Nuclear weapons crime in the UK has been reported to Thames Valley Police.
Emails between police liaisons Angie Zelter and Sarah Lasenby of Action AWE and police liaisons Inspector 3308 Stewart Dunbar and Sgt Jennie Fox of Thames Valley Police.
From Angie Zelter to Stewart Dunbar and Jennie Fox of TVP copied to Robin Harris on 23rd March 2015. Dear Stewart and Jennie, please see the emails below. I would be grateful if you would contact Robin and see what you can do to keep disruption for his family to a minimum. You will see that I have suggested that the police keep their officers around the bend in the lay-by or some other place down the MoD road but out of sight of Church Cottages or even to allow the demonstrations to take place by the main gate but that is of course for the police to decide. Wishing you well, love and peace, Angie, ActionAWE From Robin Harris to Angie Zelter on 23rd March 2015 Hello Angie, I appreciate your comments. It would be useful if you can forward my comments and make that a possible three way conversation. We as a family just want to enjoy our daily lives and allow our son a peaceful home, at present the actions of various parties are spoiling that for us. Please keep me updated on anything you as a peaceful group can do to minimise the disruption to my son and our home. Thank you, Robin. From Angie Zelter to Robin Harris on 23rd March 2015. Response to your request for advice on activities at AWE Burghfield Dear Robin, I am so sorry to hear of your son's suffering and am grateful to you for writing to me to explain the problem. I had no idea that the police would be stationed around the clock for so long. ActionAWE just organised the one day blockade on 2nd March and I do not know what other actions may or may not be taking place over the next few weeks. There are obviously lots of anti-nuclear groups who now wish to protest at Burghfield because of the current Trident Replacement plans which if they go ahead would breach the UK's commitments in the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Could you perhaps ask the police why they find it necessary to to be stationed so close to you. They could very easily have a presence a little further down the MoD road where the lay-by is and where police used to be stationed. There is nothing much that I can do with the police except ask them to do their duty and help us to stop the preparations for a war crime that building 100kt nuclear bombs actually is. Then the protests would stop. However, as a local family suffering directly from the police presence I think they would be able to give you the information you need and perhaps also change the positioning of the police which would then change the positioning on the protesters who usually want to protest at the gates not at the head of the MoD road. We have had cordial relations with several Thames Valley Police officers who act as liaisons with myself and others from ActionAWE. I suggest that you contact them directly and see if they can help. Their contact details are Fox Jennie (Sgt) <[email protected]> and Dunbar Stewart <[email protected]> Would you like me to forward this email and your own to the police officers Jennie and Stewart? I did not want to do this without your permission. I do hope Joshua will regain his sense of peace very soon. Wishing you well, love and peace, Angie Zelter, ActionAWE On 23/03/15 07:12, Harris, Robin wrote to ActionAWE:
Good morning,
I’m hoping you may be able to provide me with some information
with regards the protests outside the Reading Road end of The
Mearings, AWE Burghfield?
I live in number 1 Church Cottages, just across from the entrance
where the protests take place. We have lived here for 7 years now,
and always welcome yourselves, as we fully appreciate your views
and the peaceful nature of everything you do.
That said we have now had police stationed across the road for
almost 4 weeks now, and this is where I ask for your help?
My son suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome and finds certain
situations upsetting and unnerving. The police presence is
now causing us daily issues with Joshua as he is becoming
more and more anxious based on the activity across the road.
Today there are more people with banners across the road and
Joshua is unable to go to school due to the issues this is
causing him.
I appreciate your actions, however would you be able to advise
how long this will be going on for, so I have an idea of when
the police may stand down and normality returns? We are used
to protests approx. 3 times a year, and happily interact, however
at the moment the constant presence of both Protestors and Police
is causing undue pressure on my son.
I hope you understand and will give me some guidance, so I can at
least tell my son it will go away at some point soon.
Best Regards
Robin Harris
From Sgt.Jennie Fox to Angie Zelter on 28th November 2014 at 13.38.
Hi Angie, Thank you for the email and of course letting us know. It would be helpful to meet nearer the date and of course talk through your plans for the day. I will make contact with you early New Year, but if you need to speak regarding anything before then, please let me know. Jennie. Sergeant 4502 Fox Oxford Road 07800 702129 [email protected]
From Angie Zelter to Insp Stewart Dunbar and Sgt Jennie Fox on 28th November 2014 at 13.30.
