Just returned from the area, massive police presence throughout the town with additional units tucked away in side streets as usual. Probably about 25 protestors with talk of more arriving later.

AN UPDATE FROM THE DERBY PROTESTS AT 12.45pm

The protests are still highly restricted by the implementation of the Section 14, which restricts the areas where public demonstrations can take place. Derby city council has erected barriers around most of the square where the demonstration is happening. The barriers, and the access to the "allowed protesting area", is controlled by a private security firm called Showset. They seem to have been hired by the local council, and they have been forbidden from talking to the media.

After 12pm, a group of people started doing street theatre just outside the fenced off area. Around 70 people are watching this performance, which is about global warming and climate change issues. The performance has also put on trial big business and G8 governments for climate crimes. Another group of about 20 people are still inside the fenced off area. A food stall has also been set up.

Police presence and surveillance is still very high in and around the square, as well as in other locations around Derby. 4 police camera crews are filming and taking pictures of the protesters, which include members from Friends of the Earth, People and Planet and Dissent!

A member from FoE, when asked about why they were protesting about climate issues when this G8 round focusses on "trying to address climate change", he replyed: "it is important that people protest, because we need actions and not words". The protesters had also planed to deliver water bottles with oil barrel labels on them to the minister's conference, but so far this has not been allowed by the police.

Around 35 cyclists started off from Derby train station this morning. There have been at least 8 cyclists arrested. At one point, the cyclists dismounted to walk through a pedestrianised street, but 3 police motorcycle riders tried to stop them and grabbed the last 4 cyclists and arrested them. It's unclear what the arrests were for, but one police officer said for 'obstruction'. Later, the group of cyclists, having been blocked from reaching the ring road, were touring the city when a line of police blocked the road - at which point there were another 4 cyclists arrested, with one girl being pushed off her bike.

Latest reports from the square in town, the 'designated protest zone': people have been playing football in the large fenced-off area, and a band is playing with drums and trombone. The police presence is slightly reduced. Lots of bemused locals talking to the protesters, all in all quite a spectacle!

Police number reduced now as protestors start to drift away. Talk of meeting up again tomorrow at the same point but the official protest area is miles from the site and of little use.

3.15pm: Update to earlier report - there were 12 Critical Mass arrests, rather than the 8 reported before.

Things are winding down now, with about 40-50 protestors left.

All of the 12 arrests today were from the critical mass. When asking police on the scene why people had been arrested one said obstruction and section 14 violation.

The local paper - the Derby Evening Telegraph ran one paragraph in the main article on the demo about the arrests saying - "A Derbyshire police spokesperson said there had been about 12 arrests across derby for various public order offences". Didn't mention they were all cyclists and makes it sound like they needed arresting!!

The 12 people arrested were sent over to Ripley for fingerprinting before apparently being returned to Derby this afternoon. We were told they would likely be released tonight 9pm at the earliest provided they were not wanted for any other offences.
There were claims of police pulling people off bikes, but as us pedestrians weren't allowed to join the Critical Mass I can't confirm this.
It's being reported quite widely that £2,000,000 was spent on policing today, with the local paper claiming 1000 police and 50 protesters - that's after this morning's issue reporting "lock up your daughters, nasty anarchists are coming" (or something along those lines).

the last of us was released last night around 11ish (as far as i know)

everyone i am aware of was charged under 'section 14', which was to do with disobeying the directions of a senior police officer who (allegedly) told us to cycle towards the market square. people have to come back at various points in April.

as a final twist they're holding onto our bicycles as 'evidence'. this is currently my only form of transport - I'm angry.