police restraint technique called ‘pain compliance’ Like other forms of non-lethal force, such pain compliance strategies are not perfect and may be abused as a form of torture, with plausible deniability. In effect with allodynia. For this reason the use of pain compliance is often subject to explicit rules of engagement designed to prevent abuse and avoid conflict escalation.
Clare J. says:
We have a right to peaceful protest in this country. And our Police force is there to protect the peace and the public. It is completely unacceptable for aggression or violence to be used when arresting people - whether or not the arrests were legal or justified. During the peaceful anti-fracking protest in Balcombe on July 26th 2013, the Police intentionally caused pain and used unnecessarily aggressive restraint tactics while arresting protesters. Sussex Police claim on their website report that the arrests were peaceful. This is not the case. We are calling for a formal, independent investigation into the force used in these arrests and for the officers concerned to be investigated and disciplined. We want an end to Police aggression when arresting peaceful protesters.
Why this is important
Sussex Police arrested peaceful anti-fracking protesters in Balcombe using physical violence and restraint methods, designed to inflict pain and incapacitate people. Sussex Police claim on their website that the arrests were peaceful. There is significant photographic evidence that unnecessary force was used.
This isn't acceptable in a peaceful democracy.
This petition is a call for a formal investigation into the police behaviour and for disciplinary action to be taken against those who used violence against the people they arrested.
We need an end to Police aggression when arresting peaceful protesters.
To Sign the petition Click Here
Sussex Police Reports:
Twelve people charged after protest at Cuadrilla site in Balcombe
27 July 2013
Police have arrested further protestors on Saturday morning (27 July) at the Cuadrilla site in London Road, Balcombe.
Two women have been arrested, one for assault on police and the other under the Trade Union Labour Relations Act.
These follows 16 arrests yesterday which resulted in 12 people being charged.
Superintendent Steve Whitton said: "I have officers at the site to ensure people can demonstrate peacefully and help facilitate the rights of those to go about their lawful business - this means allowing workers to access the site.
"We are trying to carefully balance the needs of everyone and we will continue to show a proportionate response to the challenge we are facing. Our aim at Balcombe is to provide a safe and secure environment for protesters, residents and the contractors alike, to minimise disproportionate disruption to the local community and to prevent crime and disorder. Protestors are being asked to clear entrances to allow access to the site and where they have refused following repeated requests we have arrested them."
Twelve people have been charged in relation to the protest at the site on Friday, 26 July.
The following have have been dealt with under Section 241 of the Trade Union Labour Relations Act for attempting to stop drivers and other workers from accessing the site:
Ezra Lynch, 31, a circus employee; Samantha Duncan, 29, of Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton, and Marcin Swiercz, 35, a handyman from London, have been charged They will appear before Crawley Magistrates on 14 August along with Mark Mansbridge, 51, a voluntary charity worker, of Paddock Road, Lewes; Nancy Walker, 25, of Over Street, Brighton; Richard Millar, 29, of Upper Gloucester Road, Brighton; Frances Crack, 31, a teacher, of Taffs Well, Cardiff, and Justin Preece, of Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan.
The following have have been dealt with under Section 241 of the Trade Union Labour Relations Act for attempting to stop drivers and other workers from accessing the site:
Ezra Lynch, 31, a circus employee; Samantha Duncan, 29, of Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton, and Marcin Swiercz, 35, a handyman from London, have been charged They will appear before Crawley Magistrates on 14 August along with Mark Mansbridge, 51, a voluntary charity worker, of Paddock Road, Lewes; Nancy Walker, 25, of Over Street, Brighton; Richard Millar, 29, of Upper Gloucester Road, Brighton; Frances Crack, 31, a teacher, of Taffs Well, Cardiff, and Justin Preece, of Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan.
A boy, aged 15, from Rustington, has been charged and will appear before Crawley Youth Court on 6 August. Paul Deacon, a writer, aged 50, of Selden Lane, Worthing, is charged and appearing before Crawley magistrates on 7 August.
A 17-year-old unemployed boy from Brighton is charged and appearing before Crawley Youth Court on 6 August. A 56-year-old man from Lewes has been cautioned. A 52-year-old man from Lewes has been given police bail until 12 August for further enquiries in relation to causing danger to road users and for attempted to stop drivers and other workers from accessing the site.
A 17-year-old unemployed boy from Brighton is charged and appearing before Crawley Youth Court on 6 August. A 56-year-old man from Lewes has been cautioned. A 52-year-old man from Lewes has been given police bail until 12 August for further enquiries in relation to causing danger to road users and for attempted to stop drivers and other workers from accessing the site.
In additon to being charged under the Trade Union Labour Relations Act Michael Atkins, 37, of Westbury, Wiltshire, has been charged with assault on police and he will also appear before Crawley magistrates on 14 August.
Arrests made at Cuadrilla site in Balcombe
26 July 2013
Around 60 protesters gathered at the Cuadrilla site in London Road, Balcombe today (Friday 26 July).
Some had moved a tree across the entrance to the site and were blocking access. Police Liaison Officers spoke to protesters to try and negotiate for them to move away from this road providing access to the site, to alternative locations.
After allowing some time for this to happen, 16 people were arrested; five for causing danger to road users, and 11 under Section 241 of the Trade Union Labour Relations Act for attempting to stop drivers and other workers from accessing the site. All the arrests were made peacefully.
Superintendent Steve Whitton said: "Sussex Police fully recognises the right to demonstrate peacefully and seeks to facilitate such activity. We also have a duty to recognise and help facilitate the rights of other parties to go about their lawful business.
"These two rights sometimes conflict, so policing at demonstrations requires careful decisions to be made that help balance the two. Our aim at Balcombe is to provide a safe and secure environment for protesters, residents and the contractors alike, to minimise disproportionate disruption to the local community and to prevent crime and disorder."
"All of today's arrests were made to meet this aim and ensure public safety."
Police working with protest groups and site operators at Balcombe
27 July 2013
Police Liasion Officers have been working with the protest groups and Cuadrilla at the site in Balcombe, with the overriding priority of keeping all parties safe and minimising disruption.
A number of vehicles have been brought into the site during the course of the day with up to 80 people protesting.
Caudrilla had yesterday obtained authority to extend their operating hours for today from 1pm until 4pm. Following representations from the protest groups and advice from Sussex Police, Cuadrilla agreed to stop bringing the vehicles into the site shortly after 2pm in recognition that the local residents and protestors had not been fully consulted on this change.
There have been no injuries to any parties today and the disruption to the local community and road network has been kept to a minimum.
Two women were arrested this morning, a 49-year-old from East Grinstead for assaulting a police officer and another woman for obstructing the highway and contravening S241 of the Trade Union Labour Relations Act 1992. They are being interviewed.
A police presence will be maintained throughout the weekend and Police Liaison Officers will continue to work with all parties involved.
A number of vehicles have been brought into the site during the course of the day with up to 80 people protesting.
Caudrilla had yesterday obtained authority to extend their operating hours for today from 1pm until 4pm. Following representations from the protest groups and advice from Sussex Police, Cuadrilla agreed to stop bringing the vehicles into the site shortly after 2pm in recognition that the local residents and protestors had not been fully consulted on this change.
There have been no injuries to any parties today and the disruption to the local community and road network has been kept to a minimum.
Two women were arrested this morning, a 49-year-old from East Grinstead for assaulting a police officer and another woman for obstructing the highway and contravening S241 of the Trade Union Labour Relations Act 1992. They are being interviewed.
A police presence will be maintained throughout the weekend and Police Liaison Officers will continue to work with all parties involved.
