Eco-protestors bailed over 'power station plot'
114 eco-protestors suspected of planning criminal damage and aggravated trespass to power station released on bail
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Tuesday, 14, Apr 2009 10:39
Environmental protestors who were arrested yesterday in connection with a suspected plot involving criminal damage to a Nottingham power station have all been released on bail.
The 114 people were thought to be plotting to commit aggravated trespass and criminal damage at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire.
Police said that from the information gathered, they believe the protestors were planning "a period of prolonged disruption to the safe running of [the power station]".
No-one has been charged with any offence, and the protestors have now been interviewed and released on bail.
More than 200 officers from Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and the British Transport police took part in the raid at the Iona School just after midnight on Monday.
It is believed the protestors posed a "serious threat" to the coal-fired power station, which is run by the energy company Eon, after equipment such as bolt-cutters was found in the raid.
No organisations have been named in connection with the protests.
Officers also said that some of those arrested have links to climate change groups which had protested against the expansion of Heathrow Airport and Drax power station in North Yorkshire.
However, some have seen this as a disproportionate response by the police.
Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson said: "The scale of it makes people think we are dealing with a major terrorist incident.
"My worry is that what we are talking about, in practice, something much smaller."
Superintendent Mike Manley from Nottinghamshire police has countered such claims by insisting that the measures taken were necessary.
"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,” he said, "putting police, protesters and staff at risk."