Grandmothers Held Under Terror Laws

[DaSangarTalib]

Two grandmothers have been arrested under the Government's latest anti-terror legislation.

Helen John, 68, and Sylvia Boyes, 61, both from Yorkshire, were arrested by officers acting under the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act while protesting outside the United States military base, RAF Menwith Hill, in North Yorkshire.

The women told the Independent that they were protesting against the act, which has designated some Ministry of Defence sites as subject to criminal trespass.

They were later released on police bail to report back on April 15.

A spokesman for Ministry of Defence police said: "Ministry of Defence police arrested two females aged 61 and 68 on suspicion of criminal trespass. They were released on police bail to report back on April 15."

He said a report on the incident would be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, which would decide if the women would be charged.

He added: "Some Ministry of Defence sites have been designated under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act as subject to criminal trespass.

"The rationale behind the designation is to prevent protesters who trespass on to the sites from distracting the security forces from their proper job which is to provide security for important defence sites. Protest outside the sites remains perfectly lawful."

Mrs John told the Independent: "We thought this was a really important issue and we just had to challenge it."

Mrs Boyes said: "I am quite willing to break the law and prepared to be charged and go to prison. The Government thinks it can do whatever it wants and that it has a passive public which accepts whatever it throws at it. I find it very worrying."

SOURCE: The Guardian