Press Releases & Updates 2002

Sheriff Fitzsimmons, presiding today in the trial of Brian Brown (67), a retired teacher from Kilwinning in Ayrshire, accepted that the accused had no case to answer. Brian said that the High Court had pointed out that behaviour adding up to a breach of the peace had to be "flagrant" and his conduct at the October blockade had been on the contrary peaceful and nonviolent. Sheriff Fitzsimmons accepted that: "...in this case it does not amount to a breach of the peace."

A delighted Brian said: "I feel relieved! This is a victory for us because some of the judiciary are now taking the right to peaceful protest more seriously and are not just convicting automatically."

Jane Tallents said: "The Sheriff’s decision today further undermines the mass arrest policy of Strathclyde Police when dealing with blockades at Faslane. The implication of what the Sheriff said today is that sitting down in the gateway to the nuclear weapons base is not a breach of the peace, even if the protester has been warned by the police and is locked on to another protester, as was the case with Brian. This cheers us not because there is more chance of getting off in court but because there is now a better prospect that one day the police will stand back and let us shut down the base."

Earlier, in contrast to Brian’s experience, Janet Cameron (59), a part time postal worker from Glasgow who also took part in the blockade of the base in October last year, was found guilty of a breach of the peace in Helensburgh District Court. She was fined £100 by Justice of the Peace John Macphail. In the same court three protesters who were arrested for cutting the perimeter fence at Faslane last night were released on bail.

Meanwhile the Trident Ploughshares camp at Coulport continues until next Monday. There have been 42 arrests so far. Also, at Plymouth, the trial began today of 6 protesters who earlier this year blockaded the Devonport naval base where Trident sub HMS Vanguard is undergoing a refit.

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