Dear Jennie and Stewart, this is just to let you know about our Burghfield Lockdown blockade on March 2nd. I have attached a leaflet for you both. I am assuming you will be as helpful as ever in making sure the police enable this lawful protest to take place without any police or worker violence. As you know all our ActionAWE events are totally nonviolent and we hold nonviolence workshops to enable protesters to be fully briefed on nonviolence. If you wish to liaise about anything do let me know. Nearer the time it would be useful to know who the police liaisons will be and which police forces might be involved in the policing. It would also be good to get assurance that all the police likely to be present have been briefed on our total nonviolence and our respect for international humanitarian law. They should know that we are trying to prevent the replacement of Trident and further breaches of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and are working towards a total ban on all weapons of mass destruction. In peace and love, Angie.
From Insp Stewart Dunbar to Angie Zelter on 26th November 2014 at 16.21 Hi Angie, Please find below an extract from the Police & Criminal Evidence Act Codes of Practice (which covers police powers and procedures). I will get back to you on the other matters. I will contact our Diversity Dept, I am aware there is a policy and contact Criminal Justice just confirm my thoughts on the custody issue. I have highlighted the areas in red as I think they may answer some of your questions. PS The full Codes of Practice is available online. Stewart Codes of Practice Annex L to PACE Code of Practice C provides guidance on establishing the gender of persons for the purpose of searching. 1. Certain provisions of this and other PACE Codes explicitly state that searches and other procedures may only be carried out by, or in the presence of, persons of the same sex as the person subject to the search or other procedure. See Note L1. (see below) 2. All searches and procedures must be carried out with courtesy, consideration and respect for the person concerned. Police officers should show particular sensitivity when dealing with transgender individuals (including transsexual persons) and transvestite persons (see Notes L2, L3 and L4). (see below) (a) Consideration 3. In law, the gender (and accordingly the sex) of an individual is their gender as registered at birth unless they have been issued with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (GRA), in which case the person's gender is their acquired gender. This means that if the acquired gender is the male gender, the person's sex becomes that of a man and, if it is the female gender, the person's sex becomes that of a woman and they must be treated as their acquired gender. 4. When establishing whether the person concerned should be treated as being male or female for the purposes of these searches and procedures, the following approach which is designed to minimise embarrassment and secure the person's co-operation should be followed: (a) The person must not be asked whether they have a GRC (see paragraph 8); (b) If there is no doubt as to as to whether the person concerned should be treated as being male or female, they should be dealt with as being of that sex. (c) If at any time (including during the search or carrying out the procedure) there is doubt as to whether the person should be treated, or continue to be treated, as being male or female: (i) the person should be asked what gender they consider themselves to be. If they express a preference to be dealt with as a particular gender, they should be asked to indicate and confirm their preference by signing the custody record or, if a custody record has not been opened, the search record or the officer's notebook. Subject to (ii) below, the person should be treated according to their preference; (ii) if there are grounds to doubt that the preference in (i) accurately reflects the person's predominant lifestyle, for example, if they ask to be treated as a woman but documents and other information make it clear that they live predominantly as a man, or vice versa, they should be treated according to what appears to be their predominant lifestyle and not their stated preference; (iii) If the person is unwilling to express a preference as in (i) above, efforts should be made to determine their predominant lifestyle and they should be treated as such. For example, if they appear to live predominantly as a woman, they should be treated as being female; or (iv) if none of the above apply, the person should be dealt with according to what reasonably appears to have been their sex as registered at birth. 5. Once a decision has been made about which gender an individual is to be treated as, each officer responsible for the search or procedure should where possible be advised before the search or procedure starts of any doubts as to the person's gender and the person informed that the doubts have been disclosed. This is important so as to maintain the dignity of the person and any officers concerned. (b) Documentation 6. The person's gender as established under paragraph 4(c)(i) to (iv) above must be recorded in the person's custody record, or if a custody record has not been opened, on the search record or in the officer's notebook. 