News Shorts & Other Busyness

Compensation And Apologies From Twyford Down Police

Squall 9, Jan/Feb 1995, pg. 6.

Police in Hampshire were forced by the courts to pay £53,350 in damages, after unlawfully locking up ten road-protesters from Twyford Down for up to 13 hours.

The court case took place in January at Winchester County Court and heard that the protesters had been arrested and locked up in May/June 1993 for the charge of obstructing a police officer. Their solicitor John Davis, pointed out in court that without a warrant, there are no powers of arrest for the minor offence of obstruction.

One of the ten protesters Dr David Abbot, described being “grabbed from behind by a policeman” and “taken to a black maria”. He was awarded £4,500 compensation for wrongful arrest.

The settlement also included an unreserved apology from John Hoddinott, Chief Constable of Hampshire. There are many more such court cases pending.