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Power station protesters released Power station arrests are backed
(about 6 hours later)
All 114 protesters arrested in connection with a suspected plan to protest at a Nottinghamshire power station have been released on bail. Police have defended their decision to arrest 114 environmental campaigners in connection with a suspected plan to protest at a power station.
They were held in Sneinton Dale, Nottingham, on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass and criminal damage. The men and women were held in Sneinton Dale, Nottingham, on Monday and later released on bail.
Police said the group was planning to cause "prolonged disruption" at nearby Ratcliffe-On-Soar power station. Police said they had been planning to cause "prolonged disruption" at Ratcliffe-On-Soar power station.
Nottinghamshire Police said a "large amount" of evidence was being reviewed. Meanwhile, the BBC has found the station's owner E.On had already warned its staff about possible protests.
A force spokeswoman said: "From the information gathered, police believe that those arrested were planning a period of prolonged disruption to the safe running of Ratcliffe-On-Soar power station." No-one has been charged in relation to the case.
In a letter sent to around 17,000 staff employed nationally by E.On last month, the company's chief executive said protesters had already tried to shut down power stations and get access to the firm's offices over controversial plans for the company's new Kingsnorth coal-powered station.
Staff were also sent a leaflet offering personal safety advice and telling them how to handle possible encounters with protesters.
'Criminal act'
More than 200 officers from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire and British Transport Police took part in the raid at the Iona School in Sneinton shortly after midnight on Monday.
Supt Mike Manley of Nottinghamshire Police said large amounts of equipment had been found, including food and various devices used for climbing, cutting and locking on to machinery.
He said: "We think it was a sophisticated attempt to disrupt what we now believe was Radcliffe-on-Soar Power Station...
"Our information was that it wasn't to be a lawful protest. This was to be a criminal act against a power station.
"Had that taken place, we would have now been policing a major protest at a major power station."
There were no reported injuries and local residents said handcuffed suspects sang loudly as they were led away.
No-one has been charged with any offence.No-one has been charged with any offence.
More than 200 officers from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire and British Transport Police took part in the raid at the Iona School shortly after midnight on Monday.
The scale of it makes people think we are dealing with a major terrorist incident Nottingham South MP Alan SimpsonThe scale of it makes people think we are dealing with a major terrorist incident Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson
There were no reported injuries and local residents said handcuffed suspects sang loudly as they were led away. On Tuesday the nursery at Iona School was closed while workmen repaired doors damaged in the raid.
Police said "specialist equipment" including bolt-cutters was found and that the protesters posed a "serious threat" to the safety of the coal-fired power station, which is run by the energy company Eon. The school said it was distressed at the disruption and damage caused, and the group had had no permission or authority to meet there.
Officers also said that some of those arrested had links to climate change groups which had protested at Kingsnorth power station in Kent, Heathrow Airport and Drax power station in north Yorkshire.Officers also said that some of those arrested had links to climate change groups which had protested at Kingsnorth power station in Kent, Heathrow Airport and Drax power station in north Yorkshire.
However, police would not name any organisations.However, police would not name any organisations.
Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson raised concerns over the nature of the policing operation.Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson raised concerns over the nature of the policing operation.
'Proportionate response'
"The scale of it makes people think we are dealing with a major terrorist incident," he said."The scale of it makes people think we are dealing with a major terrorist incident," he said.
"We understand there were 200 officers involved and my instinctive reaction to that is to say, well there must be something to do with plans to blow something up, to commit a major disruption of society.
"My worry is that what we are talking about, in practice, something much smaller."
Supt Mike Manley from Nottinghamshire Police said: "We believe this was a proportionate response to the risk.
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"It is not for me to comment on the motivation of the protesters but we know from experience that such protests can lead to prolonged policing operations, putting police, protesters and staff at risk."
The power plant, which is eight miles south-west of Nottingham, has seen protests by environmental campaigners in the past, including members of Eastside Climate Action.
While denying any connection with the latest incident, Bob Andrews, from the group, insisted direct action was the only way to bring about a change in energy policy.
He said: "What we've got at the moment is the government and Eon addicted to carrying on burning coal because they want to keep the status quo and keep the profits flowing.
'Nonsensical approach''Nonsensical approach'
"And we're saying we've got to change policy, and they're not doing it. The power plant, which is eight miles south-west of Nottingham, has seen protests by environmental campaigners in the past, including members of Eastside Climate Action.
Bob Andrews, from the group, denied any connection with the latest incident.
However, he said direct action was the only way to bring about a change in energy policy.
He said: "We're saying we've got to change policy, and (the government and E.On) are not doing it.
"They're not taking the science seriously. It's got to change. Stop burning fossil fuel.""They're not taking the science seriously. It's got to change. Stop burning fossil fuel."
David Porter, chief executive of the Association of Electricity Producers, said campaigners' calls to stop burning fossil fuels made no sense.David Porter, chief executive of the Association of Electricity Producers, said campaigners' calls to stop burning fossil fuels made no sense.
"If you suddenly close down our power stations that would be a suicidal policy."If you suddenly close down our power stations that would be a suicidal policy.
"The economy of the UK would be seriously disrupted. And there would be social implications of that."The economy of the UK would be seriously disrupted. And there would be social implications of that.
"It's a nonsensical approach to the problem.""It's a nonsensical approach to the problem."
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