Protest at Preston New Road on 20 February 2017. Photo used with the permission of the author
The press regulator has received multiple complaints about an article by the Telegraph referring to arrests at Cuadrilla’s Lancashire fracking site.
The article, about protests at the Preston New Road site, near Blackpool, said:
“There have been a dozen arrests related to verbal death threats and physical assault against workers at Cuadrilla’s site in the last month but some forms of legal protest action are carried out with the police in attendance.”
The article was posted on the Telegraph website 7pm on 18 February 2017 but removed at some time on 23 February 2017. On 24 February, the Telegraph apologised.
Lancashire Police confirmed to DrillOrDrop there had not been arrests at Preston New Road related to verbal death threats and physical assault.
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) said on 21 February 2017:
“In this case, there have been 14 complaints, predominantly under clause 1 of the Editors’ Code”
Clause 1 of the code covers accuracy and requires the press not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information. Where this happens, inaccurate statements must be corrected promptly and a fair opportunity should be given to reply.
The Telegraph told DrillOrDrop that the source of its quote was Cuadrilla’s Chief Executive, Francis Egan.
A spokesperson for Cuadrilla said:
“There had been approx. a dozen arrests made in connection with protests at or near our site in Lancashire to date. That is well documented and Francis confirmed that.
“Regarding the “verbal abuse and physical violence” and threats received I can also confirm these are all taken seriously and have been passed to the Police to investigate and take statements.”
Lancashire Police had previously said it was investigating allegations of threats.
A spokesperson said the force was not keeping a running total of arrests outside the Preston New Road site. But data from sources, including the Fylde Police Facebook page and people arrested, suggests that up to the date of the Telegraph article there had been 13 arrests and one report for summons.
Of the arrests, at least 10 were for alleged offences under Section 14 of the Public Order Act (1986).
This legislation allows conditions to be imposed on a “public assembly” – defined as a gathering of two or more people in a public place. Conditions can restrict the place, duration and numbers of people allowed at a gathering and can require people to stand in a “protest pen”.
There was also one arrest under section 241 of the Trades Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Section 241 deals with “intimidation or annoyance by violence or otherwise”. An offence is committed if a person uses violence to another, intimidates, persistently follows, hides tools, clothes or property, or watches or besets a home or workplace.
Barbara Richardson, of Frack Free Lancashire, said this afternoon:
“Frack Free Lancashire were dismayed to read such unfounded and inflammatory claims being made by a respected national newspaper. There have been arrests made but Lancashire police have confirmed that none were “related to verbal death threats and physical assault against workers at Cuadrilla’s site”.
“The Daily Telegraph needs to issue a full retraction and apology to the countless local people who have stood outside in all weathers exercising their right to legitimate and peaceful protest against this invasion by Cuadrilla. If the claims were originally made by Cuadrilla themselves, as the Daily Telegraph has claimed, then they need to provide evidence of who said it, and when, as they are very serious and defamatory allegations.”
DrillOrDrop invited the Telegraph Media Group to comment on the complaints to IPSO. This post will be updated with any response.
Updated 24/2/2017 to include that the Telegraph had apologised and the article had been removed from the website.
Categories: Regulation
DRILL OR DROP? 
GottaBKidding-don’t worry. This is an exercise outside the real world. One anonymous friend trying to gain the high-ground because “everyone knows who he is.” (I have yet to understand why that should have any relevance, and who would be interested. Anyone can claim to be anyone on this sort of platform-and often do. Half term time you get all sorts of “experts” who work for their local football club who have the inside knowledge that Messi is about to be signed!))
There is no PR, just individuals taking control, who are likely to produce problems for locals trying to make some sensible comments. It happens with all these situations and follows a predictable pattern (we are onto the “fault of the capitalists” bit now, as a justification for the anti-capitalists to come to the fore.) I would suspect then the police will be instructed to take a more robust stance, and the locals will be left wondering where it all turned.
The matter is simple, put a spotlight on the press and it will be returned ten fold. Sometimes, it is better to leave the light off.
“Trying to gain the high-ground because “everyone knows who he is.”
LOL ..Or in reality just pointing out that unlike so many on your side Martin he doesn’t hide who he is 🙂
A press spotlight tends to be a problem when you have something to hide Martin – Rather less of an issue on our side I think, but thanks for your concern.
