Police cave in to mob rule over fracking: Outrage as energy firm forced to halt drilling for safety reasons as an extra 1,000 hardcore activists descend on site

Activists celebrated as energy bosses announced 'scale back' of operation

Police had warned drilling company they could not guarantee safety of site

Almost £750,000 has been spent by police since demonstrations started

Move has provoked outrage with some claiming it set dangerous precedent

Police were accused of bowing to the mob last night as campaigners brought drilling at a potential fracking site to a halt.

Hardcore activists celebrated as energy bosses announced they would ‘scale back’ operations in Balcombe on the advice of the police. The controversial decision came as senior officers feared an influx of another 1,000 protesters.

They warned the drilling company they could not guarantee the security of the West Sussex site.



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Action: Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood joins the anti-fracking protest at the Cuadrilla site in Balcombe, Sussex

Here for the duration: These two activists were among many who started to arrive at Balcombe today, here at the railway station Protest: Activists celebrated as energy bosses announced they would 'scale back' operations on the advice of the police

Police chiefs have already spent almost £750,000 since demonstrators first appeared last month.

The move provoked outrage from business, industry groups and MPs who said that – regardless of the fracking debate – the police decision set a dangerous precedent for other lawful activities. One industry executive said the move should ‘concern all those who believe in the democratic process and the rule of law’.

Ken Cronin, who represents the fracking industry, said: ‘It is right that we can hold a democratic debate in this country without fear. It is right that people are free to protest in a peaceful fashion.

‘We cannot, however, allow single issue pressure groups to subvert the rule of law and prevent workers from carrying out their lawful operations, as well as having the safety of the company’s staff and Balcombe’s residents compromised.

Photo-bombing: A child jumps behind Dame Vivienne who said today: 'I'm anti-fracking and I'm here to protest. There has been no debate'

Raising the banner: Activists set up their Reclaim the Power action camp, which is set to last for about five days

‘It is not right that the onshore oil and gas industry has to deal with threats of direct action, intimidation and “mass civil disobedience” against our staff and property, which prevent us carrying out our lawful operations.’

Tory MP Mark Reckless said: ‘We need to face down these green and far-Left extremists who want to stop our economy growing. I am sorry that Sussex Police have simply not been up to the mark to do it.

‘We have certainly lost this battle but, regardless of where you stand on fracking, I hope to ensure we win the war against this type of protest movement.’



Stacking up: Police vehicles, including several riot vans, are ready for the climate camp

Preparations: Police guard a lorry waiting to enter the Cuadrilla drilling site in Balcombe, after campaign group No Dash For Gas threatened a weekend of civil disobedience

Upset: Climate camp protestors are setting up camp in a farmers field near to the fracking in West Sussex

Where to go: One activist chalks up a makeshift map to direct people around the site in the coming days

TaxPayers’ Alliance chief executive Matthew Sinclair said: ‘The police are paid to uphold the rule of law and that includes protecting legal exploration for important natural resources from the activist mob trying to shut the operation down.

LOCAL COMMUNITIES MUST BACK FRACKING SAYS SENIOR TORY MP Senior Tory MP, Tim Yeo, thinks local communities like Balcolmbe should be forced into supporting shale gas drilling - for their own good.

Mr Yeo said today that small towns have a lot to gain from fracking which could significantly reduce energy costs.

'Local concerns have to be respected, but we must compel communities to accept this new method.

There are reserves here we can exploit in the best interest of the country.'

‘It may be difficult, but they should tell [energy firm] Cuadrilla to go ahead and make it clear that they will do what is necessary to ensure security. Advising the firm to cave in at the threat of the travelling anarchist circus trying to break into the site will only encourage more aggressive protests to cross the line between a peaceful demonstration and a violent riot. Giving in now could mean more expensive police operations are needed in the future.’



The Balcombe protest has been gaining momentum since the first activists arrived three weeks ago.

Although there are no immediate plans to use fracking at the site, the controversial technique could be deployed if fuel reserves are found. Fracking involves pumping liquid at high pressure deep underground to split shale rock and release gas for use as fuel.

Until now, police have successfully enabled workers to continue drilling. But fears that hundreds more demonstrators could arrive prompted a rethink. Leaders of the campaign group Occupy, which staged a lengthy illegal camp at St Paul’s Cathedral, called for ‘a huge show of force’. And police fear veterans of the violent Dale Farm traveller camp eviction in 2011 could be among those already at the site.

Provisions: Onions, potatoes, bread, and aubergines are among the food being stacked up for the camp

Facilities: This makeshift toilet will be used for protestors to use as they settle in to camp life

As a result, Cuadrilla executives announced they would ‘scale back’ drilling. It is understood work will in fact cease due to concerns over safety.

At other protests ‘direct action’ has included sabotage, invading private property and scaling masts. One activist, Luke Johnson, said: ‘Cuadrilla’s announcement that they’ll halt drilling is already a victory for us, but it’s only a start.’

Balcombe residents reacted angrily to the arrival of the protesters. Derek Earl, 71, said: ‘They say that the overwhelming majority of the village supports them. They don’t. I’m against all these rent-a-mobs who go to every protest going. This whole thing started out with villagers knitting and it was quite a happy atmosphere.’



ANTI-FRACKING ACTIVIST IS BROTHER OF HUHNE'S QC A leading activist at the anti-fracking camp is the brother of one of Britain’s most eminent barristers.

Jamie Kelsey-Fry (right), 49, has emerged as a key spokesman for the No Dash For Gas campaign and praised the protesters as ‘heroic and brave’.

His brother John Kelsey-Fry, 56, is a QC who represented shamed former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne at his trial for perverting the course of justice.

The libel and fraud lawyer has been hailed as a legal ‘megastar’ and also represented football manager Harry Redknapp when he was cleared of tax evasion last year.

Jamie Kelsey-Fry, meanwhile, has a two-decade career teaching secondary school children in inner-city London and has become allied to Britain’s protest movement.

He was involved with the Occupy tented protest outside St Paul’s Cathedral and has been linked with multiple campaigns against capitalism and climate change.

According to his own website, he is also a ‘well-known alternative performance poet’, children’s outreach worker and a contributing editor for New Internationalist magazine.

Mr Kelsey-Fry lives in a council block in Islington, north London, while his older brother owns a £2million house in Surrey and co-owns two racehorses.

Their grandfather, Sir William Kelsey-Fry, was a celebrated dental surgeon who won a Military Cross during World War One.

Fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, 72, joined the anti-fracking camp yesterday. She said: ‘The only people who are going to benefit from it is this energy company who are associated with the Government.’

Sustained: Protestors have been outside the site for weeks to make their views on fracking known

The Church of England says anti-fracking campaigners ignore the interests of the poor. In a statement it said: ‘Blanket opposition to further exploration for new sources of fuel fails to take into account those who suffer most when resources are scarce.’

While warning against giving ‘cowboys and cavaliers’ free rein to exploit natural resources, the Church insists environmental risks could be minimised.