Points to note and lessons to learn

1. The police were prepared for much larger numbers. They removed blockaders as quickly as possible, with or without warnings or going through proper arrest procedures, although it appears that they improved their techniques with some of the later arrests.

   Clearly, as this was the start to Faslane 365, the authorities had decided to 'nip it in the bud' and their quick arrests and holding overnight were both designed to deter other groups. It shouldn't and it won't.

2. Most groups will be better prepared in advance than we were, because in true greenham fashion we had put the call out as widely as we could, but didn't know exactly who would turn up. We reckoned that women would come from lots of different places and we would not be able to plan until they got here. Also, we had put a lot of emphasis on being a visible protest at the gate over the three days, deciding that the nature of the actual blockading would be determined by the women themselves once they got to Faslane. As it turned out, only a small number were 'arrestables'. More might have been arrestables if there had been a lot more women there, as the small numbers and anarchic scenario made it more difficult for some. On the other hand, the empowering experience of the whole action has resulted in many of the women wanting to come back and do another women's block next year, and more have said they might be willing to risk arrest in the future.
3. It was really worth refusing to be corralled behind barriers, and pushing our determination to decorate the fence and camp. This gave high visibility to what was, in fact, a smaller number of women than we'd hoped for. When you have quality but not quantity it is important to be creative to maximise your impact, which I think we did.
4. All the arrested women were released with a similar letter, regardless of whether or not they had been sitting or lying down with the intention of blockading, and regardless of whether or not they had been warned or given an opportunity to move, and several of us were not. So, irrespective of how strong or weak the case (and the solicitor was convinced that the case against some of us was very weak indeed), we were all treated the same and released on the same basis. We were fingerprinted and photographed, but never questioned about the 'offence', which may suggest that they didn't intend to take us to court - in which case arresting and detaining us may not have been lawful. We intend to look into this.
5. Being held overnight for such an offence was a surprise to many of us, and incoming blockading groups should make sure they are better prepared for this. The intention was clearly to get the blockaders out of the way and hope that the protest collapses. Therefore it is all the more important that groups have people prepared to stay at the gate(s) and remain visible, as well as having the support teams to run around after the arrestees.
6. Being held a long time is tedious but not scary. (I was 51 when we started the action and didn't get released until I was 52!)
   Those that had books with them were in a much better position that those who didn't. Late in the evening, our support people put in some Peace News for everyone and a Guardian for one woman, which she read and then passed to another... possibly got around to 3 or 4 of us. Apparently the police refused to allow books to be put in for us. Peace News is of course lovely but very short even if you read it from cover to cover and backwards, so I would advise groups to make it possible for support people to put in a more substantial and numerous selection of newspapers and magazines - at least one per person, which can be read and shared with others in the cells.
   That said, our support people, legal support and drivers were all Wonderful, and did what they could - most especially, meeting us when we got out! This is important as after several (or 30) hours in police cells, people can feel quite disoriented.
7. Flexibility is the Watchword. Groups that plan with equipment such as lock-ons will probably be able to block the gates longer than we could. All the groups will be different, and the women's action planning recognised that a traditional blockade was not going to be possible unless large numbers turned up, which didn't happen.

   Most blockades won't be as anarchic as the women's block, but however well planned, groups need to be prepared to be flexible and switch to plans B, C or D, depending on the policing and the circumstances on the day. Don't be afraid to change planning or to nip round to a different gate or disrupt Coulport if the policing is too heavy at your intended location for you to be effective.

   If numbers are relatively small, plan ways to maximise your visibility, particularly by decorating and camping up at the base for your 48 hours.

This is just my personal account, which I'm putting up quickly in the hope that it is useful to the other groups coming in. I hope that lots more of the women who participated from October 1-3 will write their own stories and give their pix to put on the website. Each of these blockades will be different, and both we and the police and base will be engaged in a dance of change and adaptation. Most importantly, stay positive and nonviolent and Enjoy Yourselves!

Enormous thanks to Everyone who participated, including local people who dropped off cakes and things!

love, Rebecca