FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 05/08/2008
Climate camp 'disgusted' by police smears
Participants at the Camp for Climate Action have reacted with outrage at
today's police claim that a 'stash of weapons' had been found near the
site of the camp.
'Yesterday we were frustrated by the police's behaviour. Today we are
disgusted.' said Stephen Milligan, one of the campers. “This is an
entirely peaceful event. The very suggestion that we'd have weapons
stashes isn't just ridiculous – it's offensive. This is a smear tactic,
pure and simple – we're here to run workshops and debates, demonstrate
sustainable living, and take peaceful action against climate change. The
only weapons we've seen near the site were the batons and pepper spray the
police were using against unarmed campers yesterday.”
Campers believe that the police are attempting to save face after several
days of out-of-control policing, which has been widely condemned by many
respected commentators and across the media. Norman Baker MP, who was
on-site yesterday and witnessed police aggression against peaceful
campers, criticised the police for intimidation and provocation. Local MP
Bob Marshall-Andrews, who visited the site today, described police
behaviour as “indefensible.” Local people visiting the camp were shocked
by the police's unprovoked attempt to batter their way onto the site
through a line of unarmed campers, and are submitting a complaint to the
IPCC.
The heavy-handed policing at the gates was in stark contrast to the calm
of the camp itself, where hundreds of workshops, discussions and debates
were underway. Spirits were high as numbers reached 1000, more kitchens
and toilets sprang into action, and speakers such as Mark Lynas and George
Monbiot drew large audiences.
Jessica Glynn, another camper, said “You've got to ask yourself why a
legal, peaceful, educational campsite has been under attack from riot
police and a ludicrous smear campaign. The government are saying that
climate change is a top priority, and then criminalising those who are
actually attempting to do something about it. This attack on civil
liberties and the right to peaceful protest should be of concern to
everybody who understands the urgency of the climate crisis. We have only
a few years to make a planned and fair transition to a low-carbon society,
and everyone who cares about our shared future should get down to the camp
and join in.”
For interviews and further information contact the camp media team on
07772861099 or 07530306267.
ENDS
Detailed Responses to Police Allegations
The police have made a series of false allegations about the camp in their
statements today, which we refute below:
CLAIM: Campers intend to harm police, as well as police dogs and horses
REALITY: This is a peaceful camp of environmentalists and vegans. The idea
that we are planning to harm people or animals is completely preposterous.
CLAIM: The police need to move some vehicles which are blocking an
emergency access point.
RESPONSE: The exit where the vehicles are parked is not an emergency
access point. The local Fire Service have confirmed that the site is
perfectly accessible via other entrances, and the camp continues to liaise
with the local emergency services to make sure this is the case. The real
reason the police wish these vehicles to be moved is to allow them to
bring their own vehicles onto the site and disrupt our legal, peaceful
camp.
CLAIM: The police want to come onto the site because they have concerns
about health and safety.
RESPONSE: The camp has comprehensive health and safety policies, onsite
medics, emergency procedures, piped water, excellent sanitation, and
delicious vegan food. Council inspectors were due to come onto the site
today to confirm this, but the police denied them access. A real threat to
health and safety, on the other hand, would be the climate change that
would result from the 6-8 million tonnes of CO2 a new power station at
Kingsnorth would pump out.
CLAIM: There are a minority of violent troublemakers at the camp.
RESPONSE: The police made this claim at the last two camps – and no such
dangerous people appeared. We are committed to peaceful direct action, and
everyone's personal safety is our primary concern. The only violent
troublemakers we've seen on-site have been the police.
CLAIM: The police are concerned that some people on the camp might take
part in illegal action.
RESPONSE: This isn't news – we have openly stated that hundreds of people
from the camp will take part in peaceful, illegal action (such as sit-ins,
blockades, chaining themselves to machinery etc.) at Kingsnorth this
Saturday to shut the power station down. We see this as the only
reasonable response to the urgency of the climate crisis and the failure
of governments and corporations to take effective action. However, you
don't have to break the law to come to the camp – everyone is welcome, to
stay for as long or as short a time as they wish.
