Special Report SUBJECT CND 'Human Chain' demonstration, 16.7.1983 Reference to Papers 25th day of July 1983 1. On Saturday 16.7.1983, a demonstration organised by the London Region of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) was held as a 'Human Chain' between the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, W1 and the Soviet Embassy, Kensington Palace Gardens, W8. 2. During the demonstration the following person was arrested for 'insulting behaviour' contrary to Section 5, Public Order Act, 1936. XXX XXX appeared at Marlborough Street Magistrates Court on Monday 18.7.1983. XXX pleaded guilty and was fined £5. There was no disorder at the Court. 3. Prior to his arrest XXX had not some to the notice of Special Branch. The CND is the subject of XXX. Detective Constable Submitted Chief Inspector, Chief SuperintendentSpecial Report SUBJECT CND Human Chain Demonstration on 16.7.1983 Reference to Papers METROPOLITAN POLICE SPECIAL BRANCH 18th day of July 1983 1. On Saturday 16th July, l983,a 'Hhman Chain' demonstration was held in Central London under the auspices of the London Region of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (LRCND). The event had been advertised as a National Demonstration and was planned with the full co-operation and approval of the parent National CND. A total of about 7,000 persons took part. There was no disorder and only one person was arrested, for insulting behaviour (see paragraph 7). BACKGROUND 2. Although the event had originally been formulated before the recent General Election, CND had already begun to re-think its approach to street demonstrations and to change its emphasis from being almost totally anti-American to being seen to be anti- Soviet as well. With this change of strategy in mind it was decided to attempt to show the public that CND is now pursuing a more balanced policy by use of a symbolic linking of arms between the United States and Soviet Embassies in London. 3. There is no doubt at all that the CND will continue to direct most of its activities against the deployment of American 'Cruise' and 'Trident' missiles in this country but the 'Human Chain' event was seen as an opportunity to convince the public at large, through widespread media coverage, of its responsible attitude in relation to the nuclear arms race. However, as the Soviet authorities remain stoically indifferent to the United Kingdom peace campaign, the demonstration was likely to amount to little more than a cosmetic exercise. THE 'HUMAN CHAIN' 4. Supporters of the event began to arrive in the vicinity of Speakers Corner, Hyde Park from 1230pm and, following a very slow buildup, by 1.45pm some 5,000 persons had stretched along the route from Upper Brook Street, Wl to Orme Square Gate, W8. Only a maximum of 50 persons were allowed by uniformed police to be in the vicinity of the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, W1 and the 'Chain' was not allowed to enter Kensington Palace Gardens, W8. 5. At 2.15pm after the late arrival of a further 2,000 or so persons, the 'Chain' between the two points was completed, albeit with some difficulty (in some places participants linked arms and in others they were content to sit on the grass and enjoy thePage No. 2 extremely warm weather). The actual route of the 'Chain' was confined almost entirely within Hyde Park and no disruption was caused to vehicular traffic. The stewarding of the event by CND was adequate in the circumstances. 6. Having completed the 'Chain' two identical inflated globes were passed along the supporters, one from the US Embassy towards the Soviet Embassy and the other in the opposite direction. This operation was carried out with very good humour, and was quickly completed by 2.45pm. Following this, the vast majority of the demonstrators dispersed to various parts of Hyde Park to enjoy the weather and to take part in their own, individual 'peace picnics'. This aspect of the day's events was totally unorganised and by 5pm most of the participants had dispersed. PETITIONS AT THE US AND SOVIET EMBASSIES 7. It was intended, as part of the 'Human Chain' event, to present petitions to both the US Embassy and_the Soviet Embassy. In respect of the former it had been previously agreed, by the American authorities and uniformed police, that a deputation of persons would be allowed to present the CND letter (copy attached) on the steps of the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square. At about 3pm the deputation, headed by Joan RUDDOCK (Chairperson of CND) and Sylvia BALL (LRCND), mounted the Embassy steps where RUDDOCK read the letter aloud for the benefit of the media. A copy of the letter was handed to Embassy staff and the deputation left the scene to make their way to Hyde Park for the 'peace picnic'. A small group, varying between 30 and 50 CND supporters had been present outside the US Embassy from 12.30pm but dispersed following the presentation of the petition. No disorder had been caused by this group. However, a moment of light relief occurred at about 3.05pm when a male 'streaker' appeared from Grosvenor Gardens and was promptly detained by uniformed police and later charged with insulting behaviour. 