CAMPAIGNERS picketing David Cameron’s family home in Dean have been issued with a harassment order by Thames Valley Police.

The group from New Fathers 4 Justice was camping outside the Prime Minister’s home to campaign for equal rights for fathers in divorce and separation proceedings and reform of the family courts.

But after days of picketing the Cameron’s home, the group was evicted, forced to leave its campsite outside The Barn Cottage, Dean and not return for four weeks.

Campaigners have now been moved to a Designated Protest Area (DPA) to the northern end of Dean.

Protester Bobby Smith, 32, said he was “devastated” by the harassment order.

He added: “We have been protesting within the law, we haven’t been using a loud hailer and were within our rights to be there.”

The New Fathers 4 Justice campaigner claimed that when the Prime Minister was approached by the group on Sunday, December 28 he said: “Not you again...You’re spoiling my Christmas.”

Mr Smith, an HGV driver from Waltham Cross, also claimed that Mr Cameron gestured to the activists behind one of the windows of his family home.

Mr Cameron’s constituency office did not respond to our requests for comment.

 

A Thames Valley Police statement said: "Thames Valley Police officers have been present in Dean, Chipping Norton, at a peaceful protest which started on Sunday.

"TVP is committed to facilitating peaceful protest whilst balancing the rights of all relevant parties involved.

"There have been intermittent protests for some time at this location and a designated protest area has been established to enable peaceful protest.

"Two people, who have been protesting away from a designated protest area, were today served with a Section 42 Notice under the Criminal Justice and Police Act which prohibits them from entering an area in the vicinity of a private house.

"It continues to permit peaceful protest taking place at a designated protest area nearby. This order is both necessary and proportionate in ensuring that the two people subject to the notice continue to be able to exercise their right to peaceful protest, whilst balancing this with the rights of people impacted by the protest."

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