Brighton MP goes on trial over anti-fracking protest

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas appeared in court today (Monday 24 March) after her arrest at an anti-fracking protest in Balcombe last summer.

She and four other protesters were charged with obstructing a highway and breaching public order by refusing to move after being ordered to do so by a police officer.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court a recording of her arrest was shown – after a delay while court staff searched for a missing remote control.

It showed a melee during which the Green MP was heard to shout, “That’s my son! That’s my son!” as Theo, the eldest of her two sons, was arrested and physically removed.

The DVD recording then showed Lucas with her head on the shoulder of the woman next to her.

Shortly after she was told that she was under arrest and forcibly removed from the group of protesters outside the site where fracking company Cuadrilla wanted to carry out test drilling.

Jonathan Edwards, prosecuting, said: “Fracking is a controversial process.”

Fracking – hydraulic fracturing – is a process used to extract shale gas by blasting chemicals and high volumes of water into rocks deep underground.

Mr Edwards said that about 300 protesters occupied the B2036 London Road in the West Sussex village – and the wide grass verges either side of the road – on Monday 19 August.

They were trying to block the entrance to the Cuadrilla site to prevent the company from drilling there.

He said people were sitting in the road and taking direct action including “lock-ons” – a technique which involves protesters attaching themselves to other people or objects such as gates.

On Friday 16 August Deputy Chief Constable Giles York was in charge of Sussex Police while Chief Constable Martin Richards was on holiday.

Mr Richards retired last month.

After a briefing by Superintendent Jane Derrick, Mr York agreed that it was necessary to issue an order under section 14 of the Public Order Act.

This designated an area where the police order protesters to go to as a way of maintaining public order.

Mr Edwards said that an officer read aloud the terms of the section 14 notice – akin to reading the Riot Act – and police officers entered the crowd to explain what was required.