Press Release

Mayor demands BAA re-think its 'draconian' injunction
31-7-2007   481

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, today called on the British Airports Authority (BAA), the owners of Heathrow airport, to rethink their proposed wide-ranging injunction that could restrict the movement of millions of law-abiding citizens.

His intervention comes on the eve of BAA’s court appearance tomorrow where they will attempt to obtain an injunction imposing wide-spread restrictions on the movements of protestors across parts of the rail and tube networks, sections of the M25 and M4 motorways and around the airport, for the duration of the protests.

This extraordinarily wide-ranging injunction, over which Transport for London was not consulted by BAA, could have a significant impact upon London Underground operations. It seeks to hold the individuals named in the injunction as representative of not only the action groups that they are said to represent, but also anyone who happens to support the groups, whether they are a member or not.

This means that some five million people, the vast majority of whom have never taken part in any disturbance and are entirely lawful supporters of groups including the RSPB and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, the Woodland Trust, and the national trust, could be restricted by the injunction.

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, said:

“BAA's proposed injunction is unreasonable, and unnecessary. It is a serious infringement of civil liberties and an attack on the right to peaceful protest.

“The injunction would prevent lawful protesters approaching within 100 metres of any Transport for London property, whether at Heathrow or elsewhere, potentially restricting the movement of millions of people. It is extraordinary and unacceptable that BAA did not consult Transport for London about this proposed injunction, which could have a serious impact on underground services. “This is an over-reaction from the Heathrow Authorities, whose genuine concerns about disruption to their services, should be addressed in conjunction with the police and through the use of usual security measures.

“It would obviously be unacceptable for any unrepresentative group to disrupt the journeys of holidaymakers and other passengers. But any such groupings are a tiny minority, who should be dealt with using existing law and policing. Instead of protecting the public from anyone bent on violence or disruption, this injunction targets potentially millions of people.

“Transport for London has written to BAA to demand that all reference to its property and services be removed from any such injunction and will oppose in the courts any attempt to restrict the lawful use of its public transport services.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Call Matt Brown at the Mayor’s Press Office on 020 7983 4716 (number not for publication) or email matt.brown@london.gov.uk

GENERAL PUBLIC/NON-MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Call the Public Liaison Unit at the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100

DUTY PRESS OFFICER: For out-of-hours media enquiries, please call 020 7983 4000

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