Apology over policing 'injuries'

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Police minister Vernon Coaker has apologised for telling Parliament that 70 officers were injured dealing with protests at Kingsnorth power station.

His comments came after it was revealed that injuries sustained during policing at the Climate Camp in August included insect stings and heat exhaustion.

There were only 12 reportable injuries, according to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the Liberal Democrats.

More than 1,000 officers were involved in policing the event near Hoo in Kent.

According to information obtained by the Liberal Democrats, Kent Police officers and staff suffered only 12 reportable injuries, four of which involved direct contact with another person.

Unless the protestors are to be held responsible for wasps and the weather, aren't we to conclude that the justification used at that time was wholly bogus and vacuous? David Taylor MP The Lib Dems said the eight other injuries included being "stung on finger by possible wasp", "officer injured sitting in car" and "officer succumbed to sun and heat".

Mr Coaker said an inquiry was being carried out by the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) into the handling of the demonstration.

He added: "I was informed that 70 police officers were hurt and naturally assumed that they had been hurt in direct contact as a result of the protest.

"That clearly wasn't the case and I apologise if that caused anybody to be misled."

David Howarth, Liberal Democrat justice spokesman, urged Mr Coaker to "revise his conclusion" that the policing was "proportionate and appropriate".

David Taylor, Labour MP for NW Leicestershire, said: "When people expressed concerns about the vigour and resources devoted by the police to the Kingsnorth climate camp we were told that it was justified because there were dozens of injuries that occurred."

He added: "Unless the protestors are to be held responsible for wasps and the weather, aren't we to conclude that the justification used at that time was wholly bogus and vacuous?"

Discretionary powers

Kent Police said at the time that the aim was to protect residents, police and the protesters.

Discretionary powers to allow officers to stop and search people were extended to the whole of the Hoo peninsula during the protest against the building of coal-fired power stations.

Of the 100 people arrested, 46 were charged with offences ranging from obstruction and public order offences to the possession of a bladed weapon.

The current Kingsnorth power station is due to close in 2015 and E.ON wants to replace it with two new coal units, which it claims will be 20% cleaner.