Tinker Lane, north Nottinghamshire, 12 November 2018. Photo: Frack Free Tinker Lane
Nottinghamshire Police has introduced restrictions on where and when people can protest outside the IGas shale gas site at Tinker Lane, near Blyth.
A spokesperson for the force said the controls were necessary to “prevent intimidation” and the risk of serious injury to protesters and police. Opponents of IGas’s activities have dismissed suggestions of intimidation and said the protesters looked out for each other to minimise risk.
One person was arrested today for breaching the restrictions, a police spokesperson said.
The controls were introduced in a Section 14 notice, issued under the Public Order Act. It restricts protest to an area with temporary fencing on one side of the bellmouth at the site entrance.
Tinker Lane, north Nottinghamshire, 12 November 2018. Photo: Frack Free Tinker Lane
A police spokesperson said:
“The designated protest site is the only site permissible for protest within one mile of the entrance gate to the Tinker Lane drilling site”.
The spokesperson said the designated hours of protest were between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday. No protests would be allowed outside these hours. The spokesperson added:
“The designated number of protestors is capped at a maximum of 50 (the safe occupancy level for the designated protest area).”
Asked why the force had issued the notice, the spokesperson said:
“Nottinghamshire Police believe that the circumstances and conditions, in which the public assembly and protest activity at Tinker Lane is being held, show that the organisers purpose is to intimidate others not to do something they have a right to do.
“Furthermore, the above conditions are necessary to prevent this intimidation and the reasonably foreseeable likelihood of serious injury to protestors and/or police officers that protesting in the highway represents in terms of pedestrian v vehicle contact.”
Tinker Lane, north Nottinghamshire, 12 November 2018. Photo: Frack Free Tinker Lane
People opposed to IGas’s activities at Tinker Lane rejected this explanation today.
A person speaking on behalf of protesters, who call themselves Tinker Protectors, said the Section 14 notice was issued after the police “lost control of the situation”. He said protesters had danced in the road and had taken part in a slow walk protest in front of lorries delivering to the site.
Responding to the police statement, he said:
“There are no organisers of this protest. This is a protest by people from communities across the region who oppose shale gas exploration and fracking.
“There has been no intimidation. No drivers or workers at the site have been intimidated. They may have been slowed down but they have not been stopped from entering the site.
“It would be hard to be intimidated by a group of people dancing in the road.”
He said the designated protest area was on the more dangerous side of the bellmouth, adding:
“We minimise the risk of injury by looking out for each other.”
Tinker Lane, north Nottinghamshire, 12 November 2018. Photo: Frack Free Tinker Lane
Frack Free Tinker Lane reported a large police presence at the site this morning. Nottinghamshire Police said it was unable to say for operational reasons how many officers were on duty.
Tinker Lane will see the first shale gas drilling in Nottinghamshire. IGas began bringing in drilling equipment last week (DrillOrDrop report) and this continued today. A convoy delivered rig components, water tanks, cabins, lighting and staircases. One person said an estimated 10-15 more flatbed lorries were expected in coming days.
- IGas sites in Nottinghamshire and Cheshire are subject to an interim High Court injunction on protests (see DrillOrDrop report) This is due to be considered at a hearing in London next month.
Categories: Legal
DRILL OR DROP? 
Great news!
“Prevent intimidation” … of the protectors from iGas’s private security service and the police, we assume?
Quite clearly outlined. If any protestor can’t operate within the requirements, just prosecute for contempt of court. Simples.
[Comment removed by moderator]
The photos above show, quite clearly, who is being intimidating – and it’s not the protectors.
I think your a bit simples Martin..
‘you’re’ not your… that’s simples grammar buddy
No they do not Pauline.
So, when refracktion took photos of ladies undies on the PNR fence that quite clearly showed that fracking (although yet to happen) blasts ladies undies from their bodies?
Check the sports pages from this weekends sport coverage. Photos can be very deceptive.
Maybe the police photos show a rather different picture.
Ahh, your obsession with ladies underwear again. You can get CBT for that 😉
Her Majesties Fake News Services are pursuing every avenue to support Her Majesties Fracking Policy. http://www.sxolsout.org.uk/index.html
Cool
I think the queen is Elton musk in a mask, and the BBC are covering it up. Theresa May is really Tony Blair. You never see then together.
The attempts at suppressing rightful protest against this industry continue, with the police in alliance with a failing government and a failing industry. Democracy yet again being denied to people with a valid grievance. But then our so called democracy is a sham, for the embedded establishment only agrees with the electorate when it suits them.
No one is suppressing rightful protest Malcolm, as long as it stays within the laws of the land and recognises other people’s rights. As stated in article 10 & 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. If it doesn’t, then it’s not rightful protest.
The more you curtail protectors at fracking sites, the more they’ll pop up elsewhere and in bigger numbers, with a bigger audience. We now have more friends in Parliament too. Soon it will be bye bye Martin, simples
A few more for the Courts:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46172661
Are “bull rings” obligatory?
“The demonstrators blocked entry to the offices by lying chained together on the pavement, while some glued themselves to the doors of the department building.”
Very easily dealt with. Leave them there, with no fire brigade/police or ambulance assistance till they decide they wish to leave, then charge them the full cost of their removal before they are removed.
Right to peacefully protest anywhere anytime is a fundamental human right.
Play the police at their own game by protesting in a ‘flying picket’ manner.
They will be seriously confused!
Busy roundabouts by pnr spread the word really well!
Yep, but obstructing others going about their lawful business is not Peter. [Edited by moderator] they have only themselves to blame for the perfectly acceptable restrictions and injunctions they are now facing.
Hopefully some will soon be losing their property when they breach the injunction.
Peter K Roberts
Do I have the fundamental human right to demonstrate in your kitchen at 02.00 against your will?
You say it is a fundamental human right for me to do so ( you say anywhere and any time ).