One of the MEPs who represents Brighton and Hove, Keith Taylor, has written to Sussex Police accusing officers are using excessive force on peaceful protesters.
A senior officer defended police, saying that pictures of the arrests looked dramatic but did not show how long officers had spent trying to persuade the protesters against fracking to move.
He said that officers had to balance the rights of protesters with those of the workers at the Cuadrilla test site in Balcombe.
And he added that it was sometimes necessary to use force when talking failed to achieve the police’s objectives.
Mr Taylor said in a letter to Martin Richards, the Chief Constable of Sussex: “Given the peaceful nature of the protest I was concerned to hear reports from both my own staff and others that your officers seemed to be using excessive force against protesters last week.
“Specifically I was concerned to see video and photographic evidence showing officers apparently using pressure point techniques against some protesters who had locked arms on the side road leading to Cuadrilla’s drilling area.
“The officers appear to be using their hands to apply pressure on or near the protesters ears. I believe this is the mandibular angle technique.
“The use of this kind of force seems to me to be excessive given the peaceful nature of the protest and could run the risk of exacerbating tension between protesters and police.”
Mr Taylor is a Green Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South East England constituency. He used to be a councillor on Brighton and Hove City Council.
He went to the protest site on Sunday (28 July) to show his support for the opponents of fracking with three current members of the council, Councillors Phélim Mac Cafferty, Alex Phillips and Mike Jones.
Superintendent Steve Whitton said: “We understand how strongly some people feel about the issue of fracking but it is important that they work with us to protest safely and peacefully.
“It is a difficult balance for police to support an absolute legitimate right for people to protest peacefully and also uphold the legal right of the company to operate.
“We will do all we can to keep that balance right.
“Our primary tactic is to talk to people and officers are going to great lengths to explain to people why we are there and what is acceptable in terms of their safety and others working at the location.
“When we police these kinds of demonstrations we will always look for a negotiated response.
“We would much rather talk to people and persuade them to move than use coercion.
