§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many arrests of members of the public have been made at RAF Greenham Common since the byelaws were declared invalid;
(2) how many people have been removed from the area enclosed by the perimeter fence at RAF Greenham Common in each month since the byelaws were declared invalid.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleI remind the hon. Member that despite the House of Lords judgment given on 12 July, concerning byelaw 2(b), there is no right of access to Greenham Common for members of the general public. Details of trespassers removed from the base between that date and 23 November are as follows:
Number 12 to 31 July 170 August 159 September 127 October 197 1 to 23 November 58 711 However, many of the above cases involve a relatively small number of persistent trespassers.
Any person suspected of committing a criminal offence remains liable to be arrested and charged accordingly, and that position is not affected by the validity of the byelaws. Since 12 July, 55 arrests have been made at Greenham Common, mainly for causing criminal damage.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of policing RAF Greenham Common since the byelaws were declared invalid.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe cost of policing RAF Greenham Common since 12 July 1990 is of the order of £650,000.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what powers of arrest members of United States forces based at RAF Greenham Common have.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe hon. Member will recall from the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, North (Mr. Stewart) on 28 April 1988 at column242 that the powers of arrest of United States military personnel in the United Kingdom are the same as those of an ordinary British citizen.