Police raid protesters' homes

Police launched a series of raids across the country today as they attempted to smash a campaign of action by men protesting over fathers' rights.

Officers from several forces targeted at least 10 addresses in an operation led by Scotland Yard.

The move followed travel chaos across London yesterday and today on roads including the A13, A2, M4, A40 and the approach road to the Blackwall Tunnel.

Protesters dressed as superheroes scaled bridges and gantries, forcing police to close key roads while they tried to persuade the men to come down.

Police confirmed that they were investigating members of the campaign group Fathers 4 Justice over an alleged "conspiracy" to plan further disruption.

The Met said the raids were on the homes of the men involved in yesterday's protests. Police took away computers, photographs, placards and protest information.

Police are believed to have targeted addresses in Bristol, Plymouth, London and Portsmouth as part of the operation.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police confirmed: "Yes, there have been raids. They were conducted overnight and this morning and are part of a conspiracy-type investigation."

It comes as the Evening Standard revealed the background of four protesters involved in the demonstrations. They are Darryl Westell, 23, a drama student from Nottingham; Graham Manson, a 36-yearold window cleaner from the Isle of Dogs; Jolly Stanesby, 35, a registered childminder from Ivybridge, Devon; and Paul Robinson, 37, an IT consultant from Plymouth. Mr Manson was involved in a protest above the A13 near Canning Town.

It was part of a campaign by Fathers 4 Justice to highlight what they believe is unfairness in the legal system which prevents fathers from keeping in touch with children after relationship breakdowns.

Four men gave themselves up before 8pm last night and were taken to Charing Cross police station. The identity of a fifth man, who was with Mr Stanesby, is not yet known.

Mr Manson stayed out overnight, keeping warm by pacing up and down the gantry. He came down after today's morning rush hour.

Four of the five men involved were arrested.

Mr Manson revealed he had joined the protest because his expartner has prevented him from seeing her six-year-old daughter, to whom he had acted as a "commonlaw stepfather" for four years.

"Within the space of a month, she found someone else and had banned me from ever seeing the girl I regard as my daughter," he said.

Responding to today's raids, Fathers 4 Justice spokesman Matthew O'Connor said: "It seems as though there is a sustained effort on the part of the police to try and crush what's happened."

Four men closed the Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol today for a second day. Three were arrested.