Police outside Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site near Blackpool, 10 March 2017.
The government is to provide £4.3m towards the cost of policing anti-fracking protests outside Cuadrilla’s shale gas site, Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner confirmed this afternoon.
Clive Grunshaw said the cost of Operation Manilla outside the Preston New Road site near Blackpool, will have reached nearly £11.5m by the end of March 2019.
Last year, the government gave Lancashire £1.4m, the minimum allowed under Home Office rules.
But in a letter yesterday, the policing minister Nick Hurd said the government had decided to waive the rules on the Special Grant repayments. He said this was because the operation, which began in January 2017, was ongoing and was having a “significant financial impact” on Lancashire Police.
Mr Grunshaw said:
“This is a real victory for the people of Lancashire.
“Whilst the grant doesn’t cover the full costs of the operation, it is a huge contribution and will make a significant difference, recovering what we have already spent.
“I have always maintained that the police budget, from which we’ve already saved £86m since 2010, should be spent on policing services to keep people safe. This is not extra money but will lessen the burden on the force.
“This is a resource demand which is not likely to leave Lancashire any time soon. Protests are still ongoing and are expected to escalate as we enter spring and summer and officers on the ground continue to do a very difficult job under intense pressure and scrutiny.
“The decision to frack in our county was borne in Whitehall after the judgement made by Lancashire County Council was overturned. The expectation on Lancashire Constabulary to cover the costs of this decision was not a fair deal so I am pleased this has been recognised and additional costs for this operation are being met.”
Under Home Office rules, police and crime commissioners can claim only for the additional costs of a police operation. These comprise costs such as overtime and mutual aid from other forces.
Claims can be made only when the operation costs exceed 1% of the annual police force budget. But the government has waived this rule, Mr Grunshaw said.
The additional costs for the Lancashire operation amount to £6.8m. The payment from the government is made up of a special grant of £2.3m for 2018-2019. This represents 85 per cent of the total additional costs.
An additional £2m has also been given towards the 2017/18 costs. This makes the total grant received for the operation £5.8m. A further application will be considered for the financial year 2019-20.
As part of Operation Manilla, Lancashire Police have recorded 435 arrests and 429 charges up to December 2018. There is no police data on the number of convictions arising from arrests and charges at Preston New Road.
Categories: policing
DRILL OR DROP? 
This is not “policing services to keep people safe”. This is proof that the police are paid lackeys of the government to enforce fracking on an unwilling population.
Hi Michael, the protesters have cost the Lancashire council taxpayers a fortune over the past two years and the cost should not fall on them. The police are there to enable a company to proceed with developing an energy source that the UK will need for many years to come. Regards.
Hi Gasman, it’s not the protesters who have cost the Lancashire council taxpayers a fortune, it’s the police, with their unnecessarily massive presence to cover predominantly peaceful protests. I am glad that you recognise that the police are enablers for the industry, and not there to protect everybody, as they claim. I disagree that the UK will need to keep mining fossil fuels for many years to come, when we have less than 12 years to stabilise climate change. We need to urgently move to non-polluting energy sources if we are to avoid disaster. Regards.
Well said Michael.
Michael – I agree that we need to move to low carbon economy ASAP. Of course, it’s easier said than done. It will also take more a long time for the UK to move anywhere near a zero carbon economy. Then one has to look at India, China, and a raft of other countries that are rapidly building carbon-based power stations, new motorways, etc etc. The pathetic little protest at PNR and other sites won’t make the slightest bit of difference on the scale of things. If the protesters were both effective and really interested in climate change they’d be trying to get government to change policy on a massive scale. But many of the protesters are just nimbys and others just like the social scene of being on a camp and fed by gullible locals. You might fool yourself that the protests are helping address climate change but nothing could be further from the truth
Hello Judith. If the protests are as ineffectual as you claim, how is it that fracking companies are rushing to take out injunctions against them? And why has no shale gas yet been produced? Many opponents of fracking have used all possible avenues to influence the government to stop the dash for shale and regrettably conclude that direct peaceful action is the only thing left. And, by the way, have you been to PNR or any of the other sites to meet with protestors, or are you just repeating the mantras about their social makeup that you’ve been fed by the industry’s trolls?
