The Government warned climate change protesters at Heathrow last night to stay within the bounds of the law, as fears grew that militant elements would mount illegal protests.
Downing Street said that any disruption to the airport’s day-to-day activities would be “unacceptable”, as one spokeswoman for the “climate change camp” said that illegal protests could not be ruled out. “People do have a right to protest in this country,” a Downing Street spokesman said. “But the Government believes action that would disrupt the running of Heathrow would be unacceptable.”
Some 250 people had set up camp last night on private land by the airport. The demonstration is officially set to begin this morning, with 2,000 people expected to attend.
Leila Harris, one of the protesters, said that illegal protests could not be ruled out, but that safety of passengers would not be jeopardised. “It will be an action that is agreed upon by consensus of all those at the camp,” she said. “We have ruled out going on the runways or anywhere near the planes. That’s for our safety, the safety of passengers and for everyone else.” Campaigners said that the injunction won last week by BAA, the airport operator, had only served to highlight the demonstration, set to last for a week.
Up to 1,800 police officers from four forces have been drafted in for the demonstration and about 25 officers carried out a surprise inspection on the site, between the villages of Sipson and Harlington, yesterday morning, with campaigners claiming that friction was already starting to show.
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