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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 17 October 2007

GLA REMOVES PEACE CAMP TENTS FROM PARLIAMENT SQUARE

Today, the Greater London Authority are making a second attempt to remove the tents that Brian Haw and his supporters sleep in to maintain the 24 hour peace vigil in Parliament Square.

The GLA tried to remove the tents in August when they put a fence around Parliament Square but in the end, due to the steadfastness of the protestors, a small area for the supporters' tents remained. [A]

In the early afternoon today, the GLA started to tear up the tents without warning from behind Brian Haw's protest display opposite Parliament. The tents have been dumped on the pavement and Mr Haw informed that they, and the property within them, would be disposed of.

Ken Livingstone's Greater London Authority has said that just one tent, Brian Haw's, can remain. However, the argument for allowing tents for a number of his supporters has effectively been won in court. [B] A court case earlier this year established that supporters need to remain in the Square at all times in order to fulfill the conditions the police have placed on Brian's protest - namely that the site be supervised at all times. Mr Haw is also allowed to have 19 people with him at any one time, including at night.

Brian's solicitors have been in touch with the GLA over the last months about this issue but the GLA have now decided to ignore these proceedings and take action that will make it difficult for Brian to continue his protest.

NOTES
A. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6950868.stm
B. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6287091.stm