Press Releases & Updates 2003

After the interfaith service this morning at the main gate of AWE Aldermaston, police searched a protestors van near the gate and confiscated various items of cardboard tubing intended for use at a peaceful blockade. The police had promised to have only one van present, but came out in numbers supported by mounted police. They then came to the camp and searched through the campsite, finding only a one foot length of moss covered cardboard tube which they also seized.

Some campers were told by the police that they were carrying out this search under Section 44 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2000, others were told that the search was being carried out with permission of some campers - so some confusion here.

TP understands that Section 44 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2000 was used by the police against peaceful protestors at USAF/RAF Fairford and USAF/RAF Welford (which supplies bombs and armaments to Fairford) under pressure from the US military. Under Section 44 searches can be carried out without any reasonable suspicion that the person(s) are involved in terrorist activities. Section 44 orders have to be authorised by David Blunkett the Home Secretary - and TP intends to take this up with him.

This law has been repeatedly criticised by human rights groups including Amnesty International and is once again being used to deny the rights of people to protest peacefully.

Protestors have been walking around the base carrying out inspections during the camp and a number have gone over and under the fence and were ushered out of the base by police. Although no fence cutting has taken place at AWE Aldermaston, some people cut through the fence at Greenham Common without interruption by police. The Women’s Camp blockaded Falcon Gate and part of the main gate with a knitting protest.

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