Friend of WIMPS Brian Haw arrested outside Houses of Parliament.

Tuesday 25 May 10

 A protester who has occupied a section of Parliament Square outside the House of Commons for nine years has been arrested just hours before the state opening of the new Parliament.

Anti-war campaigner Mr Haw, who has maintained a round the clock demonstration in the square since 2001, was held as police searched the "peace camp".  Another protester Barbara Tucker, who has also been camping outside the Houses of Parliament, was arrested

Police with sniffer dogs moved in this morning to search the collection of tents opposite the Houses of Parliament ahead of the Queen’s arrival for the state opening of Parliament.

Mr Haw, a former carpenter, began his protest against British and US foreign policy in 2001 and is most widely known for his anti-war stance.

Repeated attempts have been made by the authorities to move him but none has previously been successful.

Westminster City Council attempted to prosecute him for causing an obstruction in late 2002 but failed, then MPs complained about his use of a loudhailer.

It was even suggested that protests in the square could be used by terrorists as a staging area for attacks, or even the site of a potential attack.

Perhaps partly because of his campaign, the law has been changed to bar would-be protesters from doing so without a licence.

Members of the WIMPS crew met Brian and Barbara in March when they visited the Houses of parliament to participate in the Attorney General’s Youth advisory committee. The WIMPS crew presented Brian with a WIMPS T-Shirt in a show of support and in recognition of his tireless campaigning in the name of peace.

If you support Brian’s right to peaceful protest share your views with us on our forum.