s knowledge was largely out of date, rendering the encounter journalistically unproductive. Police were alerted of this meeting as Campbell was under surveillance by MI5 following revelations in a Time Out article. All three were arrested and charged under the Official Secrets Act.
In 1977 the ABC trial shone a light on the darker corners of British state surveillance and saw an unprecedented effort to criminalise journalists. This unique panel discussion in Bristol will look at the events from those involved and consider its legacy today.
Defendants Duncan Campbell and John Berry will be joined by the family of Crispin Aubrey in a discussion chaired by Andrew Kelly from the Festival of Ideas. Statewatch editor and ABC campaigner Tony Bunyan will be in discussion with Sarah Kavanagh from the NUJ looking at the contemporary relevance in our post Snowden world.
This event is organised by The Crispin Aubrey Legacy Fund in conjunction with UWE’s Film and Journalism Department. A donation of £5 on the door is suggested with money going towards the Fund which supports a bursary for aspiring journalists at UWE.
For more info see: http://www.crispinaubrey.org/
When: Friday 3rd November 2017 – 7pm to 9pm
Where: Arnolfini, Bristol.
To register for the event go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-abc-secrecy-trial-40-years-on-tickets-37485154105