§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are currently adopted by his Department for dealing with complaints from civilian peace or anti-missile demonstrators in the vicinity of Royal Air Force bases alleging ill-treatment while being arrested by American service personnel.
§ Mr. LeeUnited States service personnel are not responsible for dealing with the activities of demonstrators outside the perimeters of MOD establishments, which is a matter for the civil police. United States personnel do not arrest intruders found within the perimeters of Defence establishments, but hand them over to a constable or other authorised British person who will then, if necessary, make an arrest. Any complaints about the actions of United States personnel in such instances are investigated by the United Kingdom and United States authorities and, where appropriate, legal or disciplinary action is taken in accordance with the agreement regarding the status of forces of parties to the North Atlantic treaty as implemented by the Visiting Forces Act 1952.