Not only was no one arrested, no one was warned by the police, nor EDO managing director Paul Hills himself, that they were committing any crime. No one was told that they were infringing in any way on EDO's property. Or about to commit criminal damage. No supporting demonstrators were harassed by the police.

This is virtually unprecedented at such actions at the factory, where Sussex police have, in the last year, made somewhat of a habit of arresting absolutely everyone they can, on such serious charges as crossing the road against a police officer's instructions.

After lengthy negotiations between police and Paul Hills, the police actually left the factory, and those locked to the gates to leave at their own leisure. Has what Sussex police considers to be aggravated trespass suddenly changed without warning?

Commenting on this apparent U turn in police and factory policy, SmashEDO spokesperson Chloe Marsh said, 'Sussex police have been protecting EDO/ITT from dissent for years now. It seems that the corporation's tack has now changed, and that after Paul Hills' rather damaging time on the stand in the Decommissioners' case this summer, EDO is keen to ensure that its activities do not come under too much court scrutiny'.