UK: Fairford Coach Protestors ruling - case of fundamental importance

Reacting to today's ruling by the Law Lords that police did violate the right to freedom of movement and lawful assembly of protesters near RAF Fairford in March 2003, Amnesty International commented:

'This is a case of fundamental importance for the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest. The original judgment of the High Court and later that of the Court of Appeal were chilling in their impact upon these basic freedoms and, while Amnesty International welcomes today's ruling, we remain concerned that it has taken a long legal battle to reach this outcome.'