Reporting the prosecutions of campaigners arrested at protests against the exploitation of unconventional oil and gas
18th May 2014 A residents’ group in Balcombe has written through its lawyers to tell West Sussex County Council why it believes planning permission for testing Cuadrilla’s exploratory oil well was unlawful. The council has 14 days to respond before the group applies for a judicial review of […]
16th May 2014 An anti-fracking campaigner, acquitted after last year’s protests at Balcombe, has criticised the Sussex Police operation for being disproportionate. Sheila Menon, who was arrested as she sat next to the MP Caroline Lucas during a sit down protest in August, told BBC South East Today: […]
16th May 2014 Sussex Chief Constable Giles York has defended his force’s policing of last year’s anti-fracking protests at Balcombe. He also revealed Sussex officers have been advising police across Britain in how to deal with demonstrations at fracking sites.
16th May 2014 The Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne, has confirmed she will be questioning temporary Chief Constable Giles York later today about policing at the Balcombe protests.
12th May 2014 Now that all the trials arising from the Balcombe anti-fracking protests are over, Ruth Hayhurst – who attended almost all the cases – reflects on what the policing strategy sought to achieve.
9th May 2014 The last trial arising from the anti-fracking protests outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe has been dropped by prosecutors.
7th May 2014 The head of Sussex Police, Giles York, is to be questioned later this month on how the force deals with public order events, including the anti-fracking protests at Balcombe.
4th May 2014 The Frack Free Balcombe Residents Association (FFBRA) is consulting lawyers this week on a legal challenge to the decision to grant planning permission for more work on Cuadrilla’s oil well in the village.
2nd May 2014 West Sussex County Council has issued a statement in response to charges that it ignored its own motion on approving oil and gas developments when it gave the green light to Cuadrilla’s plans at Balcombe.
1st May 2014 All the anti-fracking campaigners charged with public order offences by Sussex Police after last year’s protests at Balcombe have now been found not guilty.
DRILL OR DROP? 