7. Where the person elects which gender they consider themselves to be under paragraph 4(b)(i) but, following 4(b)(ii) is not treated in accordance with their preference, the reason must be recorded in the search record, in the officer's notebook or, if applicable, in the person's custody record. (c) Disclosure of information 8. Section 22 of the GRA defines any information relating to a person's application for a GRC or to a successful applicant's gender before it became their acquired gender as 'protected information'. Nothing in this Annex is to be read as authorising or permitting any police officer or any police staff who has acquired such information when acting in their official capacity to disclose that information to any other person in contravention of the GRA. Disclosure includes making a record of 'protected information' which is read by others. Note for Guidance L1 Provisions to which paragraph 1 applies include: •In Code C; paragraph 4.1 and Annex A paragraphs 5, 6, and 11 (searches, strip and intimate searches of detainees under sections 54 and 55 of PACE); •In Code A; paragraphs 2.8 and 3.6 and Note 4; •In Code D; paragraph 5.5 and Note 5F (searches, examinations and photographing of detainees under section 54A of PACE) and paragraph 6.9 (taking samples); •In Code H; paragraph 4.1 and Annex A paragraphs 6, 7 and 12 (searches, strip and intimate searches under sections 54 and 55 of PACE of persons arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000). L2 While there is no agreed definition of transgender (or trans), it is generally used as an umbrella term to describe people whose gender identity (self-identification as being a woman, man, neither or both) differs from the sex they were registered as at birth. The term includes, but is not limited to, transsexual people. L3 Transsexual means a person who is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of gender reassignment which is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 (see paragraph 1.0) by changing physiological or other attributes of their sex. This includes aspects of gender such as dress and title. It would apply to a woman making the transition to being a man and a man making the transition to being a woman, as well as to a person who has only just started out on the process of gender reassignment and to a person who has completed the process. Both would share the characteristic of gender reassignment with each having the characteristics of one sex, but with certain characteristics of the other sex. L4 Transvestite means a person of one gender who dresses in the clothes of a person of the opposite gender. However, a transvestite does not live permanently in the gender opposite to their birth sex. L5 Chief officers are responsible for providing corresponding operational guidance and instructions for the deployment of transgender officers and staff under their direction and control to duties which involve carrying out, or being present at, any of the searches and procedures described in paragraph 1. The guidance and instructions must comply with the Equality Act 2010 and should therefore complement the approach in this Annex. SOURCE(S) Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 - Code of Practice C - detention, treatment, etc From Angie Zelter to Insp. Stewart Dunbar on 26 November 2014 15:36 Dear Stewart, see below for email I just sent Jennie. Hopefully we can have a response as soon as possible. Thanks, Angie for Action AWE.
From Angie Zelter to Sgt Jennie Fox on 25/11/14
Dear Jennie, just a quick question for you to answer as soon as possible please. Usually when our activists are arrested we need to know if they are male or female because the police usually send them to different police stations. However, to be sensitive to trans-sexuals and people of indeterminate sexuality it would be good to know how you deal with such people. Hopefully you ask they how they wish to identify and then respect that. If they identify as of no gender or indeterminate gender how do you deal with this? Could you let me know what your policies are, as then we can brief everyone way accurately. How do you make your decisions about gender, what criteria do you use etc where would you detain them etc etc. Love and peace, Angie.
From Sgt Jennie Fox to Angie Zelter on 27/7/14 at 16:43
Hi Angie,
Thank you for your email and the leaflet. I can confirm that up until the day and including it, my mobile
is 07800 702129 which is always on. The second Liaison officer is Ashley Smith, I will forward his number
to you in due course. Please give me a shout if there is anything else you need to know before the 9th,
if not, I will see you on the day.
Jennie
Sergeant 4502 Fox
Oxford Road NHPT
07800 702129
[email protected]
From Jed Picksley to Stewart Dunbar on 12/7/14 at 07:39
Hello Stewart, Angie has asked me to contact you reguardig the fast, as she won’t actually be there this year,
preparing for Wool Against Weapons from home instead.
My name is Jane Picksley, and I will be camping with and supporting the fasters, probably without actually
fasting myself.
The outline of our plan is as follows:
- We’ll have a small ceremony at the main gate on the Mearings at 12noon on the 6th of August
- We’ll then walk to the north end of The Mearings and pitch three small (1 or 2 person) tents beyond the
“MOD byelaw” land, on the verge where your force and ours co-operated very easily last year.
- At present reckoning, there will only be three of us sitting vigil, with two others (in one extra tent)
joining us on the Friday night. I will let you know if others book to sleep over (Various Quakers and
choirs will be visiting for some mornings and afternoons, but we don’t expected any unbooked sleepers).
