30/05/2006

Anti-war protester appears in court

Anti-war protester Brian Haw appeared in court on Tuesday, charged with breaching the conditions of his five-year protest outside Parliament.

Mr Haw, 57, appeared at Bow Street Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Mr Haw, who gave his address as Parliament Square, although he is originally from Redditch, Worcestershire, told the judge that he could not enter a plea as police had "stolen" placards that he planned to use as evidence.

A plea of not guilty was entered by the judge on his behalf and the case was adjourned until July 11.

Last week, police removed placards belong to Mr Haw during an early morning raid. The £27,000 operation, which was mounted during the early hours of last Tuesday morning, left Mr Haw with just one placard left.

The action was taken over allegations that Mr Haw had breached the conditions relating to demonstrations under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.

The legislation, which came into effect last July, bans unauthorised protests in and around Parliament Square and restricts permitted protests to cover no more than three metres.

Mr Haw had previously won a ruling that the legislation did not apply to him, because his demonstration began in 2001, before the Act became law.

However, the ruling was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Speaking outside court on Tuesday, Mr Haw said: "Thery should either evict me from Parliament Square or put me in prison, one way or the other."

(KMcA/SP)

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