Green to challenge Police Commissioner over arrest of Brian Haw

30th Mar 2006

Arrests are an 'abuse of legislation'

Green to challenge Police Commissioner over arrest of Brian Haw

Jenny Jones, Green Member of the London Assembly and a member of the Metropolitan Police Board, will today challenge the Metropolitan Police Authority Commissioner Sir Ian Blair over the arrests of Brian Haw and Barbara Tucker, protestors against the Iraq occupation, under the new laws restricting protest around parliament.

Jenny Jones AM commented:

'These arrests are an abuse of the new legislation and amount to harassment by the police of peaceful protesters. Both Mr Haw and Ms Tucker are upholding civil liberties that this government and the Met are trying to take away from all of us.'

Both Mr Haw and Ms Tucker were later released without charge but have been reported to the Crown Prosecution Service.

'This legislation is being misused to prevent legitimate protest, and these arrests are not in the public interest.'

The Green Party opposes the ongoing occupation of Iraq and proposes an immediate withdrawal of UK troops. We wholeheartedly support both Brian Haw's right to protest and his principled moral position in respect of the War on Terror.

ENDS