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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Green MP Caroline Lucas cleared over fracking protest | Green MP Caroline Lucas cleared over fracking protest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Green MP Caroline Lucas and four co-defendants have been cleared of obstructing a public highway during an anti-fracking protest in Balcombe, West Sussex. | Green MP Caroline Lucas and four co-defendants have been cleared of obstructing a public highway during an anti-fracking protest in Balcombe, West Sussex. |
| Brighton Pavilion MP Ms Lucas and her co-accused were also found not guilty at Brighton Magistrates' Court of a public order offence. | |
| Ms Lucas was arrested outside energy company Cuadrilla's exploratory oil drilling site on 19 August last year. | Ms Lucas was arrested outside energy company Cuadrilla's exploratory oil drilling site on 19 August last year. |
| The group had denied the charges. | The group had denied the charges. |
| The other protesters who were cleared are Josef Dobraszczyk, 22, from Bristol; Ruth Jarman, 50, from Hook, Hampshire; Sheila Menon, 42, from north-east London, and Ruth Potts, 39, from Totnes, Devon. | The other protesters who were cleared are Josef Dobraszczyk, 22, from Bristol; Ruth Jarman, 50, from Hook, Hampshire; Sheila Menon, 42, from north-east London, and Ruth Potts, 39, from Totnes, Devon. |
| 'Not a victory' | 'Not a victory' |
| Giving a statement outside the court, Ms Lucas said: "We're very pleased that the court upheld our right to peacefully protest against fracking. | Giving a statement outside the court, Ms Lucas said: "We're very pleased that the court upheld our right to peacefully protest against fracking. |
| "Protest is the lifeblood of democracy. | "Protest is the lifeblood of democracy. |
| "We are deeply concerned that the right to protest is being eroded and undermined, with legitimate protest criminalised by oppressive policing in an attempt to silence dissent. | "We are deeply concerned that the right to protest is being eroded and undermined, with legitimate protest criminalised by oppressive policing in an attempt to silence dissent. |
| "This judgement is right but this is not a victory or cause for celebration. | "This judgement is right but this is not a victory or cause for celebration. |
| "We will continue to campaign to end fracking and only celebrate when our world is on the path to a clean energy future." | "We will continue to campaign to end fracking and only celebrate when our world is on the path to a clean energy future." |
| Sussex Police said its priority had been the safety of the public, residents, protesters, Cuadrilla employees and its own officers. | |
| Supt Lawrence Hobbs said: "We worked with all sides to enable them all to meet their peaceful and lawful objectives, whether they were day-to-day commercial activities or protest. | |
| "The operation was a difficult balancing act throughout and we have been variously reported as 'caving in' to protesters and accused of 'overkill' in the number of officers deployed." | |
| During the trial, Ms Lucas, the UK's only Green Party MP and its former leader, defended her decision to take part in the protest and told the court it was important and symbolic to be there. | |
| She said: "I'm haunted by the idea that my children and my children's children will turn round to me and say, 'what did you do about this overwhelming threat? | She said: "I'm haunted by the idea that my children and my children's children will turn round to me and say, 'what did you do about this overwhelming threat? |
| "And I want to do all I can do peacefully to address that before it's too late." | "And I want to do all I can do peacefully to address that before it's too late." |
| She also said she felt the protest was a "legitimate and appropriate" way of sending a message to the government. | She also said she felt the protest was a "legitimate and appropriate" way of sending a message to the government. |
| Reaction to the judgement flowed on Twitter. | |
| William Powell, Welsh Lib Dem Assembly member for Mid and West Wales, tweeted: "Good. What utter nonsense & a waste of public money." | |
| Joss Garman, deputy political director for Green Peace UK, added: "Caroline Lucas peacefully stood up for what she believes in. Fantastic she's been cleared." | |
| The CPS defended its decision to bring the prosecution. | |
| A spokesman said: "We felt that there was sufficient evidence against Ms. Lucas, there was a realistic prospect of conviction and it was in the public interest to bring the case to court." | |
| Cuadrilla declined to comment. |