Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, is calling for questions to be answered over the role of Haringey Council’s “Heavy Enforcement Team”. Two campaign groups have reported that their peaceful protests on Wood Green High Road have been broken up and intimidated by the team in past weeks.

The Council’s own website explains that the team was set up “to deal with the most difficult, high profile and significant environmental crimes and criminals affecting the borough”.

Local protesters against the Iraq War and the local group Haringey against ID Cards explain that they were handing out leaflets outside Wood Green Library when the team arrived and forced them to leave.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The Council must respond to these allegations – if free speech is being restricted then this is clearly completely unacceptable.

“It is hard to see how a few people handing out leaflets could constitute ‘the most difficult, high profile and significant criminals’. These people were protesting peacefully, and it is very worrying that groups that are protesting against Labour policies are reporting that they are being targeted by Council heavies. These reports are really very worrying.”