- We’ll not come any closer to the base again until Saturday 9th morning when we’ll take down our tents and banners
and help prepare for the scarf day. We might flyer local homes, principally about the Wool event to come, but also
about Hiroshima Day and Nagasaki Day.
- We will be fasting, communicating by Skype with other fasters in Germany and France, singing and talking.
No “actions” upon the AWE bases or roads will be undertaken from our tiny camp.
If there’s anything else you’d like to know about our arrangements please get in touch.
(A fast is so much easier than any other sort of camp, with no kitchen required!)
Regarding “policing” the camp you will be constantly welcome, and I look forward to meeting the new faces.
Regarding feedback from last year’s Burghfield Camp, I think others (particularly Sarah Lazenby) gathered thoughts
and discussed the policing, back nearer the time and in meetings this spring. For myself it already seems very long ago!
Sincerely,Jane “Jed” Picksley
Stewart Dunbar to Angie Zelter on 11/7/14 at 11:18
Hi Angie,
Sorry to bother you. I have been asked to contact you with regards the forthcoming Hiroshima/Nagasaki memorial
event scheduled to take place in early August. With this event coming immediately before the Wool Against Weapons
on the Saturday I think there is a presumption that numbers attending may be more than in previous years.
TVP, Hampshire and MDP will obviously wish to police the event in a ‘proportionate’ manner and facilitate any
peaceful protest. I have been asked to enquire, where would you like to hold your protest and camp (if possible),
as well as is there anything from last year’s event at Burghfield that we as the police could do better. I have
already fed in about the continuity of briefings to officers when there are shift changes.
As PLO I will feed in any response to the Silver Commander and AWE to see if we can come to a mutual agreement.
I will be available for the whole event as Police Liaison so please feel free to contact me if required.
PS Jennie Fox will be your liaison for the Wool Against Weapons event.
TVP has now trained a number of PLO’s so you may see some ‘new faces’ with Jennie and I. I hope that is okay
and if you felt it appropriate it may be an opportunity for yourself or others to convey your expectations of
PLO role.
Thanks, Stewart
Inspector 3308 Stewart Dunbar
Thames Valley Police
Joint Operations
email: [email protected]
Angie Zelter to Sgt. Jennie Fox on 11/6/14 at 14:41
Yes, there is one thing I would like you to investigate about the
policing of 9th June 2014. There was another incident of completely
unnecessary cuffing after the arrest of Pete Chan once he was already in
the police van. We would really like to ensure that this does not keep
happening. Please can you get us a copy of the policy on cuffing so we
can give it to all our nonviolent peace protesters as this may help them
remind police officers that it is not necessary or productive to use on
peaceful protesters. There were plenty of witnesses to prove that Pete
was quite unthreatening in his behaviour. One of the people present will
be writing to you and the Chief Constable about the incident.
Love and peace, Angie.
Jennie Fox to Angie Zelter on 11/6/14 at 11.02
Thanks for you the email Angie, you are very welcome. See you in August,
if there is anything you’d like to bring up then please give me a shout.
Sergeant 4502 Fox
Oxford Road
07800 702129
[email protected]
Angie Zelter to Jennie Fox on 10/6/14 at 18:14
Thank you Jennie for your help yesterday in facilitating communication
with the police. It is appreciated and does help keep things calm. Love
and peace, Angie.
From Stewart Dunbar on 25th September 2013 at 15.38.
Thanks Sarah,
I got the report this afternoon with the attachment. I am working my way through it and forwarded it to Jennie. Jennie is off for a couple of days so on her return we’ll get together with some dates and let you know. Jennie is working the Welsh CND day as I have the children that weekend. Stewart
Dear Stewart and Jennie
Sorry this has taken some time for us to get this to you
I sent off an email this morning but I can find no trace so I am sending it again.
Angie and I have pulled together the reports we have received from people involved in the Blockade in particular and the ‘Peace Camp’ in general. These are attached.
We are anxious that our concerns about: pressure points, handcuffs, injury to a finger when trying to unlock a thumb lock. The removal of legal observers and photographers from their observation points should be addressed.
Also I would like to ask about the questionable management at Loddon Police station and the lack of seat belts.
May I suggest that in the first place you and I meet to go through this report and then Angie and I can decide what to do after that?
