Press Releases & Updates 2002

At the prosecution’s request, Reading Magistrates’ court ruled there will be no trial next Tuesday, as originally scheduled. Instead, another pre-trial hearing will take place, on October 22.

Defending the two anti-nuclear protesters, who cut through the perimeter fences at AWE Aldermaston on June 6 this year, barrister Hugo Charlton developed the argument that, under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act of 2001, anyone "possessing or producing" a nuclear weapon is "guilty of an offence," and "liable on conviction to life imprisonment" - unless, under Section 48 of the Act, such possession or production has been authorised by the Secretary of State.

The relevant authorisation is yet to be produced. Charlton, an expert in the area of anti-terrorism legislation, objected to the prosecution request to adjourn. He pointed out that the Crown Prosecution Service and the Ministry of Defence have already had weeks to produce the authorisation. Charlton believes the prosecution are merely "playing for time," having failed to deliver something that does not exist.

The defendants, both members of the non-violent direct action group Trident Ploughshares, are concerned with the illegality and danger of nuclear weapons on the current international scene, but also with the local dangers of radioactive pollution to citizens of Berkshire. According to nuclear pollution expert Dr. Chris Busby, Reading, downwind of AWE Aldermaston, shows an incidence of childhood cancers three times the national average.

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