On November 2nd 2001 the Harrogate Advertiser reported that the Home Secretary, David Blunkett MP, had awarded £1million to the North Yorkshire Police Authority to pay for extra security at the United States' Department of Defense National Security Agency Field Station at Menwith Hill.

The Harrogate MP, Phil Willis, is reported as having applied for the funding "...for guarding Menwith Hill from potential terrorist attacks." The Deputy Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police stated: "Menwith Hill is a famous and obviously potential target." Harrogate Advertiser, October 12th 2001.

Mr Blunkett stated: "People have a right to peaceful protest but there is a cost attached which unfortunately the tax payer has to bear". This makes it evident that  the Greenpeace occupation of the base on July 3rd & 4th 2001 and the women's fence-cutting action of June 19th 2000 [both of which demonstrated the woeful inadequacy of the station's security arrangements] were used as the justification for additional police.

May I enquire why armed Ministry of Defence Police at Menwith Hill now appear to be carrying out the security patrols assigned to the North Yorkshire Police? I have noted MoD officers on external patrol in North Yorkshire civilian police cars, which are parked at the rear of the MoD Police 'Station' when not out on patrol.

This is not an academic question, but raises an important issue for the Council Tax payers of North Yorkshire, because responsibility for payment of Ministry of Defence Police at Menwith Hill lies with the USA Government and not the UK taxpayers. The USA Government also provides the MoD Police 'Station' accommodation and purchases their vehicles.

Under the arrangements with the USA Government for payment of the MoD Police at Menwith Hill, this can only be an imposition on the UK tax payers if it is to cover the costs of protest demonstrations [Jeremy Hanley MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, in reply to the late Bob Cryer MP, March 25th '94].

I trust you can verify that the USA Government will reimburse North Yorkshire County Council for the extra policing costs for the armed anti-terrorist patrols.

Yours sincerely

Anne Lee. pp WoMenwith Hill

cc: David Blunkett MP [Home Secretary]; Geoff Hoon MP [Defence Secretary]; Phil Willis MP [Harrogate]; Harold Best MP [NW Leeds]; Ann Cryer MP [Keighley]; Menwith Hill Forum; Yorkshire CND; Harrogate Greenpeace.