Best wishes, Sarah
Email from Insp Stewart Dunbar to Angie on 11th September at 13.40
Dear Angie,
Thank you for your kind words and I hope we managed to ‘iron out’ any problems, I personally thought the day went well (although long).
I have contacted the Silver Commander regarding your email and he is sorry to hear of your concerns over the use of pressure points and hand cuffs. As I mentioned to Sarah on the day, officers were briefed regarding the use of pressure points and the procedure that was to be followed prior to their application. Each arrest should have been filmed by a Police Evidence Gathering Team, to capture the arrest and the actions of all individuals involved, to support or negate any allegations.
As you are aware the ‘use of force’ is an individual officers decision and has to be justified at all times. The parameters for the use of pressure points were covered at the briefing and may I ask then that when collated the reports or copies be sent to me and obviously if individuals concerned or persons on their behalf wish to take the matter further that it will be placed in the hands of our Professional Standards Department for investigation.
I can assure you that the Silver Commander takes any suggestion of the use of excessive force very seriously and will ensure that the matter is dealt with fairly and proportionately.
I hope this hasn’t soured the ‘working relationship’ between Jennie, myself and the ActionAWE organisation and we can work together in the future.
Stewart, Inspector 3308 Stewart Dunbar
Email from Sgt. Jennie Fox on 10th September 2013 at 16.08
Hi Angie, Thank you for your email and comments regarding the two weeks protest at Burghfield for which I acknowledge. I will await your full report and we can discuss further. Jennie
Jennie Fox | PS 4502 Fox | Battle NHPT | Internal telephone 7516458 | Mobile 07800702129 | Address Reading Police Station, Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 7TH
Email to Insp. Stewart Dunbar on 10th September 2013 15.40
Policing Issues Over Arrest and Custody Conditions from Blockade
Dear Stewart and Jennie, thank you very much for helping to maintain a good friendly atmosphere over the 2 weeks and for enabling some negotiations to take place that allowed our peaceful protest to be maintained at the Trident Ploughshares Disarmament Camp on MoD controlled land. Generally I thought the policing was calm and professional. Thank you.
However, I do wish to alert you that now that I have read through the de-brief material from our legal support team there are some serious issues that we need to address about some of the policing of the blockade on 2nd September at Burghfield. I will send a full report as soon as all the witness statements have been sent in but I have grave concerns about the use of pressure points with several of the Belgian group - this is an issue that Sarah Lasenby has been pursuing and we thought had been resolved. It is thus a great disappointment and worry for us to hear that they were used in a situation where no-one was in any danger at all. There was also the unnecessary use of handcuffs in several groups and rough treatment on arrest. These are issues that we must deal with and I hope that you can aid us in this.
If you have any feedback to us at this stage I would welcome it as soon as possible.
Love and peace, Angie.
On 20th July 2013 Angie wrote to Insp.Stewart Dunbar as follows:-
Dear Stewart, sorry I have not been listening to my mobile messages for
some time as I do not use the mobile phone often. I understand you have
been wanting to contact me - in future please note that the best way to
do this is by email.
I am glad to hear that you will try and get down to see me whilst I am
on the 4 day fast at Burghfield. I think it would be useful to work out
some places for people to park during the TP Disarmament Camp and also
during the blockade day on 2nd September. The placing of safe
demonstration areas at the 2 gates would also be good to sort out. I
will be at one of the 2 gates of Burghfield all the time from 10 a.m.
Tuesday 6th to 6 p.m. Friday 9th Augusat (except on Wednesday 7th August
when I will be walking to Aldermaston and back). My mobile will be
switched on and will be 078-35354652. So you can ring and confirm your
arrival or just turn up.
Looking forward to our discussions, love and peace, Angie.
On 11th June 2013 Angie wrote to Insp. Stewart Dunbar as follows:-
Dear Stewart, sorry not to have been in touch but I have been rather over-busy recently.
To answer your query, I can confirm that it is Trident Ploughshares that will be organising the blockade of Burghfield on 2nd September and so you will be aware of our careful adherence to nonviolent guidelines.The blockade is part of the 2 week TP camp at Burghfield that we have spoken about before. I will be fasting at Burghfield from Hiroshima day to Nagasaki day and that might be a good time for us to meet - maybe at Burghfield itself as it is there that I will be, and then we can discuss any issues you might have. Or I will be at Burghfield with the choirs this coming Saturday. One thing that would be useful to clarify for everyone is where the best place would be for coaches and cars to park during the demonstration that will inevitably be part of the blockade and where temporary toilets could be situated.
