Officials at HS2 have launched an investigation into alleged abusive behaviour by security guards against environmental protesters, the Guardian has learned.

The company behind the controversial high-speed rail link, which is currently carrying out works in the Colne Valley, launched the inquiry after an encounter between guards and two female protesters was captured on video. In an email acknowledging the complaint, it said that the guards’ actions were “clearly unacceptable” and added that they fell “well below the standards required”.

A second investigation into another aspect of the guards’ behaviour has been launched by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).



The footage shows Green party member Sarah Green talking to another protester, Elizabeth Williams. In the footage both express concern about the destruction of woodland by the HS2 contractors while standing in a field close to where the works are taking place. They are then approached by the security guards. The security guard refuses a request from Williams to see the man’s ID. Then another guard approaches and appears to push Williams backwards before the camera footage shakes and cuts out.

In the incident being investigated by the SIA, also caught on video, security guards are filmed shouting to protesters: “Get the fuck out” and: “I’ll fuck you up.”

The protesters have lodged a complaint about this incident with the Security Industry Authority, the government body that regulates the private security industry.

A spokesman for SIA confirmed that an investigation is under way into the conduct of the security guards after the protesters complained.

Environmental protesters have been on the site where the works are taking place for several weeks and claim that the demolition of trees is destroying natural habitats and will affect local wildlife including bats, deer and hares.

Advocates of the scheme say that when it is completed it will be the fastest rail network in Europe, with trains able to carry 1,100 passengers at 250mph. However, the cost of the development is escalating and it has been billed as the most expensive railway development in the world. The first phase alone is costing £24bn, which is forecast to rise to £56bn for the whole scheme.

An email from an official at HS2 to Hillingdon Green party also confirmed the complaint, saying: “I wanted to assure you that we are taking this incident very seriously. We expect our staff and those of our contractors to treat everyone with respect. The behaviour seen in the video is clearly unacceptable and falls well below the standards required by HS2 Ltd.

It said that until the investigation was concluded it had increased supervision of security operations, issued body-worn cameras, and reiterated expected standards of behaviour to staff.

A spokesman for Hillingdon Green party condemned the behaviour of the HS2 security guards: “Their negligence toward our environment is astounding. That two women, standing in a field, next to but not in, an HS2 work site, could be put through such a scary and dreadful ordeal … really does speak volumes of how HS2 view themselves and how they view us the public.”



A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said:”We have received reports of abusive behaviour by staff at a site in the Colne Valley area. We are currently investigating these. We expect our staff, and those of our contractors, to treat everyone with respect.”

In an earlier protest several protesters including Sarah Green got underneath an HS2 digger to try to stop the works proceeding. The protesters complained to HS2 representatives on the site that they had not obtained planning permission to chop down the trees. However, a spokesman for HS2 Limited said the parliamentary act authorising the development stated that local planning permission was not required for this development.