Convoys

Nuclear warhead convoys (big green trucks carrying nuclear missiles) travel the country regularly. Faslane Peace Camp tries to physically halt these convoys as often as possible. If you would like to help, please contact the camp - at the moment convoys are coming about once a month.

Nuclear convoys go between the bomb factory at Burghfield in Berkshire and Trident nuclear bases in Scotland and RAF bases in East Anglia. No radiation warning symbols are carried and neither the public nor local authorities are warned of their movements.

The warheads in the lorries contain plutonium and other deadly radioactive materials. In a serious accident, a radioactive plume could spread for miles, poisoning a huge area for thousands of years.

Nuclear warhead convoys have already been involved in many road acidents and breakdowns. This crazy means of transporting the nuclear warheads only increases the suicidal danger of nuclear weapons.

There is a nationwide network called Nukewatch which monitors the convoys, informs the public, local authorities and media of their movements and campaigns against them. They can provide videos of the convoy, excellent free leaflets and free information packs. You can also phone the contact closest to you, asking to be informed when the convoy is on its way.

Since the convoys began, small groups of local people have been taking direct action to resist this nuclear menace. They put their bodies in the way of convoys and hinder their movements. One of the major reasons why American cruise missiles were removed from Britain in the 1980s was because of ordinary people persistently hindering thier movements in this way.

How a convoy is blocked
First of all, a suitable place is chosen, where the convoy is going slow enough to stop it safely. This can be roadworks, a T-junction, a very steep hill or a roundabout.

A choice is then made whether to jump on the convoy at the last minute or to show oneself clearly on the road well in advance. The second choice is safer and can be just as effective at delaying the convoy. Even if the nuke-stoppers are 'caught' just before the convoy arrives, the time it takes the convoy to call out the police to try and prevent the convoy being stopped can be just as long as if it had been actively blocked! The publicity and embarrassment caused to the MoD is also relevant, and if there are enough nuke stoppers it is still possible to block the convoy even if it's forewarned.

Safety:
1. Beware of traffic.
2. Be very visible to the driver of the vehicle.
3. Don't try to get on the convoy until it is completely stopped.
4. DON'T ENDANGER THE VEHICLE IN ANY WAY. Nails in the tyres would not be good idea - these convoys are dangerous enough without any interference.

How a convoy is unblocked
The Ministery of Defence (MoD) police who guard the convoy have the power to arrest you, although they don't like doing it and prefer to get the local constabulary to do the job for them. They have that power because the convoy is treated as (moving) military land! Nuke stoppers can be arrested for Breach of the Peace or Obstruction of the Highway. If there's been any graffiti they could also be charged with criminal damage or, if they're really unlucky, conspiracy to cause criminal damage. Normally penalties tend to be small, and it's just the people locked on or personally obstructing the convoy who are arrested. It should be noted, however, that one woman was recently found guilty of obstruction just because she was associated with other people stopping the convoy. Advice on possible defences is available from Nukewatch.

To get you down from the top of the carrier, or to lock you off, the local fire brigade might be called to operate the bolt-croppers or ladder. In Scotland, where convoys get stopped every time, nuke stoppers have been simply dropped of the top carrier. Although the police often tell nuke stoppers that any injury incurred is their own responsibility, the police must use 'due care' in removing people.

Ideas:
1. Role-play situations beforehand, choose roles and give a proper legal briefing.
2. Think about your audience. Do press releases and phone the local media, take banners and leaflets for passing drivers and wear costumes.
3. Actions with a theme may get more media coverage.
4. Try splitting into two groups and getting it again further down the road.
5. Two people locking on to each other on top or underneath are harder to remove.
6. Imagine if a tripod or a walkway between trees was set up a little way down the road...

Contacts:
Nukewatch, 22 Edmund St, Bradford, BD5 0BH
Yorkshire CND - convoys
Southern England 02380 554434
North & Midlands 01274 730795
Scotland 01436 679194 or 01436 820901