'Violent' climate change protest ends
The climate change protest continued for two days
Also In The News
|
By Matt Halam. |  |
Sunday, 18, Oct 2009 05:40
By Richard James.
A climate change protest at a Nottinghamshire power station has finally ended after two days.
The demonstration was marred by reports of demonstrators being bitten by police dogs and numerous people being injured.
Reports suggest more than 1,000 protestors descended upon Ratcliffe-on-Soar power plant and continually attempted to gain access to the site to shut it down.
Yesterday protestors clashed with police officers with at least four people receiving medical attention and over 50 arrested.
A "small number" of arrests are believed to have been made on Sunday.
Reports of protestors receiving dog bites have been described by police as "regrettable".
Chief Inspector Linda McCarthy, from Nottinghamshire police, said in a statement released at midday on Sunday: "There have been reports of some protesters receiving dog bites and other injuries as a result of a concerted effort to pull down fences and enter the site.
"Of course this regrettable, but it is a combination of reckless behaviour by some of the protesters and us having to respond with a different style of policing.
"We are grateful to those people who staged a peaceful protest, but it is clear that many were prepared to use force to enter the site."
A police officer was flown by air ambulance to Derby royal infirmary on Saturday while two others also required hospital treatment for minor injuries.
It is claimed one protestor also required medical treatment at the site yesterday.
Police initially reported there had been almost 80 people arrested for a variety of offences including conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass, aggravated trespass and criminal damage.
However, the figure was later revised to 52.
Those at the demonstration are providing regular updates on proceedings as well as coordinating events using the micro-blogging website Twitter and the trending topic #swoop.
Follow the action on Twitter
The Camp for Climate Action group warned prior to this weekend's protest it would attempt to cut through perimeter fences to gain access to the Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant.
The power station is owned by the German energy giant E.ON and according to environmentalists emits more than nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
Video footage from the protest: