Reacting to the High Court ruling today (8 December) that the police were not acting unlawfully by preventing a coach of demonstrators reaching the US Air base at Fairford, an Amnesty International spokesperson said:

'This ruling has serious implications for the right to peaceful protest in the UK.

'That the courts should back the actions of the police in preventing a peaceful demonstration from taking place sets a dangerous precedent. The rights of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression for ordinary people are hard-won and must not be undermined.'