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Arrests in power station protest | Arrests in power station protest |
(40 minutes later) | |
Fifty people have been arrested during a day of action at Kingsnorth power station in Kent. | Fifty people have been arrested during a day of action at Kingsnorth power station in Kent. |
Police said four activists managed to breach the perimeter fence, but they were intercepted inside the grounds of the plant on the Hoo peninsula. | Police said four activists managed to breach the perimeter fence, but they were intercepted inside the grounds of the plant on the Hoo peninsula. |
Another four people were arrested trying to launch a boat on the River Medway and 123 campaigners were rescued from the water. | Another four people were arrested trying to launch a boat on the River Medway and 123 campaigners were rescued from the water. |
The activists were opposing E.On's plans to build new coal-fired units. | The activists were opposing E.On's plans to build new coal-fired units. |
Officers said most of the arrests were for obstruction, but one person was arrested for assaulting a police officer and another for possessing a bladed instrument. Nobody got seriously injured or drowned in the river and I am very, very pleased about that Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge | |
Campaigners, who have been stationed one mile from Kingsnorth at the Climate Camp for the past week, had promised to shut the power station down as part of a day of action. | |
But a spokesman for E.On said it had operated as normal throughout the day. | |
"It is operating, it's business as usual. There is always a lower demand for power on a Saturday, but it is running," he said. | "It is operating, it's business as usual. There is always a lower demand for power on a Saturday, but it is running," he said. |
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge said the police operation had been carried out "for the safety of everybody". | |
"We did have four people go on to the site of the power station but as soon as they got into the site they were arrested," he said. | |
"Despite our warning about how hazardous and dangerous it was we still had the flotilla take place but nobody got seriously injured or drowned in the river and I am very, very pleased about that." | |
He said that throughout the week the force had worked to facilitate lawful protest and lawful economic activity. | |
On Saturday a group of about 100 campaigners, some carrying drums and banners, marched from the camp to the power station. | |
Human chain | |
Most of the protesters returned to the camp in the afternoon apart from about 20 who created a human chain in front of the site's gates and were removed by police in riot gear. | Most of the protesters returned to the camp in the afternoon apart from about 20 who created a human chain in front of the site's gates and were removed by police in riot gear. |
A spokeswoman for the Climate Camp claimed between 20 to 30 rafts had taken to the River Medway as part of the river protest. | A spokeswoman for the Climate Camp claimed between 20 to 30 rafts had taken to the River Medway as part of the river protest. |
She also said eight kayakers were detained by police when they got close to the station. | She also said eight kayakers were detained by police when they got close to the station. |
E.On plans to build two new cleaner coal units on the site, which it claims will be 20% cleaner. | E.On plans to build two new cleaner coal units on the site, which it claims will be 20% cleaner. |
Medway Council has approved the scheme, which would be the first coal-fired power station to be built in the UK for 24 years, and the final decision will be made by the government. | Medway Council has approved the scheme, which would be the first coal-fired power station to be built in the UK for 24 years, and the final decision will be made by the government. |
If approved, E.On said the power station would be operational by 2012 and would provide energy for 1.5 million homes. | If approved, E.On said the power station would be operational by 2012 and would provide energy for 1.5 million homes. |