Updated: Calls for assurance on policing anti-fracking protests in North Yorkshire
a The Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire is being urged to consult local people about protection for the rights to protest against fracking.
Climate camp risked disruption, damage and intimidation – chief constable tells court
24th March 2014 Caroline Lucas trial: day one – afternoon evidence The chief constable of Sussex said the climate camp that came to Balcombe last August risked significant disruption to the life of the community, serious damage to property and intimidation of people working at Cuadrilla’s oil exploration […]
Balcombe anti-fracking protests likely to seriously disrupt community – former Chief Constable tells court
18th March 2014 The former chief constable of Sussex explained this afternoon that he imposed restrictions on anti-fracking protesters at Balcombe because he believed the demonstrations would cause serious disruption to the life of the local community. Martin Richards, who retired from the police a week ago, was […]
Former chief constable tells court that Balcombe anti-fracking protests were “accelerating”
18th March 2014 The former Chief Constable of Sussex went into the witness box this morning to defend a notice he signed that required people at the Balcombe anti-fracking demonstrations to use a designated protest area. Martin Richards, who retired a week ago from Sussex Police, was giving […]
Results of Balcombe policing review due in a “few weeks”
6/2/14 Sussex police says it hopes an external review of the policing operation at last year’s Balcombe anti-fracking protests will be completed in “the next few weeks”. The review into Operation Mansell is currently being carried out by Hertfordshire Constabulary. The Sussex Chief Constable Martin Richards told the […]
Chief constable says cost of Balcombe protest was “value for money”
3/2/14 The chief constable of Sussex Police, Martin Richards, has said the nearly £4m cost of policing last year’s anti-fracking protests at Balcombe was “value for money”. In an interview with the Mid Sussex Times, he explained: “The public suffered no real serious injury, protestors were allowed to […]
Police use of Public Order Act tested in anti-fracking protest trial
The Chief Constable of Sussex, Martin Richards, will be called to give evidence at an anti-fracking trial, which could become a test case for the use of the Public Order Act against protestors. The case involves poet Simon Welsh, the first Balcombe resident to be arrested during the […]
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