- Traffic chaos on way in 'fight for justice'
- By Emily Andrews
- Evening Mail (UK)
- 17/02/2003 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: admin ( 75 articles in 2003 )
Militant fathers are planning a wave of paralysing attacks on Birmingham city centre, bringing traffic and business to a standstill.
The Fathers 4 Justice group has already caused chaos in London, Bristol and Newcastle, and warn Birmingham is 'next on the hit list' over the coming months.
The dads are intensifying their campaign of 'civil disobedience' to disrupt road, air and rail travel to the greatest extent possible.
It could cost the city millions in lost business and extra policing.
Senior officers today stressed that any outbreak would lead to criminnal charges and insisted the force was ready for anything.
The organisation is demanding a guaranteed right for estranged fathers to see their children after the break-up of relationships or marriages.
Plans revealed to the Evening Mail include:
* Rolling protests of cars at 20mph on the M6, M5 and M42 to cause huge traffic backlogs;
* A mass demonstration in the city centre to block arterial roads in and out;
* Landing an unauthorised aeroplane at Birmingham International Airport to cause major delays;
* Identifying high-profile targets in the city such as the law courts or road flyovers to stage protests and cause traffic mayhem.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "At present we have no intelligence to suggest that this group is planning anything in Birmingham.
"But should a demonstration take place we will have the resources to deal with any eventuality."
The dads' area co-ordinator for Birmingham said: "We can call on a huge amount of members, over 5,000 nationally, and a protest on Birmingham's roads would bring the city to a standstill."
The latest series of protests were decided at a Fathers 4 Justice summit meeting held in Shropshire, after demonstrations caused traffic chaos in London, Bristol and Newcastle last month and police raided the homes of those involved.
But instead of backing off, the organisation is stepping up the pressure.
The Fathers 4 Justice group has already caused chaos in London, Bristol and Newcastle, and warn Birmingham is 'next on the hit list' over the coming months.
The dads are intensifying their campaign of 'civil disobedience' to disrupt road, air and rail travel to the greatest extent possible.
It could cost the city millions in lost business and extra policing.
Senior officers today stressed that any outbreak would lead to criminnal charges and insisted the force was ready for anything.
The organisation is demanding a guaranteed right for estranged fathers to see their children after the break-up of relationships or marriages.
Plans revealed to the Evening Mail include:
* Rolling protests of cars at 20mph on the M6, M5 and M42 to cause huge traffic backlogs;
* A mass demonstration in the city centre to block arterial roads in and out;
* Landing an unauthorised aeroplane at Birmingham International Airport to cause major delays;
* Identifying high-profile targets in the city such as the law courts or road flyovers to stage protests and cause traffic mayhem.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "At present we have no intelligence to suggest that this group is planning anything in Birmingham.
"But should a demonstration take place we will have the resources to deal with any eventuality."
The dads' area co-ordinator for Birmingham said: "We can call on a huge amount of members, over 5,000 nationally, and a protest on Birmingham's roads would bring the city to a standstill."
The latest series of protests were decided at a Fathers 4 Justice summit meeting held in Shropshire, after demonstrations caused traffic chaos in London, Bristol and Newcastle last month and police raided the homes of those involved.
But instead of backing off, the organisation is stepping up the pressure.
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