20 March 2003
News from Fylingdales 
 
US Bases in Europe have been put on 'Defcon Charlie', the 2nd highest state of alert.

The Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police has authorised 'stop and search' powers to the civilian Home Office and Ministry of Defence Police, under Section 44 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2000.

For a ten mile radius round the Fylingdales Base anybody, whether or not suspected of intent to commit a 'crime' at the Base, can be subjected to personal and vehicle search. We have been informed that the same restrictions are in force at Fairford and Welford.

Yesterday, three of us, who were about to set off for a walk along the public rights of way round the perimeter, were ordered by Ministry of Defence Police to declare and show the contents of our rucksacks, to prove that we were not carrying any equipment which could be used to commit a crime. We proved that we were not concealing Sylvia and Olivia, so we were allowed to proceed. We were kept under police surveillance the whole time we were in the area.

The police also informed us that it is an offence to take photographs of the Base (a lie?) so we obliged by leaving 'the' camera in the car. We had two. Nuff said.

2. The felling of the trees on the E side of the Base (for security reasons) was almost complete yesterday and could be finished today.

3. We discovered last year that the security fences, including the 3.7m high electric fence, had been constructed outside the Base boundary and also obstructed the public Bridleway. The MoD is guilty of breaking the law. Instead of removing  and relocating the fences, the MoD has acquired a further 1.5 hectares of land from the Forestry Commission. We still maintain that the Bridleway has been closed and diverted unlawfully. This complaint is ongoing.

4. 'Foil the Base' demonstration on March 15th was not well attended, everybody seems to have been involved in 'Stop the War' activities all over the place. It attracted considerable publicity, which keeps the media focus on the 'Star Wars' role. Just goes to show you don't need masses to make the news - you need a 'new angle'.

5. Sav is still there, on the Goathland Road car park with the Peace Bus. This winter it has attracted very positive publicity, on regional TV news, etc. This week there was a photo feature in Yorkshire Evening Press, which describes him as the lone protester. Oh! How many protesters does it take to make news?

6. Yesterday was warm and sunny - the midges are back.

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