New Fathers4Justice campaigner protests on roof of Justice Secretary Chris Grayling's home

 
Protest: Martin Matthews on the roof of Chris Grayling's home (Picture: Fathers4Justice)
Rachel Blundy20 August 2014

A New Fathers4Justice campaigner carrying provisions which could last him five days is holding a protest on the roof of Justice Secretary Chris Grayling's home.

The protester, identified as 47-year-old Martin Matthews, is refusing to come down from the Epsom and Ewell MP's house in Ashtead, Surrey.

At about 9pm last night, he scaled the property using a ladder and put up a tent, the campaign group said.

He also displayed a campaign banner on the side of the house which reads: "No rights? Go MAD. Mums and Dads United."

He is understood to be campaigning for an "open and transparent family court system", according to reports.

Targeted: Chris Grayling (Picture: PA)

A spokesman for New Fathers4Justice, a splinter group of the original Fathers4Justice group, told MailOnline: "He has a tent, a mobile phone with batteries and food and water so he could spend at least five days up there.

"Knowing Martin he will want to stay up longer. It's almost a competition for him.

"It will take a lot for him to come down - probably it will take Chris Grayling to come and actually speak to him."

Surrey Police said they were still working to resolve the situation this evening.

In a statement, they said: "Surrey Police was called to an address in Ashtead at around 12.15am this morning after a report of a trespasser at the location.

"Officers attended the scene and located a man who claims he is holding a protest. Police are closely monitoring the situation.

"Officers are speaking with the man who is currently on the roof of the property and appropriate updates will follow in due course."

The stunt represents the third time Mr Matthews has staged a rooftop protest against Mr Grayling - though his past protests targeted the MP's constituency office rather than his home.

Mr Grayling's office is yet to comment on the latest protest.

UPDATE: At 7.10pm this evening, a Surrey Police spokesperson said a man had been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage following reports of an intruder at a property in Ashtead.

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