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.
28th March 2014 Caroline Lucas trial: day five – evidence of Ruth Potts, Sheila Menon and Josef Dobraszczyk Police behaviour at the Balcombe anti-fracking protests on the day MP Caroline Lucas was arrested changed from playful to intimidating, a court heard today.
19th March 2014 Brighton Magistrates Court heard this morning how poet Simon Welsh was arrested at the Balcombe anti-fracking demonstrations, while leading a group of singers in the Balcombe anthem. This was a protest song written by Mr Welsh and sung to the tune of Jerusalem. Mr Walsh, 34, […]
We asked Sussex Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to comment on the collapse of the first trial of a campaigner arrested during protests against Cuadrilla’s exploration at Balcombe. The case, heard at Brighton Magistrates, ended abruptly on Monday (25/11/13) when District Judge Peter Crabtree questioned whether an offence had […]
Dates for 12 more trials were set today for campaigners arrested in the summer’s anti-fracking protests outside the Cuadrilla oil exploration site at Balcombe. The MP Caroline Lucas and four other protestors will stand trial at Brighton Magistrates on March 24th next year, charged with obstructing the highway […]
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas says she will plead not guilty to charges brought following a protest outside Cuadrilla’s site at Balcombe. In a letter to her constituents Dr Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, says the campaign to reduce the threat of climate change had been important throughout her […]
A further group of anti-fracking campaigners appeared in Crawley Magistrates Court this morning, charged following protests outside the Cuadrilla exploration site at Balcombe. The case against one campaigner was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service. The cases against 11 others were adjourned until October 16th 2013, when they […]
Update to Timeline – September 2013 27/9/13 Cuadrilla leaves Balcombe Cuadrilla’s exploratory drilling site at Balcombe is cleared and Sussex Police scales down its operation. Superintendent Lawrence Hobbs says a few officers will remain in the area, mostly to ensure road safety. He acknowledges the policing operation will affect […]
Update to Timeline – September 2013 26/9/13 Farewell to Cuadrilla Friends of the Earth Brighton announces a farewell gathering outside the Cuadrilla site at Balcombe at 11am on Saturday 28th September. The company has until Saturday, under the terms of its planning permission, to leave the site. 25/9/13 Rig […]
Update to September timeline 13/9/13 Costs rise Sussex Police say the cost of policing the Balcombe protest has now reached £2.449m, up to yesterday (Thursday September 12 2013). Further charges Sussex police give details of charges made against people arrested on Tuesday (10 September 2013) outside the Cuadrilla site […]
DRILL OR DROP? 