Peter – you keep writing about list of the Harmed – do you not acknowledge that it’s not evidence-based. It’s just complaints from a bunch of people who have illnesses and want to blame it on something. It’s no different to a bunch of hungover people in the morning trying to blame one particular drink out of the huge number that they drank. Maybe start reading about evidence-based practise in medicine- it might give you an insight into how one needs to approach this issue.
All 22000+ of them! Now that’s what I call a group. 😬
Michael – try and read what I wrote before replying. The reason why the protesters are ineffectual is because what we’d all like to happen is get to a zero carbon economy ASAP. So could you give me a compulsive argument to suggest they are having any impact on the key issue?
There are several reasons why shale gas has not been produced in reasonable quantities, which include the main one being is that only horizontal well has been drilled and fracked and that hasn’t been tested yet. It’s not such a big surprise for those of us who know a little about the subject.
Judith, I’m an engineer who worked under contract for NASA for 18 years, and I do know something about the subject. I also know that in spite of support & subsidies by the government, fracking has been delayed and has thankfully still not produced more than a pathetic trickle of gas at PNR. I would like to know, if you truly want to have a zero carbon economy ASAP, why are you supporting fracking and what are you personally
planning to do to bring about reduced greenhouse gas emissions with the urgency that climate scientists tell us is necessary?
Michael – I’ve forgot to say – I’ve visited PNR and KM8. I’ve been shown around the site. I’ve walked along the road with my dog past those sites, Danesmoor Marriott camp etc. I’ve also been stuck in traffic around PNR due to lock ons. The point is that I’m a scientist and the arguments that are made against shale gas don’t have much basis.
Predominantly peace protests. At least you admit it Michael.
OK Michael. Lets play “What if?
What would have happened if there had been no police at the site and the rig was attempting a crew change?
429 charges up to the end of 2018. Not at all peaceful. Injunctions obtained due to that.
This is a perfectly legal and authorised industry-yet 429 charges and the need for injunctions.
Sorry Michael, but the facts have overtaken your ability to provide a cover up. Every sympathy for the police and the tax payer and those suffering from the cold, unable to afford to keep themselves warm, and £ millions wasted that could have been directed to help alleviate it.
£11.5m could have helped quite a number of rough sleepers.
(Those same police are also paid lackeys of the government to force a speed limit upon certain motorists. But, the majority of the population are not against those speed limits, and the majority of the population are not against fracking.)
Not so exciting, but the reality.
And how many convictions Marty?
Revenue from Cuadrilla and shale gas to date…..zero; cost to the people of the UK 85% who would prefer renewable energy…. 11.5million by March 2019? Madness.
And the ‘reality’ is that only 2% of the UK fully support shale gas extraction, enough to fit in a telephone box….time to move the con-men on;ta ta
Oh, hang on a minute, there is no UK shale gas…..I wonder if anyone has totted up the investor’s losses to add to this little shenanigans?
Is that the same 85% using Gas to heat there homes right now?
How do you heat your home sher?
What brand of gas boiler?
What are you gonna do when the gas runs out Kishy?
Martin. If you really would like to make a positive contribution to the rough sleepers then encourage multi-BILLIONAIRE Jim Ratcliffe to return from his tax haven in Monaco and contribute more of his obscene wealth to a worthy cause.
You mean in addition to the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS £ he already gives to charitable causes, keith? DYOR-not difficult.
Maybe he will give even more when his wealth increases from fracking in UK rather than fracking in USA? You know, that is in addition to the taxation that would be applied to his profits on UK business. Where he lives, some of the time, is his choice. Where is the company office is somewhat significant, but no-one will realise that will they keith? Oh yes they will. They might look at the recent high tax payer list published and see that he is already doing what you think he is not, and could do more if he was facilitated to do so. But, of course, he could be prevented from doing so and you will fill in for him? Don’t think so.
