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US Soldiers Move Fairford Peace Camp

Lichen Weights | 10.03.2003 18:08

Around 3 O'clock this afternoon US Soldiers began moving Peace Camp Protestors at RAF Fairford to construct an extension to the Gate 10 perimeter fence that encloses the access road on which the camp had previously been based.

Protestors at the Gate 10 peace camp report that at around 3 o’clock this afternoon US Soldiers began removing banners from the fence and gate; dragging them through into the Base and destroying them. When protestors who challenged these actions attempted to pull back their banners they were informed that the US intended to erect a fence up to the highway, giving them 40 minutes to move their belongings.

As weapons Inspector Dave Cockcroft reports, in a flurry of activity.

“ The Americans burst through Gate 10 and said they were going to build a fence - which just happened to go right through the middle of the peace camp”.

Whilst Gloucestershire Police looked on the Americans and British Contractors erected an extension to the fence taking it beyond the existing site of the camp beside the access road and right up to the highway. When challenged they were unable to present any documentation to support their claims of authorisation for the development.

Fortunately a Local Authority Planning Enforcement Officer was present at the camp at that time and was able to enlighten the U.S. solders on the niceties of British Town & Country Planning Law.

Under planning law permission by application to Cotswold District Council would be required for the erection of fences exceeding one metre in height where adjacent to a highway used by a vehicular traffic, or two metres in other cases. The maintenance, improvement or alteration of a fence outside these limits of height or the original height (whichever is greatest) is also prohibited (P133 Telling & Duxbury 1999 Planning Law and Procedure).

The Americans are relying on wide-reaching exemptions and immunity from planning law for Crown Land to avoid these inconsiderate formalities of a democratic nation but would never the less be expected to have consulted with the Local Authority – something that evidently wasn’t the case.

However, initial enquiries with the County Council highways authority suggest that they, rather than the Crown Estate, own the access road now entirely enclosed by the fence. Cotswold Local Authority Planning Enforcement officers hope to establish exact ownership within the coming days and, should the land belong to the County Council, may return to the base seeking evidence of Planning Permission.

Whilst waiting for this to happen the peace camp has moved a few feet round the corner onto the County Council owned grass verge.

Gloucestershire and Wiltshire are currently subject to a 28 day section 44 (Part 1 & 2) Order signed by the Home Secretary, allowing local constabulary to stop and search cars and pedestrians (so far the status of Cyclists is unknown!). Recent searches and arrests on Protestors around Fairford suggest that the order is being used to suppress and discourage legitimate protest.

Lichen Weights

Comments

Hide the following 10 comments

All vehicles, includes bikes

10.03.2003 18:50

The act says vehicles not cars, I'm pretty sure that in law vehicle includes bicycles

Rowan


Section 44 of Terrorism Act 2000

10.03.2003 22:28

Interesting reading....

-----
Power to stop and search
Authorisations.
---------------
44. - (1) An authorisation under this subsection authorises any constable in uniform to stop a vehicle in an area or at a place specified in the authorisation and to search-

(a) the vehicle;
(b) the driver of the vehicle;
(c) a passenger in the vehicle;
(d) anything in or on the vehicle or carried by the driver or a passenger.

(2) An authorisation under this subsection authorises any constable in uniform to stop a pedestrian in an area or at a place specified in the authorisation and to search-

(a) the pedestrian;
(b) anything carried by him.

(3) An authorisation under subsection (1) or (2) may be given only if the person giving it considers it expedient for the prevention of acts of terrorism.

(4) An authorisation may be given-

(a) where the specified area or place is the whole or part of a police area outside Northern Ireland other than one mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c), by a police officer for the area who is of at least the rank of assistant chief constable;
(b) where the specified area or place is the whole or part of the metropolitan police district, by a police officer for the district who is of at least the rank of commander of the metropolitan police;
(c) where the specified area or place is the whole or part of the City of London, by a police officer for the City who is of at least the rank of commander in the City of London police force;
(d) where the specified area or place is the whole or part of Northern Ireland, by a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary who is of at least the rank of assistant chief constable.

(5) If an authorisation is given orally, the person giving it shall confirm it in writing as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Exercise of power.
------------------
45. - (1) The power conferred by an authorisation under section 44(1) or (2)-

(a) may be exercised only for the purpose of searching for articles of a kind which could be used in connection with terrorism, and
(b) may be exercised whether or not the constable has grounds for suspecting the presence of articles of that kind.

(2) A constable may seize and retain an article which he discovers in the course of a search by virtue of section 44(1) or (2) and which he reasonably suspects is intended to be used in connection with terrorism.

(3) A constable exercising the power conferred by an authorisation may not require a person to remove any clothing in public except for headgear, footwear, an outer coat, a jacket or gloves.

(4) Where a constable proposes to search a person or vehicle by virtue of section 44(1) or (2) he may detain the person or vehicle for such time as is reasonably required to permit the search to be carried out at or near the place where the person or vehicle is stopped.

(5) Where-

(a) a vehicle or pedestrian is stopped by virtue of section 44(1) or (2), and
(b) the driver of the vehicle or the pedestrian applies for a written statement that the vehicle was stopped, or that he was stopped, by virtue of section 44(1) or (2),

the written statement shall be provided.

(6) An application under subsection (5) must be made within the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the vehicle or pedestrian was stopped.

Duration of authorisation.
-------------------------
46. - (1) An authorisation under section 44 has effect, subject to subsections (2) to (7), during the period-

(a) beginning at the time when the authorisation is given, and
(b) ending with a date or at a time specified in the authorisation.

(2) The date or time specified under subsection (1)(b) must not occur after the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the authorisation is given.

