Three local Green students have been arrested and charged with ‘breach of the peace’ for their involvement in peaceful blockades of Faslane naval base, where the UK’s nuclear submarines are docked.  The blockades were part of the week long Strident tent state, an initiative to gather students from across the UK together to work towards nuclear disarmament.  Andy Black was arrested whilst providing legal support for a blockade to the South entrance of the base on June 29th.  Dan Casey and Andy Birkby were arrested the following day blockading North entrance.  The two had cycled up from Nottingham, clocking up 375 miles along the way through the gruelling weather. 

Speaking about his experience Andy Birkby said, “I was really impressed with the kindness shown by people I met whilst cycling up to Scotland.  This coupled with the initiative and enthusiasm of everybody at the Strident camp has filled me with hope for the future.  The fact that the UK still has nuclear weapons is shocking and we must not stop pushing for disarmament.  The issue is especially poignant in light of the government plans to update our nuclear arms at an estimated cost of up to £76bn.  The issue is also of local importance following the recent observation of a convoy of nuclear warheads in the Stapleford and Chilwell area on its way up to Coulport weapons depot near Faslane naval base.”

Andy Black and Andy Birkby, both economics students at the Nottingham University, were arrested once previously at peaceful action at the base in April of this year and stood as candidates in the local elections.  Dan Casey is a Physics student at the university.