Two thirds still not against fracking in UK Sherwulfe. Michael may claim the opposite, Pauline may say well said and you may try and cobble together the normal twaddle, but the reality doesn’t change. What has changed over the last year or so is that the antis have given up trying to argue around the reality and have moved over to fantasy.
(By the way-is reaction one of the 85%? Someone who is an activist for the cause kindly utilising the 3 litre BMW diesel to promote renewable energy?! I think you will find that is a prime example of the weakness of that stat. I utilise renewable energy myself, but it does not mean I reject other forms of energy.)
Amazing use of tax payer’s money Collywobble, as that is where J’s cash has been ‘extracted’ from [less the cut for his yachts of course]…
Support for fracking declining as we speak; but no worries as there isn’t any gas; next..
Swapping cars frequently; HUGE carbon footprint…….kettle and very, very black pot Marty.
Ineos have a major hand in the process of delivering clean drinkable tap water to most of the U.K…
You probably find that fact hard to swallow Keith…
Ah yes, tap water; full of carcinogenic chlorine, eats you from the inside out…..
I expect that a fair wedge of this cash will go to settling the potential Class Action against the Constabulary for a mixture of false arrest, perjury, violence and threatening behaviour claims accrued since Cuadrilla invaded our peaceful Community.
Fossil fuels need to be left in the ground or we are all screwed, when will you greedy Capitalists realise your money won’t save you?
Martin, properly placed speed limits and their enforcement are Socially acceptable, a quick reference to the latest List of the Harmed will show why fracking is not and will never be socially acceptable.
So the Government, who continue to disregard their obligation to strive towards fossil fuel reduction, have disregarded their ruling of only paying Lancashire constabulary when their fracking expenses exceed 1% of budget.
No surprise there then, Lancashire County Council and Fylde Borough Council both being Tory controlled.
Maybe they are Tory controlled because the majority of voters are not that “excited” to vote against them? Seems the peaceful Community prefers the policies of the Tories, and whilst many may not support fracking, do not see it as a big enough issue to change their vote.
Although, of course, the police may be working for them, twisting the arms of the voters!
Whilst Cuadrillas drill bit was in the ground during the last General election the people of the Fylde Coast voted in the Conservative Party…
The Green Party represented by Tina Rothery actually lost votes from the previous election…
That is the people speaking, democracy, not dictated to by a shouty minority…
mmmm was it Labours Natascha Engle that lost her N E Derbyshire seat due to her pro fracking stance (the people spoke). Did her no harm though …now Commissioner for Shale employed by Conservative government. Hypocrisy.
Fred, maybe you should look at the boundary changes in the NE Derbyshire – Natasha was never going to win fiollowibg those changes
Natasha was never going to win; period.
What an absolute disgrace our government is. We, the public are paying for our police to act as Militia, sanctioned by the government in the service of corporate business, that are in the persute of money at any cost to the people.
it will not end well.it is a national disgrace and undemocratic.
Why are this lot not being sent to court ,with all the police standing ,doing nothing. http://www.gordonbowden.co.uk
May I suggest that actually many police officers are less than enthusiastic about stopping non-violent protest against destroying people’s health and happiness because they too are living within our community and know we are actually striving to protect their families at the same time.
Also the profit/loss equation for just the one non-productive fracked well which caused the site to be shut down due to the earthquake swarms, despite only low-pressure fracking having occurred, must make atrocious reading for the gullible, greedy investors.
The death of free speech, peaceful protest and democracy.
May I suggest some might be very enthusiastic as they too have energy bills to pay, and the overtime will come in handy.
That makes the police similar to Egan and the other Cuadrilla goons in that while fracking continues to threaten our survival by global climate change destruction they continue to draw a wage!
Totally unacceptable behaviour that needs to stop before it’s too late!
Cuadrilla has produced no gas and doesn’t look like it will produce any gas given the seismic limit and its inability to generate a viable flow rate after fracking. All these money and protesting is a waste.
So let’s bin it and use the money for something useful, eh?