01 Jul 2009

Protester arrested for trying to deliver food to Vestas sit-in

A protester was arrested this morning as he tried to deliver food to workers occupying Britain’s only substantial wind turbine factory.

Protester arrested for trying to deliver food to Vestas sit-in

A protester was arrested this morning as he tried to deliver food to workers occupying Britain’s only substantial wind turbine factory.

About 25 workers were still inside the Vestas factory near Newport on the Isle of Wight as the sit-in entered its third day. They have accused managers of trying to starve them out.

A senior criminal lawyer has accused police of acting unlawfully by blocking food deliveries.

Robert Brown, a member of the Law Society’s criminal law committee, said: “Since when has it been the function of police officers to starve out protesters? And since when has it been a crime to carry sandwiches to protesters? It never has been.

“It is scandalous that the police refused to allow the food through. Giving the protesters food would help keep them calm and be more likely to prevent a breach of the peace.

“There is no law in this country that says that protest is unlawful. There does not appear to be any evidence that a breach of the peace is taking place at the factory.”