Green Party members are calling on the Home Secretary to order an inquiry into the policing of the Camp Climate protest last month.

An emergency motion calling for the inquiry was passed unanimously at the Green Party's annual conference in London on Monday.

The motion was presented by Dr Hazel Dawe, chair of Kent Green Party.

She told delegates: “Ordinary Kent people on the Hoo peninsula who had never before encountered such aggressive policing were appalled. As chair of Kent Green Party I am concerned at how this will affect the relationship of Kent people to their police force.”

Among the problems Dr Dawe says need to be investigated by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith are what she claims were:

•intrusive and excessive use of stop and search powers of anyone entering the camp

•use of a police helicopter to harass camp residents day and night

•excessive confiscation of private property

•a non-functional public email address for Kingsnorth inquiries on the Kent Police website.

Dr Dawe said: "We ask that all of these matters be the subject of a full investigation and that the policing of future Climate Camp events be organised in line with any findings made by such an inquiry.