October 11th Update for Faslane 365 Blockading Groups

From the Faslane 365 Steering Group, 11 October 2006

We have had a very good start! All the five groups involved so far have managed to blockade and cause disruption to the base and there has been quite a spread of blockading times chosen by the groups. None of the groups have been 100 in number but they have still been effective, so don’t be downhearted if your group’s numbers are not what you hoped for. The visible presence at the gates has been really important too, with great displays of banners, music and dancing.

The police have put up ordinary crowd barriers in the gutters at the pavements on both sides of the North gate and this has gradually been extended round the corners. At the same time they have not attempted to corral protesters in a particular place and there has been a fair bit of free movement. They have stuck by their promise toarrest people (so far about 50 people) who go into and stay in the gateway entrances. Today they added Harris fencing (6 ft high perimeter fencing like they used at Gleneagles at the G8 protests) around the roundabout, preventing people from going on to it. There are also some barriers at the South gate. There have been lots and lots of police, and they have behaved in a fairly gentle manner.

Do check out the reports on the website from the groups who have already blockaded

Some Pointers from the Legal Working Group

Custody

So far everyone who has been arrested has been held until the following day, regardless of what time they were arrested. When the Procurator Fiscal has seen the police reports the following morning he has told the police to release people with a letter from him saying that they are not being prosecuted this time but will be if they repeat the offence. It seems to take until lunchtime to actually be released. There have been two exceptions. One woman was released on an undertaking in the evening of the day she was arrested because she had a hospital appointment. The undertaking was cancelled the following day and the warning letter sent to her. A man with a heart condition was released from the police station after a few hours as being unfit for custody.

Checking addresses

The police have been checking people's addresses in a number of ways. They have phoned the Legal Support Team for a Blockading Group and had the addresses read from the groups Registration Forms after this was offered. Sometimes they have asked people to give the phone number of someone they know who the police phone and ask for people’s addresses. You might want to prepare someone in advance to do this and make sure you have their number with you. Note that the point at which they ask you for the number will be after they have sealed away all your property so you won't be able to look in your mobile phone, etc. Have the numbers on a separate piece of paper and ask to keep it with you or write it on your arm.

Vehicles

There have been two vehicles involved in dropping off people with lock-ons. The first time a police officer made the driver move into another seat and drove her van himself to the nearby bus stop. Her details were taken and she and the van were released. The second time the driver was arrested and the van driven away to the processing compound by the police. It was later collected by the company who has the contract for impounding vehicles. On release from custody the driver had to pay £290 to get his van back.

Legal Support Teams

The F365 Legal Working Group would still like to hear from Legal Support Teams for each Blockading Group who has yet to come. It's good to have contact details so that we can check in with you in advance and give you any last minute information about the legal situation. It's also useful to have the number you will be using for legal support on the day. You can contact us on 07768 312 678

Note: Vodafone is still the most reliable network around Faslane although O2 and apparently 3 are ok too. If you are using a phone you are unfamiliar with then get to know it in advance – especially how to check for voicemail and texts – and make sure it will ring loudly so you can hear it over the traffic. You can use the landline in the Faslane 365 caravan at Faslane Peace Camp to make calls but have enough credit on your phone for all the calling you may need to do from the gates – possibly £40 for two days.

More information

www.faslane265.org