[Media-watch] Brian Haw, Parliament Square Anti War Protester, arrested

[Stephen McKee]

Dear Friends,

Brian has been removed in a very sudden police operation - see below.
As of now, he is still in Charing Cross Police Station. He suffered
hand-cuff injuries and is very agitated. A Bindmans solicitor is
handling his case.

It is likely he will be charged in the next few hours with resisting a
security cordon removal and with assault. The solicitor has no doubt
these charges will not stick and it appears all Brian's concerns have
come to pass and a trumped up situation has been manufactured.
Apparently the officer who Brian was meant to have assaulted had no
injuries. There is a possibility that he will be taken, if charged,
direct to Bow St Magistrates Court for the hearing in the morning. As
of writing the desk sergeant has refused his bail.

Maria, Kerry and Alexander were with him when it happened and remain on
the site, continuing his protest. If anyone can go down there tomorrow
as soon as possible with any placards, that would be great.

I will pass on any info as soon as I have it.

Please circulate as widely as possible.

thanks

Emma
020 8806 6272

Maria
07812 355867


EMERGENCY PRESS RELEASE

2.30am, 10 May 2004

PARLIAMENT SQUARE PEACE CAMPAIGNER ARRESTED AND 3 YEAR PROTEST SITE
BROKEN UP IN MIDNIGHT POLICE OPERATION

Brian Haw, the Parliament Square peace protestor, who has spent almost 3
years in a continuous anti-war protest vigil opposite the Houses of
Parliament (1), has been arrested and his possessions / extensive
protest display removed, in a sudden midnight police operation.

At around 12.20am, he was approached by a number of officers under the
command of Inspector Forsyth of Charing Cross Police Station.
Apparently, police were concerned about a suspect vehicle, some distance
away. They imposed a security cordon under the terrorism act and the
area was cleared of other members of the public before an incident took
place in which Mr Haw was arrested, and 3 supporters (including 2 women)
who were present at the time, were also threatened with arrest.

Despite the supposed security threat the police van did not leave the
scene for some time and Mr Haw was last seen being held down on the
floor of the police van, having been detained by 4 officers. After Mr
Haw's arrest, the suspect car was almost immediately identified to be
posing no threat and the security cordon lifted.

Subsequent to his arrest, and despite there being no longer any current
security concerns, the remaining officers removed all of Mr Haw's
possessions and protest placards from the site. They even commandeered
a passing WH Smith news lorry to effect the removal.

In March this year the police told Mr Haw and his solicitor that they
were seeking to remove him from Parliament Square but were not able to
say which legislation they would employ. This followed a landmark High
Court ruling which found in favour of Mr Haw and his right to protest on
the site (2).

Mr Haw has long voiced the concern that the various attempts to remove
him have been, and continue to be, politically motivated.

Mr Haw is represented by leading human right practice, Bindmans. His
solicitor, Michael Schwarz, said: "Brian Haw is peacefully campaigning
on perhaps the most significant issue of the day at a place which is
supposed to be the very heart of our democracy. It is difficult to
think of a more compelling example of the deployment of the rights to
protest"

Mr Haw is now being held at Charing Cross Police Station. He has
suffered hand-cuff injuries.

Meanwhile, Mr Haw's supporters are currently continuing the protest in
Parliament Square.

For more information contact:
Bindmans Solicitors: 0207 833 4433 (Brian's on-going solicitor is Mike
Schwarz)
Maria (supporter on site and witness): 07812 355867
Emma Sangster or Gareth Evans on 020 8806 6272 or
emma at drifting.demon.co.uk

Notes
1. Brian Haw has been in Parliament Square continuously since 1st June
2001 in protest against the US/UK support of economic sanctions in Iraq,
the invasion of Iraq and the 'war on terror'.

2. On 4th October 2002 Westminster City Council's High Court proceedings
against him for obstruction of the highway were dismissed on the grounds
that Brian was exercising his freedom of expression and assembly under
the Human Rights Act.