by Jenni Horn

jhorn@thekmgroup.c.uk

Police have admitted some protesters at the climate camp near Kingsnorth Power Station were unlawfully stopped and searched.

Two children, who cannot be named, and veteran environmental campaigner Dave Morris, who attended the week-long protest near Hoo in 2008, are seeking judicial review against Kent Police.

They say police did not have reasonable grounds to carry out the searches, and claim the police “systematically, repeatedly and unlawfully” searched everyone entering the camp.

All three were searched under section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, which requires officers to have “reasonable suspicion” that an individual is carrying prohibited weapons or articles that could be used for criminal damage.

In court this week, two judges heard admissions by the police that section 1 powers were wrongly used.

Richard Perks, appearing for the chief constable of Kent, said it was not accepted the police had covertly applied a blanket unlawful stop-and-search policy but it was now accepted by Kent police the twins and Mr Morris were unlawfully stopped.

It was also accepted that unspecified numbers of other climate camp protesters could also have been unlawfully stopped.

Despite the admission, Camp for Climate Action say they are no nearer reaching a settlement.

Frances Wright, a Climate Camp legal adviser, said: “We want the police to admit the substantial majority of people were unlawfully stopped and searched.”