This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/7542592.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| 'Weapons stash' near Climate Camp | 'Weapons stash' near Climate Camp |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| A "stash of knives and weapons" has been found near the Climate Camp in Kent, police have said. | A "stash of knives and weapons" has been found near the Climate Camp in Kent, police have said. |
| Officers said the weapons, including a knife and a throwing star, were found in a wooded area on the Hoo peninsula on Monday evening. | Officers said the weapons, including a knife and a throwing star, were found in a wooded area on the Hoo peninsula on Monday evening. |
| Protesters said the weapons were nothing to do with the camp and accused police of a "smear campaign". | Protesters said the weapons were nothing to do with the camp and accused police of a "smear campaign". |
| Earlier police and protesters clashed at the site, where about 1,000 people are camped. | Earlier police and protesters clashed at the site, where about 1,000 people are camped. |
| Twelve people were arrested and seven face charges in connection with the disturbance. | Twelve people were arrested and seven face charges in connection with the disturbance. |
| Officers said the "stash" near the campsite contained an adapted knife which was found in a tree, a replica throwing star, a knife block containing knives and a large chain with a padlock. | Officers said the "stash" near the campsite contained an adapted knife which was found in a tree, a replica throwing star, a knife block containing knives and a large chain with a padlock. |
| We condemn the police for suggesting anyone in the community would use a knife against a police officer Simon Evans, protester | We condemn the police for suggesting anyone in the community would use a knife against a police officer Simon Evans, protester |
| Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge said: "There is no justification whatsoever for having these weapons. | Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge said: "There is no justification whatsoever for having these weapons. |
| "I would suggest that a minority of people had hidden them with the intention of causing harm to police officers, and possibly to the horses or dogs that we are using on patrol." | "I would suggest that a minority of people had hidden them with the intention of causing harm to police officers, and possibly to the horses or dogs that we are using on patrol." |
| He added: "We believe they've been hidden recently; the camp is next door, so an intelligent hypothesis is they may well have been put there by a small group of protestors intent on committing criminal acts to further their aims." | He added: "We believe they've been hidden recently; the camp is next door, so an intelligent hypothesis is they may well have been put there by a small group of protestors intent on committing criminal acts to further their aims." |
| However, police said they had no firm evidence the weapons belonged to protesters or were to be used against officers. | However, police said they had no firm evidence the weapons belonged to protesters or were to be used against officers. |
| 'Vegan community' | 'Vegan community' |
| Protester Simon Evans denied police claims and said: "This is a smear campaign against the camp - an alleged find that has nothing to do with the camp. | Protester Simon Evans denied police claims and said: "This is a smear campaign against the camp - an alleged find that has nothing to do with the camp. |
| "We condemn the police in the strongest possible terms for suggesting anyone in the community would use a knife against a police officer. | "We condemn the police in the strongest possible terms for suggesting anyone in the community would use a knife against a police officer. |
| "We are environmentalists and a vegan community. It's just crazy." | "We are environmentalists and a vegan community. It's just crazy." |
| On Tuesday, the force put on display what they described as "a very small array" of what had been recovered during searches at the camp - property ranging from bolt croppers to knives and fence cutters, and a "War on Terror" board game. | |
| "We don't want to stop food going into the site, and we don't want to stop essential material going into the site," said ACC Beautridge. | "We don't want to stop food going into the site, and we don't want to stop essential material going into the site," said ACC Beautridge. |
| "However, we've got to strike a balance with ensuring that material doesn't go on there and cause a subsequent problem and end up getting somebody seriously hurt or worse." | "However, we've got to strike a balance with ensuring that material doesn't go on there and cause a subsequent problem and end up getting somebody seriously hurt or worse." |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Arrests made at climate camp | Arrests made at climate camp |
| Officers went to the site in Dux Court Road on Monday after asking activists to keep access routes to the field clear. | Officers went to the site in Dux Court Road on Monday after asking activists to keep access routes to the field clear. |
| ACC Beautridge said: "It is absolutely essential that ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles can get on and off the site in case of emergency and that the site can be evacuated if the need arises. | ACC Beautridge said: "It is absolutely essential that ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles can get on and off the site in case of emergency and that the site can be evacuated if the need arises. |
| "We will not compromise on safety." | "We will not compromise on safety." |
| About 500 activists have gathered on a field about two miles from the power plant in a week-long protest against plans for a coal-fired unit. | About 500 activists have gathered on a field about two miles from the power plant in a week-long protest against plans for a coal-fired unit. |
| They want to halt plans by E.ON UK to demolish the existing Kingsnorth plant and replace it with a coal-fired unit which the company claims will be 20% cleaner. | They want to halt plans by E.ON UK to demolish the existing Kingsnorth plant and replace it with a coal-fired unit which the company claims will be 20% cleaner. |
| Medway Council has approved the scheme and the final decision will be made by the government. | Medway Council has approved the scheme and the final decision will be made by the government. |
| If approved, E.ON said the power station would be operational by 2012 and provide energy for 1.5 million homes. | If approved, E.ON said the power station would be operational by 2012 and provide energy for 1.5 million homes. |