Power 'plot' protesters: 114 bailed
POLICE have bailed 114 people arrested over an alleged protest planned at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station.
Around 200 officers swooped on the Iona School in Sneinton Dale in the early hours of yesterday to make the arrests.
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Police at the Iona School
Items including bolt croppers and devices to lock people to objects were seized.
A police spokeswoman said they "posed a serious threat to the safe running of the site".
The operation involved 200 officers from four forces – Notts, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire – and British Transport Police.
John Clarke, chairman of Notts Police Authority, said: "The annoying thing is that they can find so many officers to work on a bank holiday.
"It does amaze me, when I have been dealing for two days over the weekend with anti-social behaviour and no one is available."
The arrested people were questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to commit trespass and aggravated criminal damage.
The police spokeswoman said they had "gathered a large amount of evidence" which is being reviewed.
A spokesman for E.on, which owns the power station, said: "While we understand that everyone has a right to protest peacefully and lawfully, this was clearly neither of those things. We will be assisting police with their investigations into what could have been a very dangerous and irresponsible attempt to disrupt an operational power plant."
Police spent most of yesterday at the school, which is behind the Bakersfield Community Centre.
Officers left the building today. School administrator Nigel Revill said that they had nothing to do with what had taken place.
He said: "We are not sure at this stage exactly what has happened. I first heard about the police being here yesterday. It came as quite a shock."
18 Comments
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by Biff, Planet Earth
Wednesday, April 15 2009, 4:40PM
“The real crime is the burning of coal. It is the greatest risk to life on this planet.”
by Bill, Keyworth
Wednesday, April 15 2009, 10:47AM
“Brian I do trust that you have forsworn the use of all electricity other than that you generate, not wishing to be associated with killer power stations and that you do not use a pollution producing vehicle, only a bike?
Equaliser apply a little thought as you usually do. How do you prevent protesters accessing a site as large as Ratcliffe and think of the chaos on the A453. The Police had them contained and saved a lot of extra expense and inconvenience to the majority of law abiding public.”
by Damien, Nott'm
Wednesday, April 15 2009, 12:51AM
“Personally, i'm rather miffed at Dave, Notts refering to my ilk as "Republicans ¿R Us". I'm a Democrat, dammit! Obladi Obama war goes on...into Cambodia it seems. Er, i mean Pakistan. Same bunch of f------s, same bull---t.”
by Andyman, Derbys
Wednesday, April 15 2009, 12:40AM
“A crime had been committed, its called conspiracy. As they had planned an attack, and had the equipment to fulfil their objectives, we have a clear case of conspiracy, and a criminal act had been committed.”
by anna, United Kingdom
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 7:29PM
“Erm, it seems that the police have used ruff justice. I dont understand what the people have been arrested for....? Im none to plugged in you see...right on me door step, who do you all think you are? Power junkies the lot of you, And to you protesters....get your hands in your pockets along with the police and pay for the damages...THATS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!”