Public Order Act charges thrown out in anti-fracking protest case
7th April 2014 A district judge at Brighton Magistrates Court has acquitted eight campaigners, arrested at the Balcombe anti-fracking protests, for failing to comply with a condition imposed by police under Section 14 of the Public Order Act.
Fracking Week in Westminster (31st March – 4th April)
7th April 2014 Transcripts of last week’s parliamentary questions and statements on: Tax incentives for shale gas investment Leaks from abandoned wells Impact of shale gas on energy prices Energy efficiency Energy self-sufficiency Permitting procedures for deep drilling With thanks to theyworkforyou.com
Balcombe anti-fracking protest trial – verdict on Monday
4th April 2014 District Judge William Ashworth is expected to give his verdict at 11am on Monday in the trial of nine anti-fracking campaigners arrested outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe.
Defence argues police order at anti-fracking protest was illegal and campaigners should be acquitted
4th April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day five A group of anti-fracking campaigners on trial for failing to comply with a police order should be acquitted because the order was illegal, their barristers claimed today.
Anti-fracking campaigners ignored police warning – prosecution summing up
4th April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day five Nine anti-fracking campaigners arrested at a sit-down protest outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe deliberately ignored police asking them to move, Brighton Magistrates Court heard this morning.
Anti-fracking demonstrators “shifted in different directions” by police at Balcombe protest
4th April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day five – morning evidence Police moved anti-fracking campaigners to different places outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site throughout a day of protest last year, without apparently knowing why, a court heard this morning.
A week of fracking events
April 4th 2014 At least nine events about fracking and shale gas are planned over the next week throughout England. Details, weblinks and email contacts are below.
Police pressure point technique unexpected and distressing, anti-fracking campaigner told court
3rd April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day four – afternoon evidence Three women arrested at a sit-down protest against fracking outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe gave evidence at their trial this afternoon.
Sit-down protest would not stop emergency services – court told
3rd April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day four – morning evidence Anti-fracking campaigners who took part in a sit-down protest next to the gate of Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe told a court this morning they would not have stopped emergency vehicles getting in or out.