You left me a message on my phone seeking clarification about who Sarah ‘represented’ and who she was police liaison for. She will be writing to you directly. But for clarification, we (Sarah and myself) are joint police liaison on behalf of both Action AWE and for Trident Ploughshares - and can help with communication, but please remember that we do not represent individuals nor can we make decisions on behalf of these organisations as a whole …….. for clarification please see our briefing at http://actionawe.org/why-and-how-we-engage-with-the-police/
where our aims are clearly specified and where it says we will ‘act as a conduit for information to and from the police whilst ensuring that they understand we cannot speak or decide for the groups taking part in Action AWE events‘. It is in this light that I am communicating with you now.
Love and peace, Angie.
On 09/06/13 13:26, Dunbar Stewart wrote:
Hi Angie,
I wondered if you could pass on my details to any interested parties regarding the forthcoming event at AWE Burghfield on 2nd September 2013. I appreciate there may be several organisations involved. If you yourself or any representatives of Action AWE wish to have a meeting with myself and/or Jennie and Ashley please let me know.
It would be handy if prior to the meeting, if you or any of the groups have any queries I could have them before hand so I can hopefully have some answers for you when we meet.
Stewart
Inspector 3308 Stewart Dunbar
01865 293644
Mobile: 07815 420837
From Stewart Dunbar. 8 April 2013 6:23
Anne/Angie/Juliet/Sara,
Sorry to bother you, I wondered if there was anything as individuals or representing your respective groups that you wanted me to feed back in regarding the event last week. I’m aware there were some issues about cascading of information and style with regards to people walking around the fence line and also the parking of vehicles. I have fed back in the points that you raised, Juliet. I must apologise Juliet as I missed you off the reply I had given to Angie re the actions raised from our meeting, my fault entirely.
Stewart
On 28 March 2013 12.21 Stewart Dunbar wrote:
Anne/Angie/Juliet,
If I recall both groups asked about this:
Will the police allow protestors to return to their positions after they have moved to facilitate emergency access?
Silver Reply:
We will base any decision on the situation at the time, mindful of our duty to facilitate peaceful protest. Where ever possible we will attempt to negotiate a solution. However, the police have a duty to protect life and property and to prevent crime, we may need to use force if necessary to uphold those duties if co-operation of protestors was not forthcoming.
Inspector 3308 Stewart Dunbar
On 27 March 2013 15.33 Stewart Dunbar wrote:
Hi Angie,
Please find attached the replies from Silver to the majority of questions posed. Jennie and I are still awaiting a response regarding:
Lifting the blockade in a general emergency and the return of the protesters.
Reply from MDP regarding the removal/part removal of the screening used by MDP Protest Removal Teams.
Stewart
The reply from Silver is as follows:-
Action: Issue of the use of pressure points came up with regards to a request from Action Awe that they would prefer officers to pick up protesters and physically move them. Rather than use pressure points. Insp Dunbar informed protesters that this was a tactical option and if proportionate and necessary could be used.
Silver reply:
The overriding principle is that we will treat everyone (protestor or not) with fairness & respect. We wouldn’t treat anyone differently because they hold a certain belief or belong to a particular group of people. Equally we would not include or preclude the use of any College of Policing (CoP) approved tactical option purely because of a certain belief or belonging to a particular group of people.
Will police preclude the use of pressure points?
Pressure points will not be precluded as a tactical option for the reasons above. However we accept that the protests under the banner AAWE have non violent intentions. As with any use of force we would seek to use the lowest level possible and always be reasonable in its use. We will always endeavour to move protestors in the safest way for all concerned, including the officers involved. Wherever possible we will start by negotiating. We base any use of force on the circumstances at the time which is the responsibility of the officer concerned to justify. Briefings will include that we do not anticipate protestors to demonstrate violence towards police officers or other people. We expect our staff to exhibit good communication skills and act professionally at all times.
Action: Action AWE asked for assistance in finding a suitable location for the camp and that MOD are approached to see if they would facilitate that. A piece of land by the Recreational Pavilion at Burghfield was highlighted by the protesters. They confirmed that it would not be a permanent ‘Peace Camp’.
Silver reply:
AWE were unable to assist with providing a location to camp.
