CAAB

Tuesday 24 August 2004

The outcome of the application by Lindis Percy (see CAAB report from Tuesday 17 August 2004 - last week) on Monday 23 August 2004 was that the Magistrates at Harrogate Court varied the bail conditions to come in line with the bail conditions already imposed on Lindis - ie not to cross the 'yellow line' or go with 5 metres of the circumference to Menwith Hill (the exact wording not to hand).

The regular Tuesday CAAB demonstration happened as usual tonight. Within 8 minutes of arriving Lindis was immediately arrested by PC Godfrey of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency for allegedly breaching the bail conditions of 15 metres. No amount of protest from us could persuade the MDPA that the previous bail conditions of 15 metres had been varied only yesterday to within 5 metres.

Lindis was immediately taken to Harrogate Police Station where Sergeant Marchant (PS 412) (see previous report for details of last week's arrest) refused to listen to any representations by Lindis. Had it not been for a forceful phone call from Anni Rainbow who advised Sergeant Michaeldine that 'it is not in our interests not tell the truth' and what Lindis was saying was true about the varied bail conditions, Lindis would have been detained overnight to appear at Harrogate Magistrates' Court the next morning. She was detained for about an hour and a half before the police checked their computer.

It is beyond belief that the Ministry of Defence Police Agency and Sergeant Marchant could be so incompetent. This is particularly after the police imposed bail conditions that actually gave Lindis permission to enter within 15 metres of MH - the word NOT having been omitted.

Humberside Police went to Lindis's address in Hull on Saturday with new bail conditions but she was away for the weekend.

Lindis will now bring a civil action for unlawful arrest, detention and assault against this unaccountable police force.

NB: Ministry of Defence Police Agency officers who work on US bases are paid for and under the operational control of the US authorities.

Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy

Joint Co-ordinators

CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB)

8 Park Row, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 1HQ, England, U.K.
Tel/fax no: +44 (0)1943 466405 0R +44 (0)1482 702033

email: anniandlindis@caab.org.uk or caab@btclick.com

Website: http://www.caab.org.uk

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