Saturday, March 22. The Fairford Legal Support Team are concerned of the overpolicing of 2000 to 3000 peaceful protesters at the United States Air Force (USAF) base in Fairford[ report]. They have major concerns over the scale of stop and search incidents by officers drafted from as far away as Greater Manchester and West Midlands. 4 coaches are so far reported as being stopped before reaching Fairford. Legal restrictions and police presence at Fairford demonstration. Sections 12 & 14 of 1986 Public Order Act were imposed with police forbidding alternative routes or variations from demonstration times they had designated. The demo was only allowed to go from the village to the USAF main gate. Any assembly of more than 40 people was restricted elsewhere, and people could only move in groups of two. 1000 police, including and officers in riot gear, carried out 4 arrests under the 1994 Criminal Justice Public Order Act (CJPOA) – 2 allegedly for failing to remove masks. 3 Coaches from London and 1 from Swindon were stopped and searched at the village of Lechlade, 6 miles away from Fairford. The Legal Support Team monitored vehicle and people searches for "offensive weapons" considered likely to cause "damage at the base" or "injury to" airforce staff". These were the severest restrictions in place following multiple stop-and-searches in the vicinity of the base under the 2000 Terrorism Act over the last few weeks. There are calls for an explanation from the House of Commons about notices stating "The use of deadly force is authorised" (more info on recent protests). Police stop and search London coaches before reaching demo 10 miles from the demonstration, 3 coaches from London were stopped, searched, then turned and escorted back to London by a relay of regional police forces. [audio interview /which/]) Under a CJPOA section 60, coaches were surrounded by police then people were systematically searched one by one, videoed and photographed. During the search process cycling helmets were designated a potential breach of peace and white boiler suits, paper masks, a tartan and a black scarf, peoples coats and some helmets were confiscated. (not sure if just the helmets constituted a potential breach of peace. Maybe also the tartan scarf.) Between 12.30 and 15.00, about 180 people were left in uncertainty about their chances to participate in the demonstration. Three people were searched 3 at a time, each individual search took about six minutes. It was clear from the outset that searching about 180 people in this manner would take hours. When the search began, the demo had already started. For many people on the coach, this looked like delaying tactics. As it became probable that the coaches would be sent back to London, a few people who had been "processed" started walking towards a nearby village, to make their way to the demo. At that point, one officer was heard requesting more surveillance units and backup saying "it looks as if its going to kick off here now because they're all running off now". The main part of the group realised that every attempt to get to the Fairford protest would be defined illegal under Section 12 and 14, as 150 people can not walk 10 miles on a country road without being "groups of more than 2". After the coaches had been thoroughly searched inside and underneath, the remaining protesters got back onto the coaches under friendly encouragement from police and still uncertain about the destination - London or Fairford? When the coaches were boarded, a police officer stuck his head in and informed the few people in the front seats in a low voice that the coach was going to be escorted back to London. The drivers had already been informed individually that they were going to drive back to London. A volunteer from the Legal Support Team stuck his head out of the coach door and demanded to speak to the officer in charge, to whom he had talked before. The request was denied. Requests from journalists with press cards to be allowed off were denied with no legal reasons given. The doors were violently pushed shut. The coaches were forced to depart leaving a number of people stranded. Escorted trip back to London The return journey was led by four police cars and accompanied by motorbike escorts on either side of the coach. A police landrover and 3 police vans followed. The police blocked the road behind so nothing could overtake. Traffic was blocked by police vans at every motoway junction to keep the "convoy" together. Toilet stops were refused despite pleas from senior citizens taking part in the action. They were forced to use makeshift toilet provisions on the moving coaches. Luckily, people had thought to bring their lunchboxes. Signs were held up in the coaches to show that people were being illegally detained. However, travelling at only 40 miles an hour, the Fairford London coaches had successfully blocked the M4! Police attack protesters leaving coaches back in London The coaches were meant to bring everybody to Euston, where several vans of riot police were present. But arriving in Holland Park at Shephards Bush at 5pm, people jumped off the coaches at a traffic light, then split up heading off in different directions. Protesters were pushed onto the pavement by police some being attacked and punched including one girl beaten hehind a telephone box. About half the protesters marched slowly on foot along Holland Park Avenue towards Notting Hill, blocking traffic, then joined the ongoing demonstrations. report from a Sambaista