Three attendees of the Camp, Dave Morris (former 'McLibel' litigant) and 11 year-old twins, secured the right for a full judicial review hearing, to look at whether the grounds for the searches they underwent when trying to enter the camp, were unlawful.

The basis for their argument is that the police officers searching Dave Morris and the twins did not have reasonable grounds to suspect them individually as required by law, but instead systematically, repeatedly and unlawfully searched everyone attending the Camp.

The judges presiding over the hearing ruled firmly in the protestors favour for a full hearing despite the best efforts of police lawyers. They stated that Kent police had so far presented no evidence to challenge the protestors' version of events.

The granting of the review could result in a senior officer being cross-examined on their justification for the blanket searches of peaceful demonstrators at the camp. A hearing, marking the start of the judicial review, is likely to take place anytime from Autumn 2009 onwards.

In a press release on the verdict David Morris, one of the claimants, put the ruling in context: “Public revulsion over aggressive policing of demonstrations is growing. For generations people have fought hard to establish the freedom to protest against injustice or damaging policies. Police-state tactics should not be tolerated.”

David Bainsworth, Climate Camp legal team explained: “In securing a judicial review Climate Camp has ensured the police will be held accountable for their bullyboy stop and search tactics. The relentless and systematic nature of the searches at Kingsnorth can only be explained by a desire to intimidate and deter people from visiting the Climate Camp. We are adamant that intimidation tactics won’t deter us and we demonstrated that not just at the camp itself but also in court today.”