Why have you added feet to your ID recently? Is this some sort of over compensation for something?
r his hands small and does he know thatORANGE is not the only COLOUR
It may surprise you, but the feet didn’t come from me. Technology is a wonderful thing, but sometimes has a mind of it’s own! (Perhaps it is something to do with press hacking, capitalism, or the plastic on my keyboard disintegrating -let’s all blame Jim??) Just to show how accommodating I am I have now taken back control of my feet, and all you have left to deal with is my IQ, so you will have no excuse. (My feet have been in Switzerland but are back in the UK now, doing a Sterling job!)
Nobody on here needs me to tell them who I am. I have done so, and I don’t see myself as so important that everyone should know who I am behind a website handle, or in my day, a nom de guerre (an assumed name under which a person fights, plays, writes etc.). It is what I post that I hope makes a case-an old fashioned approach but one I would recommend. It is only me on here, by the way.(My feet follow me everywhere.) No one else posting under my name (yet) and claiming to be me. Old fashioned, but that’s the way I am.
*an assumed name under which a person fights, plays, writes etc. is a nom de plume not a nom de guerre Martin – just saying. Otherwise great post – lovely to see you still rambling away. Keep it up!
oops fat fingers “*an assumed name under which a person *writes* is a nom de plume not a nom de guerre Martin – just saying. Otherwise great post – lovely to see you still rambling away. Keep it up!
Reblogged this on keepeastlancashirefrackfreekelff.
The Corporate media, Johnston Press censored all my posts on digital media in the north west last week made between December 2016 and February 2017. It has been reported to the IPSO but note the fact is they are not an independent regulator – it is a self regulatory system i.e it is regulated by the corporates.
Evidence of their censorship here. They really do not like you continually posting the link to watch “Voices from the Gasfields”
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/jubilant-scenes-as-proceedings-against-anti-fracking-gran-are-dropped-1-8282539
I am afraid to say that the battle will be won or lost on the frontline now – only people power there can stop this abomination of an industry.
[Comments removed by moderator]
Sheriff Woody’s posts censored by the corporate press (Johnston Press) below the link provided in my previous post
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/jubilant-scenes-as-proceedings-against-anti-fracking-gran-are-dropped-1-8282539
4:31 PM on 31/12/2016
No financial support or lead from another corporate political party – the Green Party and also corporate company Greenpeace (wonder what the CEOs annual salary is?)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/09/anti-fracking-activist-spared-jail-after-refusing-to-pay-court-55000
4:11 PM on 20/12/2016
nteresting coverage of earlier events at Preston City centre here:-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/fracking/11695341/Cuadrilla-Lancashire-decides-live.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/fracking/11705333/Fracking-decision-Lancashire-live.html
and corporate, non-humanitarian governance playing dirting here:-
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fracking-report-blocked-suppressed-minister-vote-parliament-a7439496.html
10:10 AM on 14/12/2016
A merry frack free christmas and happy frack free new year to everyone in Lancashire MTFBWY
1:03 PM on 13/12/2016
“City of York Council now says it will review a document that listed anti-fracking groups among key risks to the city. Jane Mowat, the council’s head of community safety, said all local authorities are required to look at any area of activity or campaigning where “extreme actions may be identified as a risk to the wider community”!
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/environment/no-terrorists-rural-anti-fracking-campaigners-labelled-extremists/
A question for our public servants at Town Halls throughout the country to address – is fracking an “extreme action” and are its operations and the aftermath “a risk to the wider community” and also clarify what is meant by “the wider community”
1:05 AM on 12/12/2016
And finally the full content of the speech delivered by JFK aimed at tyrants:-
http://www.thecommonsenseshow.com/2014/11/20/the-two-speeches-that-got-jfk-killed-part-one/
I suspect this information will be censored and I will be unable to engage/participate here by a corporate media, sooner rather later, so I would strongly advise you to copy and paste it if your in the humanity corner of the ring. Tyrants will always shoot the messenger but the message will always remain with those who are fortunate to read it.
Delete
12:23 AM on 12/12/2016
Public servants or tyrants in power? Actions always speak louder than words!
You be the judge.
http://modernsurvivalblog.com/lessons-from-history/has-our-government-become-tyrannical/
10:16 PM on 11/12/2016
“Have faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the whole ocean doesn’t become dirty”
Mahatma Gandhi
We shall overcome!
