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6 September 2007 |
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The trial of CND Campaigners Helen John and Sylvia Boyes; both charged under the Serious Organised Crime Act (S128)
[1] for breaking into Menwith Hill
[2], the US spy base in North Yorkshire, was adjourned for the third time today.
The trial has been re-scheduled for Thursday 10th October at Harrogate Magistrates Court and Friday 11th October at Skipton Magistrates Court. Their original trial was adjourned on March 14th. The adjournment today is due to a delay in information being presented to District Judge Martin Walker. Helen John and Sylvia Boyes originally entered Menwith Hill on 1st April 2006, the day the SOCPA legislation, which criminalises trespass at a number of designated sites across the country, came into force. Both women argue that the SOCPA legislation is for UK facilities so should not be applied to the Menwith Hill spy base; operated by and for the US intelligence and military. Outside court Sylvia Boyes said; “We still live in hope that the arguments we want to bring in this case will be heard in court.” Notes (1) Under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 the Government may designate any site in the UK “off-limits” on national security grounds. (This is s128 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and s129 for Scotland). All designated Sites and all nuclear licensed sites (as of 13 April 2006) are Protected Sites. Any person found guilty of criminal trespass can be fined up to £5000, be jailed for up to 51 weeks in England and Wales, (or up to 12 months in Scotland) or both.
(2) Menwith Hill is the largest electronic monitoring station in the world and is run by the US National Security Agency. |
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