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
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 
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13.04.2010 12:35
Pinkolady
@Pinkolady
13.04.2010 14:33
one of twenty six
jokenhagen
13.04.2010 14:38
but copenhagen was a disaster, surely most of us can admit that?
im not dissing the article, im merely pointing out that 2000 people were pre-emptively arrested in jokenhagen and it paralysed the whole movement. admittedly, i wasn't there, but shit loads of people who I know were, and the reports coming back were shocking. the riots at christiania f'd off the locals, who you can hear moaning about the fires being set near where they live and the niavete of some of the 'internationals' rioters, who didn't know the lay out. still, the police raided christiania and were out of order, so the riot should have happened, but maybe with different tactics, working with christianians. the attack of the fence over the canal was done by mainly internationals, including UK activists and didn't get anywhere except good photos - which are needed.
for me the strongest show of hope and endeavour was the resistance of some of the thousands who were arrested and treated like diseased beings from another planet (including being gassed in their cages). they smashed up the cages as ebst they could, showing the true passion of revolution AND SPIRIT OF FIGHTING BACK WHEN ALL IS SEEMINGLY LOST FOR GOOD.
so which movement do we have a chance of being part of if jokenhagen can be remembered so fondly??
JUST CURIOUS....
william bonney
policed by consent
13.04.2010 23:21
But the ALLEGED protesters were afraid of the state or accept the right of the state authorities to make any demands of them.
They all gave permission to the police to arrest and hold them. They signed for their arrest. They signed for their custody. They all signed for their release. They all entered into bail contractual relationship of their own free will (even if under duress)
It's what is called policing by consent, "do you understand"?
ACAB
tell us more?
14.04.2010 12:11
What I wasn't told (and found out a couple of months later) was that you can go to the magistrate yourself and apply for them to be quashed. I did this and was successful (2008 - I don't know what may have changed since then).
I don't get the bit about consent and "do you understand". Is that something about not consenting to common law?
non complyer