Reporting the prosecutions of campaigners arrested at protests against the exploitation of unconventional oil and gas
29th April 2014 The Frack Free Balcombe Residents’ Association is considering a legal challenge to the decision by West Sussex County Council’s planning committee to grant permission to Cuadrilla to test the viability of its exploratory oil well.
25th April 2014 More than 70% of the charges that went to trial following anti-fracking protests outside Cuadrilla’s exploration site in Balcombe have now resulted in acquittals or were dropped during the court case.
18th April 2014 This is the complete transcript of an interview with Caroline Lucas MP about policing and prosecution policy at the anti-fracking protests outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe last year.
18th April 2014 By Ruth Hayhurst and Barry Keevins After her acquittal on all charges arising from last year’s Balcombe anti-fracking demonstrations, MP Caroline Lucas said the right to protest was being eroded and undermined. “Legitimate protest”, she said was being “criminalised by oppressive policing in an attempt […]
Click for video of statement
17th April 2014 The district judge at the trial of MP Caroline Lucas and four other anti-fracking campaigners said conditions imposed on people at the Balcombe protest on August 19th were unlawful. He said the senior police officer who issued the conditions was not authorised to do so, […]
17th April 2014 The Green MP for Brighton, Caroline Lucas, vowed to continue her campaign to end fracking after her acquittal on public order and obstruction charges arising from last summer’s protests at Balcombe.
IN THE BRIGHTON MAGISTRATES COURT CASE NO: BETWEEN: REGINA V JOSEF DOBRASZCZYK RUTH JARMAN SHIELA MENON RUTH POTTS CAROLINE LUCUS JUDGMENT AND REASONS OF DISTRICT JUDGE TIM PATTINSON – 17TH APRIL 2014
Judge Tim Pattinson has just ruled that Caroline Lucas and four other environmental campaigners are not guilty of obstructing the highway. This means that all five campaigners were cleared on all the offence against them, arising from the anti-fracking protests at Balcombe last summer.
DRILL OR DROP? 