(3) The person who gives an authorisation shall inform the Secretary of State as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(4) If an authorisation is not confirmed by the Secretary of State before the end of the period of 48 hours beginning with the time when it is given-

(a) it shall cease to have effect at the end of that period, but
(b) its ceasing to have effect shall not affect the lawfulness of anything done in reliance on it before the end of that period.

(5) Where the Secretary of State confirms an authorisation he may substitute an earlier date or time for the date or time specified under subsection (1)(b).

(6) The Secretary of State may cancel an authorisation with effect from a specified time.

(7) An authorisation may be renewed in writing by the person who gave it or by a person who could have given it; and subsections (1) to (6) shall apply as if a new authorisation were given on each occasion on which the authorisation is renewed.

Offences.
---------
47. - (1) A person commits an offence if he-

(a) fails to stop a vehicle when required to do so by a constable in the exercise of the power conferred by an authorisation under section 44(1);
(b) fails to stop when required to do so by a constable in the exercise of the power conferred by an authorisation under section 44(2);
(c) wilfully obstructs a constable in the exercise of the power conferred by an authorisation under section 44(1) or (2).

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to-

(a) imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months,
(b) a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or
(c) both.

simon


Before and after pics

10.03.2003 22:44

Quite right - bikes are vehicles under the law... so is a push chair so watch out babes!

Before and after pics of the camp at:

 http://www.gwi.org.uk/g10-camp-moved.htm

GWI
- Homepage: www.gwi.org.uk


US soldiers

11.03.2003 12:56

I've just got off the phone from the British base comander and he claims that no US troops were involved in putting the fence up, can anyone confirm the troops were definatly Americans?

RSAW


Peacenik or Terrorist

11.03.2003 15:20

I was one on the protesters who entered Fairford on Sunday 09/03/2003. While I was being arrested I had an intriguing conversation with my arresting officer. Of course the reason why 'they' can't have us running all over the runways and around the bombers is that we could be terrorists. 'imagine what would happen if a terrorist got near those planes' he said 'it could wipe out the whole of Swindon.'

Firstly, do the security services really believe that any self respecting terrorist would infiltrate a lose band of students, hippies and anarchists? Bearing in mind the constant harrassment that the peaceniks are subjected to, wouldn't the terrorists be making life hard for themselves?

Secondly, what with most intelligent commentators predicting a massive escalation of terrorist action both at home and abroad as a result of the war with Iraq, why haven't the provisions under the anti terrorism act already been enforced?

I was there and believe me, if a loose band of poorly equiped and poorly organised peaceniks can break into the base and reach the runways then a well organised and well equiped group of terrorists would have no problem in making off with at least one B52 and immediately heading for Swindon.

It seems to me that the authorities at Fairford have only invoked the anti terrorism act to try to thwart the antics of the peaceniks, yeah we keep embarrasing their security measures and I'm sure there are many red faces but if 'they' are really gonna take this war thing seriously, they should let the protestors protest (afterall 'they' are trying to secure free speech, amongst other things in Iraq) and revise security protocol to make a real effort to deter any terrorist attack at Fairford. To my mind the US Airforce are a pack of jokers. Security at Fairford is a joke and the reasons behind envoking the antiterrorism act is a joke, well, like a joke, only jokes are funny.

MikeyB


Bicycles liable to be searched...

12.03.2003 23:15


I was stopped twice on my bike and searched on Tuesday so I think you're right Rowan. They didn't find anything. Two women Constables at the Road Close barrier refused to search me when I asked them to. One said "In your dreams" and the other just smiled....

Alan


Gate 10, peace camp land

17.03.2003 23:44

Is thefencing in legal?

If the land is the remains of an old highway, then it is still highway land until declared surplus. It cannot be closed off without the Highway Authority's formal procedures being followed.
That usually takes a long time.
Does anyone out there know this procedural position?
Is anybody looking into this?
There may be an excellent chance of getting the wire taken off immediately.
DM
17 March 2003

Dominic Maskell


Boycott Local Elections

19.03.2003 10:34

1: E-mail your local MP and tell him you wish to know how he voted last night.

2: If your area will be having local Elections in the next few months, tell him you will boycott any elections, since polititions are acting undemocratically, there is NO point in voting for them untill the system changes. Polititions will be concerned at this, since this is the first indications of Civil disatisfaction and will cause their Parties Damage.

3: If your MP voted for War, let them know you will remember this and ensure they are out at the next election, and we will hold them responsible for any deaths in Iraq ,that includes our Forces and the Iraq people.

4: Continue to E-mail or fax your MP continually, this will help keep pressure on them.

5: If you have a car or truck display anti War or Blair / Bush stickers.

Colinvj

Colin
mail e-mail: colinvictor@bigfoot.com


Boycott Local Elections

19.03.2003 10:37

1: E-mail your local MP and tell him you wish to know how he voted last night.

2: If your area will be having local Elections in the next few months, tell him you will boycott any elections, since polititions are acting undemocratically, there is NO point in voting for them untill the system changes. Polititions will be concerned at this, since this is the first indications of Civil disatisfaction and will cause their Parties Damage.

3: If your MP voted for War, let them know you will remember this and ensure they are out at the next election, and we will hold them responsible for any deaths in Iraq ,that includes our Forces and the Iraq people.

4: Continue to E-mail or fax your MP continually, this will help keep pressure on them.

5: If you have a car or truck display anti War or Blair / Bush stickers.

Colinvj

Colin
mail e-mail: colinvictor@bigfoot.com


vehicles

02.04.2003 14:41

Yes a bike is a vehicle, but what about a horse!

david
mail e-mail: WallingfordPeace@hotmail.com