CHRIS MOONEY

Are you concerned that the police will take too firm a line over their handling of the G8 protests? Let us know what you think

ACTIVISTS armed with video cameras are to be sent out in teams of "spotters" to film any skirmishes between protesters and the police at this summer's G8 demonstrations in the Capital.

They say they would use the film to back up any complaints they may make about police brutality or wrongful arrest.

The teams, many made up of legal experts taking part in the protests, are expected to be on hand during the mass rally in Edinburgh, where 200,000 people are expected to take part in the Make Poverty History march.

Spotters will also provide legal advice to protesters who are arrested.

The move follows violent scenes in Genoa four years ago, when one activist was killed and dozens more injured.

Twenty-eight Italian police officers are on trial accused of beating anti-globalisation demonstrators at the G8 summit held there. Almost 100 people were hurt during the raid on the Diaz school, the then headquarters of the Genoa Social Forum.

Among the accused are Italy's current anti-terrorism chief, Francesco Gratteri, and Giovanni Luperi, the head of an EU taskforce on Islamist terrorism. The charges include grievous bodily harm, slander and false arrest.

A website carrying information on Scots Law has been set up to recruit spotters, and activists will meet this week to discuss how the teams will be deployed on the streets.

The site says: "We give unconditional support to anyone arrested as a result of participation in protests or actions against the G8.

"The role of legal observers is to observe, gather evidence and witnesses. Legal observers will not mediate between protesters and the police or negotiate with the police."

The G8 Legal Support Group also stresses that its observers are "not necessarily trained lawyers and the advice given by legal observers is confined to the advice given by the group as a whole".

Willie Black, spokesman for G8 Alternatives, a coalition of anti-globalisation campaigners, said the move was necessary to protect demonstrators. He said: "There will be legal teams in Edinburgh. Everything is geared up for a peaceful demonstration, but the police are making sure every precaution is taken, and we want to take our own precautions.

"The violence in Genoa was unexpected and people got seriously hurt. We're starting up spotting teams where people will go about taking video camera evidence in case there are any disturbances.

"Their job will be to stay back and to observe and come to anybody's assistance if they are arrested. The legal teams and video evidence will give them some form of protection."

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said they would also have spotters keeping an eye on protesters during the march.

He said: "We will have officers out doing a similar thing and in a sense this plays two ways - it will show that officers will be behaving properly."