International Citizen Inspections: ALBEMARLE

On April 26, representatives of the Nuclear Weapons Inspectorate (Northumbria) engagedi n a citizen's inspection of Albemarle Barracks Secure Vehicle compound, also known as the nuclear truck stop and the glorified car-park.  The five inspectors had written ahead about their plans, and were met at the backgate of Albemarle by a senior military policeman.

"Who's your leader?" he said. 

"We don't have leaders," replied inspector Stephen Allcroft, "but as I know as much as anyone about this I'll tell you what we're going to do.  Four or five of us will be sworn in as marshals of the International Court of Justice and then we'll walk over there to the Secure Vehicle Compound and fix notices to the fence asking that the site be dismantled as part of the British Trident nuclear weapons system which breaks international law, no damage will be done and we'll be calm and peaceful throughout."

After a brief negotiation, the police commander witnessed the swearing-in, and then permitted the team and attending news photographers to climb over a locked gate, proceed to inspect the vehicles, confirm their purpose, and post the prepared notices.  The successful inspectors then departed the base without further incident.

next: Egozi
back to The Nuclear Resister, #112

last updated July 10 1998