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Ten arrests at Aldermaston blockade

jk | 11.07.2006 09:09

Despite a heavy police presence, anti-nuclear campaigners staged a series of co-ordinated blockades at AWE Aldermaston yesterday morning, closing the main entrances to the Orion construction site for up to one hour. Ten people were arrested.

From just before 7am, campaigners gathered at AWE's Tadley and Home Office gates and carried out a number of actions which resulted in a musical road blockade, two lock-on blockades (one at each gate) and a multi-faith action. Women from the Aldermaton Women's Peace Camp(aign) held a women-only blockade.

That morning police had informed some campaigners that they had imposed a s14 (Public Order Act 1986) notice, which places restrictions on demonstrations. Women who had participated in the musical road blockade were, after being removed from the road, were surrounded by police and effectively penned in under the s14. The group included mothers with four children under the age of five - after 25mins they managed to negotiate their way out of the pen. One woman refused to move and was arrested for being in breach of the s14.

The blockade was called by nonviolent direct action group Block the Builders and supported by Green MEP Caroline Lucas and CND Chair Kate Hudson, both of whom were present at Tadley gate for the morning. Seven people will appear at Newbury magistrate's court on 21 July.

jk
- e-mail: btb@aldermaston.net
- Homepage: http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk