This page has links to all the press coverage we have received (in chronological order), plus background information on our legal challenge. There are also relevant links to Video and Photos. We have not verified the accuracy or truthfulness of the reports listed here. The readers will have to make their own judgement of the reports.

To Navigate this page: This page has mainly links to Press Coverage we've had (but it also includes video and photos). Choose one of the following areas to visit, or scroll down to look at the entire webpage.
Background - Accounts/Press Coverage - February 2004 High Court Judgement - December 2004 Court of Appeal Judgement - December 2006 Law Lords Ruling - Videos - Photos - Current Legal Challenge(s)

LINKS TO OTHER RELATED PAGES - For information not found on this page, you may find the following links helpful.

For our contact details, click here.
To view unsolicited words of support, click here.
To read quotes from passengers, MPs, MEPs, Mark Thomas, etc , click here.
For full information on previous hearings (High Court, Court of Appeal, and House of Lords), click here.
For all press enquiries, visit our PRESS page and also the Video & Photo Resources page.

Background Information

Article about the 22 March 2003 Fairford Demonstration (includes estimates of numbers)
The Guardian - Monday March 24, 2003
UK sees biggest wartime protest (by John Vidal and Tania Branigan)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,920499,00.html

Another Article about the Fairford Demonstration (includes estimates of numbers)
The Independent - (Sunday 23 March 2003)
RAF Fairford: Songs and speeches at the home of the B-52 (by Deborah Orr)
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=389888

About the Legal Demonstration (Information from the Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors, the organisers who negotiated the planning of the Demonstration with the police)
Flowers to Fairford - Demonstration held on 22 March, 2003
http://www.cynatech.demon.co.uk/whats-next.htm

A Fairford Village website has an account of the Demonstration on the 22nd of March with some beautiful pictures.
WWW.FAIRFORD.ORG - Report: Flowers to Fairford - 22 March 2003
http://www.fairford.org/PeaceDemo/flowersfairford.html
(Also see reports of two previous demonstrations- first, second.)

Just before the demonstration, at the start of the war with Iraq, use of deadly force was authorised at USAF Fairford
The Guardian - Letters (Saturday March 22, 2003)
Letter: Force Field by Gerard Clarke, Dinah Rose (Blackstone Chambers, London)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,3604,919572,00.html

Director of Liberty's letter concerning the threat of deadly force at USAF Fairford.
RAF Fairford: "United States Military Warning Notices - inaccurate statement of UK law and a threat to the right of peaceful assembly" John Wadham's letter to the Ministry of Defence in full at Liberty
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/resources/articles/pdfs/raf-fairford.pdf

The Police used broad crown powers to prevent a Breach of Peace in order to justify detention of the coach passengers. It's often difficult to define precisely what the Breach of Peace offence is or what actions officers are empowered to take in order to prevent said Breaches of Peace. Here's an interesting article that addresses this tricky matter in 2001.
Web Journal of Current Legal Issues - 2001
Case for abolition of Breach of Peace offence by Richard Stone
http://webjcli.ncl.ac.uk/2001/issue2/stone2.html

As the war with Iraq commences and just before the 22nd of March 2003, a regiment of Ghurkas were introduced to patrol Fairford
The Guardian (Gallery) 21.03.03: day two of war
Soldiers at RAF Fairford: Soldiers from the Ghurka Regiment patrol the perimeter fence at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, as B-52 bombers sit in the distance. (Photo: Chris Young, PA)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/gallery/image/0,8543,-10304630465,00.html

Gloucestershire Constabulary Website Press Releases

(Friday 21st March 2003)
Force Mounts Largest Ever Operation for Fairford Peace Rally
http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/news/114.html

(Thursday 20 March 2003)
Force Release Armed Response Vehicle at RAF Fairford
http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/news/112.html

Swindon Stop the War Coalition Website (updated in February 2004)
This page collects together many articles about the 2003 Fairford protests.
http://freespace.virgin.net/swindon.stopwar/fairford_allnews.htm

Accounts of and Articles about the police forcing the Fairford coaches to return to London             (return to the top)

Fairford Legal Team Report from 22 March 2003
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58739

BBC - UK News - (23 March 2003)
Thousands at anti-war rallies
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2874627.stm

Full Indymedia Report which ties together existing info and sound records from the day (published Monday 24 March 2003)
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=59342&group=webcast

Guilfin.net reports about USAF FAIRFORD
http://www.guilfin.net/database/showevent.php3?ev_id=evINET2110

Report by Ivan Agenda
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=59185

A Womble's report
http://www.wombles.org.uk/news/article_2003_03_23_3253.php

A Samba Band member's report #1
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=59219&group=webcast

A Samba Band member's report #2
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=59095

Rhythms of Resistance (London) report
http://www.rhythmsofresistance.co.uk/?lid=282

Pat Arrowsmith's account - (24 March 2003)
http://britons4peace.org.uk/press/pr20.html

CAAB Report of 22 March at Fairford (24 March, 2003)
http://cndyorks.gn.apc.org/caab/spress/fairford240303.htm

The Guardian - Letters (Monday March 24, 2003) by Isabel Handovsky, London
http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,3604,920456,00.html

Amnesty International - (19 November 2003)
(Report) Iraq: In the shadow of war: backlash against human rights.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140572003?open&of=ENG-GBR

The Guardian - Letters (Monday 31 March 2003)
Signatories of the letter included Catrin Lewis (Chair, Haldane Society), Bruce Kent of CND, Mark Thomas, Jeremy Corbyn MP (also click here to see the original version as it was sent to The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,3604,926045,00.html

EastEndLife (31 March 2003)
Protesters 'denied basic human rights' (by Laraine Clay)
http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/templates/news/detail.cfm?newsid=1475

Red Pepper Magazine - (31 March 2003)
"We can't save the people of Iraq by bombing them, bombs are designed to kill and that's precisely what they are doing in Baghdad" (by Jan Goodey)
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/x-iraqgoodey.html

Red Pepper Magazine - (22 April 2003)
"Flowers for Fairford" (by Leila Deen)
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/natarch/x-fairford.html

Statewatch - Statewatch News online - (26 June, 2003)
Legal challenge to mass detention of peace campaigners (from Bindmans press release)
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2003/jun/26fairford.html

CASUALTY OF WAR - 8 weeks of counter-terrorism in rural England - (July 2003)
(a report by Liberty, GWI (Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors), and Berkshire CIA (Citizens Inspection Agency)
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/issues/pdfs/casualty-of-war-final.pdf

(see the Radio 4 Today programme from 16 July 2004 - click here for audio interview with MP David Drew.)

Red Pepper Magazine - (21 July 2003)
"Police breached human rights of peace protesters" (by Jan Goodey)
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/July2003/x-July2003-liberty.html

Nonviolent Action - (Issue 45 - August 2003)
Coach Kidnapping (by Jess Orlik)
(from the article FAIRFORD ROUND UP, by various authors)

Statewatch - Statewatch News online - (16 August, 2003)
Peace campaigners win right to challenge police mass detention tactics (from Bindmans press release)
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2003/jun/26fairford.html

Channel 4 TV News- (5 September 2003)
Protest blocked - Iraq (by Simon Israel)
http://www.channel4.com/news/2003/09/week_1/05_protest.html

The Daily Telegraph - (6 September 2003)
Security shield for weapons exhibition (by John Steele)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/09/06/narms06.xml

London News Review - (1 October 2003)
DSEi 2003 - Arms fair round-up
http://www.lnreview.co.uk/hi/hi/london/000212.php

Green Events - Greenscene - (October 2003)
Coach Case Challenge (by Gayle Burgess)
http://www.greenevents.fsnet.co.uk/Current/grassroots_oct03.html

Amnesty International - (19 November 2003)
(Public Statement) United Kingdom: Policing operations for President Bush's visit must respect right to peaceful protest.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR450262003?open&of=ENG-GBR

Making Waves - (No 15 Autumn 2003)
Imprisoned on a bus (by Chris Gwyntopher)
http://www.turning-the-tide.org/newsletter/makingwaves15.pdf
Making Waves is the newsletter of the Quaker group Turning the Tide

Nonviolent Action - (Issue 48 - November 2003)
Fairford Coach case raises human rights questions (by H. Wickham and J. Schust)

(((I))) Indymedia UK Report - (12 January, 2004)
Press Release 12/01/04 - (Fairford Coach Action)
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/01/283762.html

London Assembly Green Party - NEWS RELEASE (14 January 2004)
Click here to view the news release text with quotes from assembly member Jenny Jones.

SCOTSMAN.COM / PA News - (15 January, 2004)
Peace Campaigners Take Police to High Court - by Tom Kelly (PA News)
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2410978

SCOTSMAN.COM / PA News - (15 January, 2004)
Police 'Abused Power' by Barring Anti-War Protesters - by Jan Colley (PA News)
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2412471

The Enfield and Haringey Independent - (15 January 2004)
Kidnapped Protestors Go to High Court - by Kate Southern
http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.449464.0.kidnapped_protestors_go_to_high_court.php

The Guardian - (16 January 2004)
Iraq protesters sue police - by Jamie Wilson
http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,12809,1124247,00.html

The Telegraph - (16 January 2004)
News In Brief: Anti-war group accuses police of abuse of power
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2004%2F01%2F16%2Fnbul16.xml

Indymedia Reports related to the 15-16 January 2004 judicial review - (January 2004)
(Comments and Accounts - Court Report 15/01/04 - 15 January 2004 Feature - Archived coverage)

East End Life - (19 January 2004)
Police denied up human rights, say campaigners - by Claire Rudd
http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/templates/news/detail.cfm?newsid=2392
(at end of this article there is an excellent photo outside the high court)

Zoo Weekly - (First Issue - 24-30 January 2004)
Cops Caught Kidnapping - by Mark Thomas
(Text of article not available via the web.)

(((I))) Indymedia UK Report - (27 January, 2004)
Footage from Fairford Coaches Judicial Review January 15, 2004 - by Dev'lish May
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2004/01/284475.wmv (10 MB windows media player video)

Guardian - (5 February 2004)
The day the Number 11 bus became a prison for 23 anti-royal protesters - Vikram Dodd
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1141189,00.html

Note: The above item is not about the Fairford Coaches incident, but a legally similar occasion involving the arrest and detention of 23 activists in 2002. The activists were simply drinking a quiet pint in a City pub (after a peaceful protest near Tower Hill) when the police arrested them and delivered them to five police stations. To transport this large group, the police commandeered a public double-decker bus. No charges were brought against any of the 23 activists. Now, the Metropolitan Police have issued a formal apology and paid out £80,000 in an out of court lawsuit settlement.

Red Pepper Magazine - (February 2004)
Fairford Court Action - (from the printed magazine News section, not available online)
http://www.redpepper.org.uk

BAILII - England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) Decisions
Laporte, R v Gloucestershire Constabulary & Ors (19 February 2004)
(This is the full text of the 19 February 2004 High Court decision on the Fairford Coach case.)
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2004/253.html (also available as an 80k RTF file)

BBC One - (19 February 2004)
BIG BREAKFAST
4 minute segment aired at 6:45am

Guardian (UK Latest) - (19 February 2004)
Peace activists' detention unlawful
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,1271,-3765599,00.html

Reuters (via UK Yahoo!) - (19 February 2004)
Police rapped for detaining war protesters - by Michelle Green
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/040219/325/emflq.html
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=461428&section=news

Evening Standard/ThisIsLondon.co.uk - (19 February 2004)
Peace activists' detention unlawful
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/PA_NEWCOURTSPeaceth13protestors?source=

BBC TV NEWS - (19 February 2004)
June Kelly's BBC News report (requires Real Player)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39879000/rm/_39879471_fairford13_kelly_vi.ram

BBC NEWS - (19 February 2004)
Protesters want policing change
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/3504095.stm

BBC NEWS - (19 February 2004)
Police 'abused power' during demo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/3502199.stm

Telegraph - (19 February 2004)
Anti-war activist wins police abuse case
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/19/upeace.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/02/19/ixportaltop.html

The Times - (19 February 2004)
Police detained Iraq protesters unlawfully
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1-1007197,00.html

BBC NEWS - (19 February 2004)
'How we were kept on coach'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/3503855.stm

ITV News - (19 February 2004)
Peace activists win legal battle
http://www.itv.com/news/1193840.html

Guardian (Special Reports) - (19 February 2004)
Detained protesters win legal battle
http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,12809,1151688,00.html

Gloucestershire Constabulary (Press Release) - (19 February 2004)
RAF Fairford Judicial Review
http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/news/629.html

London Assembly Green Party - PRESS RELEASE - (19 February 2004)
Click here to view the news release text with quotes from assembly member Jenny Jones.

The Scotsman - (19 February 2004)
Peace Activists to Seek Damages after Court Ruling - by John Aston and Jan Colley, PA News
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2551234

(((I))) Indymedia UK Report - (19 February 2004)
Anti-War protesters win landmark ruling in Human Rights case
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/02/285630.html

(((I))) Indymedia UK Report - (19 February 2004)
14 MB video of court victory
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2004/02/285678.wmv

Bindmans Press Release as reported on Indymedia - (19 Feb 2004)
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/02/285638.html

BBC Three (digital TV) - (19 Feb 2004)
Four coach passengers were interviewed by BBC Three, but it has not yet been confirmed that the story was featured on the evening news programmes.

BBC Regional Radio - (19 Feb 2004)
The story was featured on many regional radio programmes, and interviews took place live on BBC Wiltshire, BBC Swindon, BBC Wales/Cardiff, BBC Cambridge, BBC Oxford, and BBC London.

BBC Radio 5 Live - (19 Feb 2004)
(Claimant Jane Laporte was interviewed at lunch time)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/index.shtml?logo

BBC Radio 4 - (19 Feb 2004)
World At One (news programme)
(Claimant Jane Laporte was interviewed)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/wato

LBC Radio - (19 Feb 2004)
Coach passenger Paul was interviewed in the morning news.

Jazz FM Radio - (19 Feb 2004)
Coach passenger Bob was interviewed at lunch time.

BBC Three - (19 Feb 2004)
(interviewed 4 coach passengers for the evening news)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/news

Channel 4 - (19 Feb 2004)
Channel 4 Evening News (this story didn't run, see explanation below)
(The High Court judgement was going to be a lead story with three interviews, but the story had to be pulled to accomodate coverage of the late-breaking story of the release of Guantanamo Bay Britons. Channel 4 was the first to run a story about the Fairford Coaches detention on TV news in September 2003.)

Independent - (20 February 2004)
Peace activists were unlawfully detained - by Terry Kirby, Chief Reporter
(on page 6 of large edition, and on page 2 of some compact editions - but also missing from some compact editions)
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/story.jsp?story=493252

Guardian - (20 February 2004)
Protesters were held unlawfully, court rules - Rebecca Allison
http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,12809,1152293,00.html

Telegraph - (20 February 2004)
Police detention of peace activists is ruled unlawful - by Nic Fleming
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/20/nprot20.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/02/20/ixportal.html

The Times - (20 February 2004)
Police wrong to detain activists, say judges - by Michael Evans, Defence Editor
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1008107,00.html

Daily Mirror - (20 February 2004)
Peaceniks beat cops
(page 8 - link not available at online edition - http://www.mirror.co.uk)

Daily Express - (20 February 2004)
Peace demo victory
(page 22 - link not available at http://www.express.co.uk)

Daily Mail - (20 February 2004)
£360,000 bill facing police over peaceniks - by Tahira Yaqoob
(page 38 - link not available - no online edition at http://www.dailymail.co.uk)

Schnews - (20 February 2004)
Coach-napped
http://www.schnews.co.uk/archive/news442.htm

ic Scotland - (20 February 2004)
Peace activists' detention unlawful
http://icscotland.icnetwork.co.uk/news/uk/today/content_objectid=13969383_method=full_siteid=50141_headline=-Peace-activists--detention-unlawful-name_page.html

The Scotsman - (20 February 2004)
Peace activists' damages claim
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=201452004

Gulf Daily News - The voice of Bahrain - (20 February 2004)
Detention of 120 protesters 'illegal'
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Articles.asp?Article=74673&Sn=WORL

Morning Star - (20 February 2004)
Campaigners celebrate win
http://www.poptel.org.uk/morning-star/news/2001pdfs/200204.pdf

Metro (Free commuters' paper available on London Tube) - (20 February 2004)
Anti-war activists illegally detained
(page 5 - no link available - no online edition)
http://www.metro.co.uk

Ham & High - (20 February 2004)
War Protestors in court victory - by Andrew Brightwell
(This front page story is not yet available yet at http://www.hamhigh.co.uk)

Camden New Journal - (20 February 2004)
Anti-war protester awaits ruling
(page 10 - link not available - http://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk)

Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard - (20 February 2004)
Detaining protesters was unlawful - court ruled - by Paul Bull
http://www.thisiscirencester.com/cirencester/archive/2004/02/20/news1077277521ZM.html

East End Life - (23 February 2004)
Protesters' detention illegal, court rules - by Claire Rudd
http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/templates/news/detail.cfm?newsid=2497

BBC Radio 4 - (27 February 2004)
Law In Action
Story featured on Friday, 27 February, 2004 at 1600 GMT.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/law_in_action/3492300.stm
(online broadcast from 27 February till 4 March at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/law_in_action)

Ham & High - (27 February 2004)
Euro-court threat over protest
(This page 9 story is not yet available yet at http://www.hamhigh.co.uk)

New Statesman - (1 March 2004)
Columns: Mark Thomas wonders why the police fear frisbees - Were British protesters, armed with little more than a frisbee and a bag of plastic toy soldiers, really in danger of being shot by the US military in Gloucestershire? - by Mark Thomas
Available at Mark Thomas' website http://www.mtcp.co.uk/article.php?id=55

(The article is available online from New Statesman http://www.newstatesman.co.uk/200403010006.htm)

The Enfield and Haringey Independent - (4 March 2004)
Anti-war protestors claim victory over cops - by Kate Southern
http://www.haringeyindependent.co.uk/display.var.466541.0.0.php

BBC NEWS - (23 March 2004)
Peace group plans demo appeal
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/3561467.stm

Infoshop News (7 October 2004)
UK: Case of 120 protestors detained by police - by Reverend Chuck0
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=04/10/04/9124495

(((I))) Indymedia UK Report (7 October 2004)
120 police detained and prevented from attending demo!! - by MP Farce
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/298742.html

BBC NEWS - (14 October 2004)
Twin appeals over anti-war demo police
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3740216.stm

Guardian (special reports) - (14 October 2004)
'Coach-napped' activists protest outside court - by Jackie Dent
http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,12809,1327375,00.html

Morning Star - (14 October 2004)
Fairford protesters return to court
(page 5 - link not available without subscription - http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk)

Evening Standard/ThisIsLondon.co.uk - (14 October 2004)
Demo outside court appeal
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/PA_LONREGIONALNEWSCARLTON338th1?source

Morning Star - (15 October 2004)
Fairford activists descend on courts
(cover photo and story on page 6 - http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk)

Ham and High - (15 October 2004)
High Court appeal over war protest
(sorry about the long link, it's split over 3 lines to make it display better)
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/hamhigh/news/story.aspx?brand=NorthLondon24&
category=Newshamhigh&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshamhigh&itemid=WeED
15%20Oct%202004%2009%3A40%3A34%3A860

(((I))) Indymedia UK Report - (15 October 2004)
Fairford coach kidnap hearing - samba action, police harrassment and arrest - by Zoe
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/299094.html

(((I))) Indymedia UK Report - (15 October 2004)
Fairford coach kidnap hearing - "the pictures" - by Zoe
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/299096.html

(((I))) Indymedia UK Report - (24 October 2004)
Fairford Coaches at Court of Appeal - Photos of 14 October 2004 - by a Fairford Coach Detainee
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/300020.html

Legal Defence and Monitoring Group - LDMG Update (November 2004)
Fairford Coach Action Appeal - by LDMG
http://www2.phreak.co.uk/ldmg/LDMG%20UPDATE%20NOVEMBER%202004.pdf

Guardian (17 November 2004)
Diary - by Marina Hyde
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/backbench/story/0,14158,1353105,00.html

Mail on Sunday (28 November 2004)
MPs were misled in terror law row - by Jason Lewis
Text available here

BAILII - England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions
Laporte, R (on the application of) v Gloucestershire Constabulary & Ors [2004] EWCA Civ 1639 (08 December 2004)
(This is the full text of the 19 February 2004 High Court decision on the Fairford Coach case. - Download the RTF file here)
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2004/1639.html

The Telegraph (8 December 2004)
Anti-war campaigners lose protest case
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/08/uprotest.xml

The Times (8 December 2004)
Peace protesters lose landmark appeal - by Times Online and PA
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-1394611,00.html

Sky News (8 December 2004)
Protesters lose appeal
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13262470,00.html

Press Association (via Yahoo!) - (8 December 2004)
Raf Fairford Protesters Lose Appeal
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041208/344/f852c.html
(The following news sources syndicated this Press Association piece) -

ic Scotland (8 December 2004)
ic Birmingham (8 December 2004)
ic Liverpool (8 December 2004)
ic Ealing (8 December 2004)
Huddersfield Daily Examiner (8 December 2004)

Sky News via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News (8 December 2004)
Raf Fairford Protesters Lose Appeal
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041208/140/f856z.html

Reuters - (8 December 2004)
Peace protestors lose legal fight with police
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=635354
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=635345
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=635331
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041208/325/f85h2.html

BBC Online (8 December 2004)
Appeals over peace demo rejected
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/4078199.stm

Evening Standard/ThisIsLondon.co.uk (8 December 2004)
Peace protesters lose appeal
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/PA_NEWCOURTSFairfordwed10protes?source=

The Guardian (8 December 2004)
Court rejects police and protester appeals - by Adam Jay and agencies
http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,12809,1369040,00.html

Gloucestershire Constabulary (8 December 2004)
PRESS RELEASE: Court of Appeal Fairford Ruling - Constabulary Response
http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/news/1378.html

There were TV reports on the case from-

Sky TV News (8 December 2004)
BBC TV News (8 December 2004)
Channel 4 News (8 December 2004)
Radio 4 (8 December 2004)

The Telegraph (9 December 2004)
Police right to stop but not hold protesters - by Caroline Davies
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/09/nprot09.xml

Daily Mirror (9 December 2004)
Anti-war protesters lose fight
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14958654&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=anti-war-protesters-lose-fight-name_page.html

The Times (9 December 2004)
Protesters and police lose one appeal each - by Michael Evans, Defence Editor
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-1394611,00.html

The Independent - (9 December 2004)
Police wrong to detain war protesters
(on page 25, no internet link available)

DeHavilland (9 December 2004)
Court ruling raises "serious implications" for civil liberties
http://www.dehavilland.co.uk/webhost.asp?wci=default&wcp=NationalNewsStoryPage&ItemID=6102440&ServiceID=8&filterid=10&searchid=8

Financial Times (9 December 2004)
Police acted lawfully over airbase protest - by Nikki Tait
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/6095a32a-4986-11d9-81c7-00000e2511c8.html

Ham and High - (10 December 2004)
Anti-war protesters were held unlawfully by police
(sorry about the long link, it's split over 3 lines to make it display better)
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/news/story.aspx?
brand=NorthLondon24&category=Newshamhigh&tBrand=northlondon24&
tCategory=newshamhigh&itemid=WeED10%20Dec%202004%2011%3A39%3A20%3A707

Schnews - (10 December 2004)
Not Fair-ford
http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/pdf/news477.pdf

Ham and High - (27 May 2005)
Anti-war protesters win right to appeal against court decision
(Page 6 in print edition. Sorry about the long link, it's split over 3 lines to make it display better)
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/news/story.aspx?brand=
northlondon24&category=newshamhigh&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=
newshamhigh&itemid=WeED26%20May%202005%2017%3A34%3A14%3A830

Socialist Unity - (June 2005)
House of Lords to hear anti-war protestors' test case
http://www.socialistunitynetwork.co.uk/news/lordsfairford.htm

Schnews - (20 October 2006)
Wheels of Justice
http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news565.htm

This is London (UK) - (22 October 2006)
Lords to rule on anti-war demo case
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/newsheadlines/article-23371638-details/Lords+to+rule+on+anti-war+demo+case/article.do

IC North London Online - (22 October 2006)
Lords to rule on anti-war demo case - by Press Association
http://icnorthlondononline.icnetwork.co.uk/news/tm_headline=lords-to-rule-on-anti-war-demo-case&method=full&objectid=17972736&siteid=106484-name_page.html

The Guardian - (22 October 2006)
Lords to rule on anti-war demo case
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6163508,00.html

Islamic Republic News Agency - (23 October 2006)
Anti-war protesters seek ruling on UK police powers
http://www.irna.com/en/news/view/line-16/0610234639181030.htm

BBC Gloucestershire - (23 October 2006)
Video with Steve Knibbs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news/video/62000/bb/62596_16x9_bb.asx

BBC Gloucestershire - (23 October 2006)
Law Lords rule on anti-war demo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/6076854.stm

The Guardian - (23 October 2006)
Anti-war protesters' rights breached, court told
http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,,1929571,00.html

The Guardian - (23 October 2006)
Protesters and police ask Lords for ruling in Iraq war detention case
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1929011,00.html

Kuwait News Agency - (23 October 2006)
UK anti-war group asks House of Lords to rule on police action
http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=915317

Hornsey and Crouch End Journal - (25 October 2006)
War protesters go to House of Lords
http://www.hornseyjournal.co.uk/content/haringey/hornseyjournal/news/story.aspx?brand=HCEJOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshcej&itemid=WeED25%20Oct%202006%2010%3A15%3A09%3A113

Legalbrief Today - (25 October 2006)
Protesters, police ask Lords for ruling in detention case
http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20061025081229568

The Hendon and Finchley Times - (26 October 2006)
Anti-war protestors challenge police over human rights
http://www.hendontimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.990107.0.antiwar_protestors_challenge_police_over_human_rights.php

Ealing Times - (26 October 2006)
Anti-war protestors challenge police over human rights
http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/news/crimefiles/londoncrime/display.var.990107.0.antiwar_protestors_challenge_police_over_human_rights.php

Ham and High Newspaper (27 October 2006)
Iraq protest battle goes to the Lords - by Katie Davies
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/news/story.aspx?brand=NorthLondon24&category=Newshamhigh&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshamhigh&itemid=WeED27%20Oct%202006%2016%3A12%3A50%3A730

Ananova - (December 2006)
Lords to rule on anti-war demo case
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2046493.html?menu=news.lifestyle

The Lawyer - (13 December 2006)
Bindmans wins key free speech case at the Lords - by Joanne Harris
http://www.thelawyer.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=123469&d=122&h=24&f=46

Amnesty International - (13 December 2006)
UK: Fairford Coach Protestors ruling - case of fundamental importance
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=17199

JURIST-Paper Chase - (13 December 2006)
UK Law Lords rule police breached rights of Iraq war protestors by blocking buses - by Bernard Hibbitts
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2006/12/uk-law-lords-rule-police-breached.php

International Herald Tribune - (13 December 2006)
House of Lords rules that police violated protesters' rights in Britain - by Associated Press
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/13/europe/EU_GEN_Britain_Iraq_Protesters.php

Concord Monitor (NH, USA) - (13 December 2006)
N.H. man celebrates human rights win: Dozens prevented from protesting Iraq - by Kate Davidson
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061214/REPOSITORY/612140341&SearchID=73266043151767

Daily Mail (UK) - (13 December 2006)
Police wrong to prevent protestors gathering at RAF base, rule law lords
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=422377&in_page_id=1770&in_page_id=1770&expand=true#StartComments

Liberty (press release) - (13 December 2006)
Key Law Lords decision on right to peaceful protest
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/news-and-events/1-press-releases/2006/law-lords-decision-on-right-to-peaceful-protest.shtml

Indymedia (UK) - (13 December 2006)
Victory for Fairford Coach Campaigners - by IMC UK features
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/358276.html

Adfero - (13 December 2006)
Anti-war protestors win demo case
http://www.adfero.co.uk/news/news/crime/anti-war-protestors-win-demo-case-$460929.htm

The Guardian - (13 December 2006)
Law lords ruling backs anti-war campaigners
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2006/dec/13/antiwar.uk

Times Online (UK) - (13 December 2006)
Lawyers applaud peace protest ruling
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article753308.ece

BBC NEWS - Gloucestershire - (13 December 2006)
Victory for anti-war protesters
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/6174801.stm

Bindmans (press release) - (13 December 2006)
Anti-war protestors welcome House of Lords judgement
http://www.bindmans.com/index.php?id=232

InTheNews.co.uk - (13 December 2006)
Anti-war protestors win demo case
http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/news/crime/anti-war-protestors-win-demo-case-$1029388.htm

Swindon Advertiser (of the This is Wiltshire Network) - (13 December 2006)
Protesters "had rights violated" - By Tom Morton
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/swindonnewsheadlines/display.var.1071687.0.protesters_had_rights_violated.php#mpubot

Sky News (UK) - (13 December 2006)
Protesters Win Ruling
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1243932,00.html

Ekklesia - (13 December 2006)
Right to protest legally upheld for UK anti-war demonstrators - by staff writers
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_061213antiwar.shtml

METRO - (13 December 2006)
Law Lords back peace campaigners
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=29212&in_page_id=34&in_a_source=

IC Surrey Online - (13 December 2006)
Law Lords back peace campaigners
http://www.bindmans.com/fileadmin/bindmans/user/News_stories_-_PDFs/13Dec06_Surreyonline.htm

There were TV reports on the case from-

Sky TV News (13 December 2006)
BBC TV News (13 December 2006)
ITV News (13 December 2006)
Channel 4 News (13 December 2006)

There were Radio interviews/reports from various stations (13 December 2006)

The Independent (UK) - (14 December 2006)
Police 'breached rights' of anti-war protesters - By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-breached-rights-of-antiwar-protesters-428378.html

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard - (14 December 2006)
Police violated rights of anti-war campaigners - By Andy Woolfoot
http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/display.var.1074688.0.police_violated_rights_of_antiwar_campaigners.php

Stars and Stripes - (14 December 2006)
English Law Lords rule in favor of RAF Fairford protestors - by Bryan Mitchell
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=41153&archive=true

The Daily Telegraph (UK) - (14 December 2006)
Law Lords uphold peace protesters' rights - by Thair Shaikh and agencies
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/13/ufairford113.xml

Socialist Worker - (14 December 2006)
A victory for the right to protest (online only) - by Guy Smallman
http://community.channel4.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/503603557/m/6520021786

Workers Revolutionary Party - (14 December 2006)
Police illegally held Fairford demonstrators
http://www.wrp.org.uk/news/1779

Western Daily Press - (December 2006)
Human Rights lawyers hailed a House of Lords ruling
http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145809&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145792&contentPK=16186066&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

The Mirror (UK) - (14 December 2006)
Anti-war rally win
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=anti-war-rally-win-&method=full&objectid=18259948&siteid=94762-name_page.html

BBC NEWS - Gloucestershire - (14 December 2006)
Policing Iraq RAF base cost £8m
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/6178919.stm

The Guardian - (14 December 2006)
Campaigners' victory as law lords uphold right to protest - by Clare Dyer, legal editor
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/dec/14/politics.iraq

Times Online (UK) - (14 December 2006)
Police acted unlawfully in preventing anti-war protest
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/reports/article754156.ece

Times Online (UK) - (14 December 2006)
Police violated rights of antiwar protesters - Frances Gibb, Legal Editor
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article753831.ece

Daily Star - (December 2006)
Lords back peace campaigners
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news_detail_pa.html?sku=1166009580507801-H2

Baroness Sara Ludford MEP (press release) - (14 December 2006)
Euro-MP celebrates Law Lords' upholding of right to protest
http://www.sarahludford.libdems.org.uk/news/000785/euromp_celebrates_law_lords_upholding_of_right_to_protest.html

Ananova - (14 December 2006)
Law Lords back peace campaigners
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2116789.html

The Guardian - (14 December 2006)
The Law Lords' ruling on the right to protest (Cartoon) - by Steve Bell
http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoons/stevebell/0,,1971610,00.html

The Indian Express - (14 December 2006)
House of Lords: In '03, police violated protesters' rights outside US air base - by Associated Press
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/18509.html

Spero News (TX, USA) - (14 December 2006)
Right to protest upheld for anti-war demonstrators - by Ekklesia
http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=7041

Legalbrief Today (South Africa) - (15 December 2006)
Law Lords peace protest ruling applauded
http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20061215082608732

Swindon Advertiser - (15 December 2006)
£8m spent on policing RAF Fairford during war
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/swindonnewsheadlines/display.var.1076077.0.8m_spent_on_policing_raf_fairford_during_war.php

Gloucestershire Green Party (press release) - (15 December 2006)
Law Lords rule on Fairford demo coaches
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1612&Itemid=2

Amnesty International - (2007)
Amnesty International Report 2007
http://report2007.amnesty.org/eng/Regions/Europe-and-Central-Asia/United-Kingdom

Law Gazette - (18 January 2007)
Protesting too much? - by Jon Robins
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/features/view=feature.law?FEATUREID=317167

Peace News - (February 2007)
Just the facts M'Lud... - by Andy Meinke
http://www.peacenews.info/issues/2482/248205.html

Culture Wars - (8 June 2007)
Review of Chris Atkins' film Taking Liberties - by Dolan Cummings
http://www.culturewars.org.uk/2007-06/liberties.htm

Centre for the Study of Human Rights at LSE - (22 June 2007)
The Blair Report (originally printed in Index on Censorship) - by Professor Conor Gearty
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/pressAndInformationOffice/newsAndEvents/archives/2007/BlairLegacy_CGeartyFreeSpeech.htm

The Guardian (UK) - (11 August 2007)
Police to use terror laws on Heathrow climate protesters - by John Vidal and Helen Pidd
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/aug/11/ukcrime.greenpolitics

The Agitation of the Mind (blog) - (7 March 2008)
Review of Chris Atkins' film Taking Liberties - by Neil Fulwood
http://misterneil.blogspot.com/2008/03/taking-liberties.html

The Times (UK) - (June 25, 2008)
The cases that changed Britain: 1972-2006 - by Gary Slapper
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article4204409.ece?token=null&offset=36

Videos, photos and audio recordings made on the day.           (return to the top)

VIDEO
London to Fairford Coaches Denied Right to Protest (11 MB)
by David Kaplowitz (Submitted to IndymediaUK at 6:56am Wed Mar 26 '03)
(http://www.thirdstonefilms.org)
An 11 minute video summary of the stop, detention, search, and denial of right to protest experienced by 150 protesters from London, 6 miles from the US Air Force base at Fairford. Includes interviews, footage from the stop, search, and police tactics on the escort back to London.  Play this movie with Quicktime.
Available at the UK Indymedia website as file fairford_v1wzhdfd.mov at
http://www1.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/03/59609.html

On the Coaches (by Zoe Young and Indymedia)
Now available via BlipTV
http://blip.tv/file/2628980

To use the digital video footage taken on the coaches for television broadcast, click here.

AUDIO REPORTS
During the search of coaches. (450k Audio Report)
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58687&group=webcast

At 3:34pm on board the coaches while police escort us on motorway. (300k Audio Report)
A full description of the experience from a live observer at 3:34pm on 22 March 2003.
(if the extension on this item may says *.mpga after download, it should be changed to .*mp3 in order to play)
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58755&group=webcast

Fairford coach passengers join protesters at the Oxford St blockade at 17:50 (210k Audio Report)
(If the extension on this item says *.mpga, it can be changed to .*mp3 in order to play)
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58762

PHOTOS

Photos available on this site (not many photos here yet)
Click here for our photos page or visit our Video and Photo Resources page (for more photos of higher quality)

Initial Photos
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=59041&group=webcast
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=59044&group=webcast
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=59045&group=webcast

More Photos by Guidopix
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=59841&group=webcast
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=59843&group=webcast
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=59844&group=webcast

Photos of what happened to passengers after they departed coaches near Shepherds Bush
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58966

Photos at the Judgement Hearing on 19 Feb 2004
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/02/285662.html

Photos at the Court of Appeal Hearing 15 October 2004
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/299096.html

Legal Action - news and information concerning the consequent legal actions by coach passengers           (return to the top)

The Fairford coach passengers took the Police to court in a judicial review High Court challenge in early 2004. The results of this challenge were mixed, and both the Police and the passengers challenged aspects of the ruling at the Court of Appeal in late 2004. The Court of Appeal ruling was again mixed. Both parties pursued an appeal at the House of Lords. In December of 2006, the Law Lords ruled entirely in favour of the coach passengers, and this left the Police with no further legal options for appealing the case. Approximately 115 individuals are actively pursuing civil claims against the police.

For more info, see the NEWS page, the Judicial Review and Appeals page or the EVENTS page for details. Visit our PRESS page for our press releases about the judicial review.