Action; If a camp is set up, agreement to be reached regarding liaison with Police prior to coming on site. This is as a direct outcome of Hinckley where a lot of good will was lost due to Police driving around the site etc.
Silver reply:
The police don’t own or have control of any land in the vicinity. Should a camp be established on private land, entry would be with permission of the owner or occupier or using a statutory power was that necessary. In many cases prior communication should be possible.
Action: Insp Dunbar to liaise with Criminal Justice regarding the advice the ActionAWE are giving the detainees and training to Legal Advisors. Concerns raised regarding apparent reluctance for Custodys to phone Legal Observer as nomination. Also clarification of what ‘right’ do persons arrested for the offences that tend to be committed at these events have with regards to ‘free legal advice’. Protesters believe this has been curtailed. Can CJ answer this.
Silver reply:
Any person arrested may have ‘one friend or relative or other person who is known him or who is likely to take an interest in his welfare told’, as detailed Section 56 of the Police and Criminal Evidence act 1984 (PACE). There is no specific reason why this shouldn’t be a legal observer if so requested.
Action: CJ to review ActionAWE Legal Advisor page to ensure what they are saying is right.
Silver reply:
CJ have reviewed it, there are no issues. There are no custody facilities at Reading or Slough
Action: Insp Dunbar has previously requested from MDP what (if any) form/level of protest would be acceptable without threat of arrest. This was to include the setting up of information tables and placing posters or similar on fence line.
Action AWE wondered if ‘safe’ protest areas would be set up for people who wished to protest without the threat of arrest.
Silver reply:
A safe protest area will be available to anyone wishing to protest at AWE on the car park outside the Main Gate. This is away from the flow of traffic on the highway and is in a prominent position. We recommend its use. Those co-ordinating, facilitating, organising or taking part in protest should act upon the advice of the SAG, especially if not using the safe protest area.
As long as the protest stays within the boundaries of being peaceful there is an acceptance of the use of banners and information tables. If anything is deemed inappropriate or obstructive and there is a request to remove it, this should be complied with.
On 27 March 2013 17:29 Angie Zelter wrote:
Thanks Stewart for your replies from Silver. Love and peace, Angie.
On 22 March 2013 10.46 Stewart Dunbar wrote:
Hi Angie,
Regarding the use of Custody facilities (if required). The ones you have on the website are correct. Loddon Valley, Newbury, Abingdon there is also Maidenhead. I mentioned the issue about detainees not being allowed to phone the Legal Observer as their nomination (appreciate not TVP). Consensus was that if any detainee wished to phone LO as their nomination there would be no issue with that (it is the detainee’s right to have someone informed they have been arrested). This can only be withheld if certain criteria are met and it is authorised by an Inspector. I am awaiting a reply from our Criminal Justice Dept regarding the ActionAWE Legal Page on the website. Just to make sure that advice on there is still current with any changes in PACE etc.
Stewart
On 21 March 2013 17:38 Anige Zelter wrote:
Thanks for the update Stewart. Have you managed to get any of the other information for us yet - for instance on which police stations are likely to be used for any arrests that take place and also on a preferred site around Burghfield perimeter fence for the TP summer peace camp for 2 weeks? Love and peace, Angie.
On 21/3/13 at 07: 51, Stewart Dunbar wrote:
Angie,
Regarding your question re the seizure of property. I asked the Silver’s regarding this matter. They confirmed that we do not give out receipts anymore and the seizure and handling of property was controlled via The Police Property Acts.
Obviously any property seized subject of an alleged offence would be kept in police care until the conclusion of any investigation. The police may apply for a destruction order through the Court (if appropriate). The Court may issue a destruction order. Police can also ask people to sign a ‘disclaimer’ to give up any rights to ownership of property and of course return the property to the member of the public.
The correct handling of property is a matter of integrity and I’m sure if any complaint was received it would be investigated thoroughly by our Professional Standards Department.
Stewart Dunbar
07815 420837
Inspector 3308
01865 293644
On 6th March 2013 15:36 Angie Zelter wrote
Thanks for this Stewart. I look forward to hearing back from you about the other points. I have attached my notes plus picture from the meeting that I hope you will find accurate. If you find any inaccuracies do correct me. Love and peace, Angie.
