A year ago today, in the early hours of the morning, the police made the biggest preemptive arrest of environmental campaigners in UK history. 114 individuals were arrested at a school in Sneinton, Nottingham, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage and aggravated trespass at the 2nd largest coal-fired power station in the UK, Ratcliffe-on-Soar. After almost 24 hours in custody, all 114 were released on bail without any charges having been brought. Several of those arrested were given restrictive bail conditions and many had their homes raided and personal property seized.

At the time, the arrests brought about widespread criticism of police tactics, especially given it took place less than two weeks after the violent policing of the G20. Activists, politicians, and NGOs all condemned the intelligence-led arrests, which many saw as cases of thought-crime. One politician said that confidence in policing had hit “rock bottom”.

Months later, the Crown Prosecution Service decided the literally tonnes of evidence collected by the police was enough to charge just 26 of the 114 with conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass. Those 26 are currently going through a long legal process, with a Crown Court Trial now not due to start till the Autumn.

But what the last year has shown is the great resilience of the climate movement. For the past 365 days the actions have not stopped rolling, but instead continue to grow in size and intensity. October saw arguably the largest scale climate action to date, when over 1000 people converged to shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station. December saw 1000s of activists travel to Copenhagen, where the foundation was laid for us to become part of genuinely international movement. Meanwhile, in the early months of 2010 there has been planning up and down the country, with regions taking local action as we ask ourselves “What Next?” with ever growing enthusiasm and energy.

A year ago today the police throw at us their worst... and we stand undefeated.


THE SKINT FUND

A new fund is being launched today to fight back against police aggression. Travel costs for climate activists traveling up and down the country for ever-lengthening legal proceedings have been quite literally crippling.

The Skint Fund has been set up to address this, and needs everyone’s help to make it a success.

To find out more about The Skint Fund, and how you can help, go to www.climatecamp.org.uk/theskintfund or join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Skint-Fund/117427318272824?v=info

Also, if you’d like to offer support to the 26 awaiting trial for Conspiracy, please email  114defence@googlemail.com