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| Police inspecting airport protest | Police inspecting airport protest |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Dozens of police officers have been inspecting a camp set up by climate change protesters near Heathrow Airport. | Dozens of police officers have been inspecting a camp set up by climate change protesters near Heathrow Airport. |
| Up to 2,000 people are expected to pitch their tents on Tuesday for a week-long protest against plans to expand the airport. | Up to 2,000 people are expected to pitch their tents on Tuesday for a week-long protest against plans to expand the airport. |
| About 250 campaigners have already arrived at the Camp for Climate Action. | About 250 campaigners have already arrived at the Camp for Climate Action. |
| Campaigners blew whistles as police entered the camp to meet the organisers and inspect the site. | Campaigners blew whistles as police entered the camp to meet the organisers and inspect the site. |
| Map of proposed Heathrow expansion and climate camp | |
| Chief Superintendent Ian Thomas said 25 officers inspected the site on Monday morning at the landowner's request. | Chief Superintendent Ian Thomas said 25 officers inspected the site on Monday morning at the landowner's request. |
| He said the protesters were on the site illegally, adding that police had repeatedly asked to send in a small team of officers to check that there had been no damage to the site or any offences. | He said the protesters were on the site illegally, adding that police had repeatedly asked to send in a small team of officers to check that there had been no damage to the site or any offences. |
| Camp organisers have now agreed to allow four officers to remain on the site. | Camp organisers have now agreed to allow four officers to remain on the site. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Heathrow needs expansion to compete with other European airports - the airport has been here a lot longer than most of the protesters Laura, London, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Heathrow needs expansion to compete with other European airports - the airport has been here a lot longer than most of the protesters Laura, London, UK Send us your comments |
| A police spokesman said that protesters had set up camp at a sports ground belonging to Imperial College London - and that the protest was peaceful. | A police spokesman said that protesters had set up camp at a sports ground belonging to Imperial College London - and that the protest was peaceful. |
| The camp is near the villages of Sipson and Harlington, between the M4 motorway and the airport's northern perimeter. | The camp is near the villages of Sipson and Harlington, between the M4 motorway and the airport's northern perimeter. |
| A number of tents were standing on the site by Monday morning, with banners bearing messages including "Climate Camp - no Airport Expansion" and "Runways to ruin". | A number of tents were standing on the site by Monday morning, with banners bearing messages including "Climate Camp - no Airport Expansion" and "Runways to ruin". |
| 'Civil disobedience' | 'Civil disobedience' |
| Protesters from the UK and abroad are expected to highlight their claims that the growth in air travel is a major factor in greenhouse gas emissions. | Protesters from the UK and abroad are expected to highlight their claims that the growth in air travel is a major factor in greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Organisers say the first few days will be taken up with 100 workshops on issues ranging from campaigning skills to practical training on how to take direct action. | Organisers say the first few days will be taken up with 100 workshops on issues ranging from campaigning skills to practical training on how to take direct action. |
| HEATHROW AIRPORT 67.7m passengers each year 469,560 flights each year68,000 employeesFour terminals, two runwaysTerminal 5 set to open 2008 | HEATHROW AIRPORT 67.7m passengers each year 469,560 flights each year68,000 employeesFour terminals, two runwaysTerminal 5 set to open 2008 |
| A day of "mass direct action" is scheduled for Sunday and a website supporting the camp has promised acts of "civil disobedience". | A day of "mass direct action" is scheduled for Sunday and a website supporting the camp has promised acts of "civil disobedience". |
| Airport operator BAA has warned it will not allow passengers to be "harassed or obstructed". | Airport operator BAA has warned it will not allow passengers to be "harassed or obstructed". |
| Gemma Davis, a spokeswoman for the Camp for Climate Change, told the BBC that the intention was not to delay holidaymakers. | Gemma Davis, a spokeswoman for the Camp for Climate Change, told the BBC that the intention was not to delay holidaymakers. |
| "We're not here to try to disrupt passengers, we're here to try to disrupt BAA," she said. | "We're not here to try to disrupt passengers, we're here to try to disrupt BAA," she said. |
| Police have said they expect protesters to use "lock-ons", where people attach themselves to vehicles and fences, drop banners over buildings and engage in sit-down protests across major roads. | Police have said they expect protesters to use "lock-ons", where people attach themselves to vehicles and fences, drop banners over buildings and engage in sit-down protests across major roads. |
| Injunction | Injunction |
| About 1,800 officers from Surrey police, Thames Valley police, the Met, and British Transport Police will oversee the event. | About 1,800 officers from Surrey police, Thames Valley police, the Met, and British Transport Police will oversee the event. |
| Commander Jo Kaye, who is responsible for the operation - codenamed Hargood - said policing the protest would not affect day-to-day counter terrorist operations at Heathrow. | Commander Jo Kaye, who is responsible for the operation - codenamed Hargood - said policing the protest would not affect day-to-day counter terrorist operations at Heathrow. |
| With the current terrorism threat, keeping Heathrow safe and secure is a very serious business Mark Bullock, BAA Heathrow's managing director Last week, BAA won a High Court ruling banning certain protesters from Heathrow - but the injunction does not prevent the setting up of the camp. | With the current terrorism threat, keeping Heathrow safe and secure is a very serious business Mark Bullock, BAA Heathrow's managing director Last week, BAA won a High Court ruling banning certain protesters from Heathrow - but the injunction does not prevent the setting up of the camp. |
| "With the current terrorism threat, keeping Heathrow safe and secure is a very serious business," said Mark Bullock, BAA Heathrow's managing director. | "With the current terrorism threat, keeping Heathrow safe and secure is a very serious business," said Mark Bullock, BAA Heathrow's managing director. |
| "Any action taken by the protesters that distracts us or the police from this task is irresponsible and unlawful." | "Any action taken by the protesters that distracts us or the police from this task is irresponsible and unlawful." |
| Meanwhile, Plane Stupid, a campaign group banned from taking part in the Heathrow event, has protested on a barge transporting the wing of an Airbus A380. | Meanwhile, Plane Stupid, a campaign group banned from taking part in the Heathrow event, has protested on a barge transporting the wing of an Airbus A380. |
| Six to eight campaigners boarded the transporter as the wing was about to be taken along the River Dee from the Airbus factory in Broughton, in Flintshire, north Wales. | Six to eight campaigners boarded the transporter as the wing was about to be taken along the River Dee from the Airbus factory in Broughton, in Flintshire, north Wales. |
| They pitched tents under the 420 sq m wing, and said they would not leave the barge unless it was taken back to the factory. | They pitched tents under the 420 sq m wing, and said they would not leave the barge unless it was taken back to the factory. |
| Police were called and Airbus later reported that the protestors had left the site. | Police were called and Airbus later reported that the protestors had left the site. |
| Return | Return |
| Are you planning to join the protesters near Heathrow? Are you already at the camp? Are you an airport employee or a local resident? How do you feel about the protests? Send us your comments and experiences. | Are you planning to join the protesters near Heathrow? Are you already at the camp? Are you an airport employee or a local resident? How do you feel about the protests? Send us your comments and experiences. |