8. Meanwhile, at the other end of the 'Chain', some 150 demonstrators positioned themselves in Bayswater Road directly opposite Kensington Palace Gardens. At 3pm they were addressed by Bruce KENT (General Secretary of CND) who read an identical copy of the petition handed to the US Embassy to the crowd and the media. Following this, at 3.05pm, Barbara BAMBRIDGE (Chairperson of LRCND) and Bill CHADKIRK (Hampstead CND) stated to uniformed police that they had an appointment at 3pm with an official of the Soviet Consular Section in the Soviet Consulate at 5 Kensington Palace Gardens, the entrance to which is situated in Bayswater Road. These persons were received at that entrance by a Soviet Official who invited them to enter the premises. They were seen to leave at 3.55pm and it is assumed that they had given a copy of the CND letter to the official and some discussion with him. CAMBRIDGE and CHADKIRK were interviewed by the Press upon their exit from the building, but it is not known what conversation took place.Page No 4 11. Whether or not the result of the General Election has caused some of this 'falling-off' in support remains to be seen. This will perhaps be better judged by numerical support for the forthcoming National Demonstration in London on 22nd October this year. Detective Inspector Chief SuperintendentAPPENDIX A to Special Branch resort concerning demonstration held under the auspices of the London Region CND on 16.7.1983 BANNERS CND BRANCHES AND GROUPS Balham Bayswater Beardsley & District Bracknell Brentwood Bridport Brighton & Hove Bristol Brixton & North Lambeth Bury St Edmonds Cambridge Canterbury Chelmsford Christchurch & New Forest Colchester District Cupar Epping & Ongar Epsom & Ewell Essex Green Essex Group Ewell Exmouth Godalming2 Grantham Green Greenwich Hackney Hampstead Hampstead Young Havering Hillingdon Hoddesdon & Broxbourne Ilford Isle of Wight Islington YCND Kennilworth Kingston & District Kingswood (Bristol) Lewes Lewisham Central Leighton & Leytonstone Lincoln Liverpool London Region Maidstone Mersea Island Merseyside Mill Hill North Herts Nottingham3 Oxfordshire Peckham Redhill & Reigate Selly Oak Sevenoaks Shoreham Skelmersdale Southend Southfields South Wales South West Region Stevenage Streatham Stroud Sutton Coalfield Swindon Sydenham Tiverton Widness Wolverhampton Wood Green Worthing MISCELLANEOUS PEACE GROUPS Alexandra Palace Peace Camp Architects for Peace4 Crow borough Protest & Survive END - London Enfield Peace Campaign Gays for a Nuclear Free Future Leighton Buzzard & Linslade Peace Campaign MEND (Members of Equity for Nuclear Disarmament) Merseyside Pax Christi Milton Keynes Peace Campaign Napps Hill Peace Camp No To Nuclear Weapons, Either Russian or American Pensioners for Peace Saffron Waldon Against Nuclear Weapons Slough - Women for Peace Solidarity with Independent Soviet Peace Groups Study War No More - Teachers for Peace Teachers Against the Bomb Wimbledon Disarmament Coalition Womens International League for Peace Freedom - Worthing & Lancing OTHER GROUPS Birmingham University CPSA (Civil & Public Servants Association) East Devon, A World Fit for Children Historians for the Right to Work St Francis of Assisi - Notting Hill Westminster Active PensionersAPPENDIX C to Special Branch report, concerning demonstration held under the auspices of the London Region CND on 16.7.1983 Persons mentioned in report: XXXX Persons Identified as having attended the Demonstration: XXX Organisations mentioned in report: Socialist Workers Party LRCND CNDAPPENDIX D to Sgecial Branch report concerning demonstration held under the auspices of London Region CND on 16.7.1983 Copies of petitions handed in at the US Embassy and apparently handed to an official of the Soviet Consular Section by CND supporters. The petitions, which are identical in content, do not appear to be actionable.London CND London Region CND 6 Endsleigh Street London WC1 Tel: 388~1628 Mr. John Louis, The Ambassador, US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London W1. July 16 1985 LETTER TO THE EMBASSIES OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION. By continuing the nuclear arms race, your two government are pursuing military policies more dangerous than those of any other nation in history. We accept that our government has made its own contribution to the arms race and nuclear escalation, and we accept our responsibility for this. We utterly reject the idea that nuclear weapons can defend anything. We demand that you abolish your own nuclear weapons and we pledge ourselves to redouble our efforts to ensure that British nuclear weapons are abolished, irrespective of what you do. We reject the idea of a 'balance', when either of you can destroy each other many times over and, in the process, destroy us and threaten life on this planet. We demand that you agree at once on an immediate freeze on all nuclear weapons, as a prelude to making massive unilateral cuts in your nuclear arsenals, leading to multilateral and complete disarmament. Live up to your responsibilities and turn your attention to providing resources for development that the world so badly needs, rather than engaging in futile and economically ruinous arms race between yourselves and supplying arms to Third World countries. Yours Sincerly, Barbara Bambridge, Chairperson London Region CNDLondon Region CND 6 Endsljeigh Street Mr. Bobov Victor, The Ambassador Soviet Embassy 18 Kensington Palace Gdns, London W8. July 16 1983 LETTER TO THE EMBASSIES OF THE SOVIET UNION AND THE UNITED STATES. Dear Sir, By continuing the nuclear arms race, your two governments are pursuing military policies more dangerous than those of any other nation in history. We accept that our Government had made its own contribution to the arms race and nuclear escalation, and we accept our responsibility for this. We utterly reject the idea that nuclear weapons can defend anything. We demand that you abolish your own nuclear weapons and we pledge ourselves to redouble our efforts to ensure that British nuclear weapons are abolished, irrespective of what you do. We reject the idea of a 'balance', when either of you can destroy each other many times over and, in the process, destroy us and threaten life on the whole planet. We demand that you agree at once to an immediate freeze on all nuclear weapons, as a prelude to making massive unilateral cuts in your nuclear arsenals, leading to multilateral and complete disarmament. Live up to your responsibilities and turn your attention to providing the resources for development that the world so badly needs, rather than engaging in a futile and economically ruinous arms race between yourselves, and supplying arms to Third World oeuntries whose resources could be better employed elsewhere. Yours aincerely, Barbara Bambridge, Chairperson London Region CND