On 06/03/13 15:29, Dunbar Stewart wrote:
Hi Angie,
Jennie and I are working through the various points and actions from the meeting and will report back soonest. I have detailed below the link (from Google) to a document entitled Guidance on Command & Control (2009). Unless I haven’t been informed, this is the document we still refer to. The only change I am aware of is that The Conflict Management Model has been replaced by the National Decision Making Model. Page 12 provides a schematic that details the roles and responsibilities of the Gold, Silver and Bronze command role.
The link to the document is:
http://www.acpo.police.uk/documents/crime/2009/200907CRICCG01.pdf
The NDM can be found at:
http://www.acpo.police.uk/documents/president/201201PBANDM.pdf
Both the above are freely available on the internet.
Stewart
Inspector 3308 Stewart Dunbar
Mobile: 07800 702788
Sorry Angie,
Yes that would be fine. Do you have anywhere in mind, if not I could see if I could find somewhere at Reading Police Station. Sgt Jenni Fox is going to be my colleague would it be okay if she came along.
Stewart
Angie Zelter wrote on 4/2/13
Stewart, I do not seem to have had a reply to my message below? Do you want to meet or shall we leave it? Love and peace, Angie.
Thanks Stewart. Might it be possible to meet in Reading the day after the launch - on Thursday 28th Feb in the morning - perhaps around 10 a.m.? Love and peace, Angie.
From Stewart Dunbar 16/1/13
Hi Angie,
Below is the name of the Hampshire Constabulary’s Northern Divisional Commander. There may be a Superintendent at Basingstoke, but if you send it to Mr Hogg in the first instance I am sure that will be fine.
With regards to Liaison Officers, we are in the process of identifying a small number of officers to undertake that role. This will give us some resilience so hopefully throughout the campaign the attending groups will if required deal with the same officers.
I wonder if it would be beneficial when the officers are selected that maybe we could meet, giving you and others the opportunity to explain the campaign and expectations of the police and the Liaison role.
Chief Superintendent Jason Hogg
Basingstoke Police Station
London Road,
Basingstoke
RG21 4AD
Stewart
Inspector 3308 Stewart Dunbar
CBRN/CT Coordinator
Thames Valley Police
Building 249
Heyford Business Park
Camp Road
Upper Heyford
Oxon
OX25 5HA
01865 293644
Mobile: 07800 702788
From Angie 10/1/13
Thank you so much Stewart. I await the address details of the Basingstoke Police Commander. For your own information the letters sent to each of these Commanders will be the same and I have attached a similar letter to yourself in this email. I look forward to seeing you at the launch. Love and peace, Angie.
From Stewart Dunbar 10/1/13
Hi Angie,
As requested here are the details of the senior officers:
Ministry of Defence Police:
Supt D. Pawley
Senior Police Officer
Atomic Weapons Establishments
AWE Aldermaston
READING
Berks, RG7 4PR
Thames Valley Police:
Supt. Robin Rickard
LPA Commander West Berks
Thames Valley Police,
Newbury Police Station,
Mill Lane, Newbury,
Berkshire, RG14 5QU
Supt. Stuart Greenfield
LPA Commander Reading
Thames Valley Police
Reading Police Station
Castle Street
Reading, Berks, RG1 7TH
I will be attending the launch on 27th February 2013 at Reading, if that is okay. Regarding the opportunity to meet up, I can do Monday, Tuesday afternoons or Friday next week. If any of these are convenient for you . Any issues please feel free to phone on the mobile below.
(I will contact Hampshire for the Basingstoke Police Commander).
Stewart
Inspector 3308 Stewart Dunbar
CBRN/CT Coordinator
Thames Valley Police
Building 249
Heyford Business Park
Camp Road
Upper Heyford
Oxon
OX25 5HA
01865 293644
Mobile: 07800 702788
From Stewart Dunbar 5/1/13
Hi Angie, We met previously regarding the demo back in 2010. I will get you the details as required and pass them onto you. Stewart 9/1/13 Thanks Stewart. I am awaiting the contacts as I have a letter ready to send out to all the police contacts now, love and peace, Angie.
From Angie Zelter to Stewart Dunbar 4Jan13 14.34
Hello Stewart, I am writing to ask you to please pass onto me the local and head office police contacts for AWE Burghfield, AWE Aldermaston and also for Reading, Basingstoke and Newbury. I would like to inform all of them about the coming 3 year long Action AWE campaign, to assure them it will be nonviolent and invite them to the launch in Reading. Thanking you, Angie Zelter.
