Fairford Coach Action Campaign Victory

EDM number 512 in 2006-07, proposed by Lynne Jones on 14/12/2006.

That this House congratulates the Fairford Coach Action campaign on obtaining a House of Lords ruling that the police acted unlawfully in preventing 120 people from demonstrating at RAF Fairford airbase on 22nd March 2003 by searching their coaches for nearly two hours when only two miles from the airbase and then forcing the coaches back to London by police escort; notes that passengers were not permitted toilet or rest breaks during the return two and a half hour journey to London, despite repeated requests; further notes that, despite the then Home Secretary's allegations, no cudgels and swords were found on the coaches, but agrees with Lord Justice May that two pairs of scissors actually found `would not make much impression on the perimeter fencing of the airbase'; notes that stop and search powers under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 were used 2,254 times at RAF Fairford as people demonstrated there between 6th March and 27th April 2003 but no arrests followed, providing evidence for the view that the Terrorism Act was used to harass protestors who wished to dissent against the war in Iraq; and celebrates that this ruling protects the right to freedom of protest in the future, ensuring that members of society can make their voices heard and call politicians and Government to account for their actions.

This motion has been signed by a total of 21 MPs.