3:27 PM on 11/12/2016
And if you do dare speak out in resistance then as well as being mentally ill, your a terrorist or an extremist:-
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/environment/no-terrorists-rural-anti-fracking-campaigners-labelled-extremists/
Despite the intimidation and provocation by the Corporate Policy Enforcers (Police) the growing bona fide anti fracking community continues to protest peacefully – long may it continue. Every peaceful protester needs to be armed with a means of recording what really does happen (viz mobile smart phone) and to expose the infiltrators/agents of the state, but dont give it to the corporate police or corporate MSM
2:39 PM on 11/12/2016
The Voices from the Gasfields u tube presentation has approaching 40,000 views according to the corporate owners of the site. This is one of the hundreds of comments made:-
“There is now more than a mountain of irrefutable, that’s IRREFUTABLE, proof that this insidious industry does nothing but line the pockets of politicians and corporations whilst poisoning the air,soil and water. If you continue to bury your head in the sand while this evidence is readily available then you are a fool. Don’t say you weren’t warned!”
It really is I believe a case of “Humanity v Insanity” (search engine:- Ian R Crane Humanity v Insanity). Sadly our corporate owned media, with practically zero independent investigative journalism “human” resources choose to keep humanity in the dark by failing to bring to our attention the evidence clearly presented by Ian R Crane. When they censore this information and the messenger,they are in my opinion, not acting in the public interest.
BTW well done to those County Councillors and County Officers who put the interests of Lancashire and the health and safety of its residents first – by acting as true public servants and voting against this abomination of an industry.
12:14 AM on 11/12/2016
There is enough evidence already of the devastation this abomination of an industry leaves behind. It is not safe and it has been banned in many countries, who have the intelligence to make a legitimate assessment to see that it is a risk not worth taking. Our most important resource is our drinking water and our environment.
If you spend sufficient time researching the evidence and keep an open mind you will come to the same conclusion as I did – its a no brainer unless your part of the mother fracker family corporate elite – out to make a fast buck.
Check out:-
Voices from the Gasfields – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3K0kV7UcME
Ian R Crane “Fracking nightmare” presentations (up to episode 100 now) on U tube (Porters Ranch in California for instance and in Queensland Australia)
Peace protesting is lawful and it is absolutely appalling to see how a civilised democratic society is abused by corporate companies who are supported by a majority of self serving MPs who fail to act in the public interest.
Tina is not alone in being financially attacked for making a stand against the corporate elite supported by the banksters like Barclays, etc – resisting what is environmental rape. They have done the same with Ian R Crane who has also been harassed by the authorities for informing us of the huge risks this unregulated industry presents to us and future generations.
As for the policing FORCE applied at places like Barton Moss, just like Hillsborough, it brings the Police into disrepute – no longer there to protect the public but there as a private corporate poltical enforcement army obeying corporate legal statute laws and their masters instead of the law of the land, common law (do no harm).
The Police have even distributed Mental Health leaflets to peaceful protesters at some of the drilling sites. Who is responsible for that?
12:28 AM on 11/12/2016
Bravo blackpooljourno well said
And two other areas which the corporate media will remove/censore the article as soon as you bring it into the debate.
Where the following stand regarding fracking –
1. the Church
2. Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family members – Prince Charles, William & Kate and Harry. Are there any proposed fracking sites on their estates (re: Duchy of Cornwall etc) or national parks?
BTW the corporate press never publish the letters to the editor I submit which restrict you to 300 words if its anti authority/establishment..
At least with the digital media you can make a comment on articles were they facilitate this. Some articles they dont.
Editors of the press have become gatekeepers of the truth or intellectual prostitutes as “conspiracy theorist” David Icke refers to them as.
[Edited by moderator]
Dear D & D Community
This is my final post here as based on the evidence of the moderation I have sustained – censorship of relevant evidence to this articles subject matter and my first two posts I do not believe this site is as it alleges “independent” based on actions not words.
I have carefully read the content of comment compliance and cannot reconcile this with the censorship action taken.on two of my posts.
The moderator action applied to the above edited post and a post which exposes the evidence e mail communicatio exposing dishonest journalism by the corporate press (Johnston Press) which has been totally censored on the grounds that it is not relevant to the article – is in my opinion gatekeeping of the truth journalism which is exacyly what the perps the MSM do.
Such censorship is my opinion not in the public interest and is in my opinion oppressive malevolence
Good to see the moderator removal of non compliant trolling flaming post by TW after the compliant reply comment which I made to it which has been removed.
And finally –
“An old Cherokee told his grandson my son there is a battle between two wolves inside us. One is evil it is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority,lies and ego The oher is good it is joy, peace,love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy and truth.The boy thought about it and asked grandfather which wolf wins. The old man quietly replied the one you feed”
Excellent posts and quotes Sherriff Woody, keep feeding the white wolf😊.
“Sorry – Page not found” – That shameful Telegraph article by Jillian Ambrose has been removed, or is being edited! Result! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/02/18/cuadrilla-takes-shale-activist-row-government-local-firms-lose/