Police acted as 'private security' for Drax, say climate camp activists

Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have accused police of acting as "private security" for the UK's biggest carbon emitter after dozens of preemptive arrests forced the cancellation of a climate protest camp near Drax power station.

- Damien Gayle, Fiona Harvey

In a statement signed by almost 150 groups, they called the operation against activists who had spent months planning the camp near the wood-burning power station "an unreasonable restriction of free speech".

It comes as the new Labour government faces difficult choices over the future of Drax, which, despite contributing about 3% of the UK's carbon emissions, is classed as "renewable" and benefits from about £2m a day in green energy subsidies.

Activists from Reclaim the Power had planned to camp near Drax, near Selby in North Yorkshire, from 8 August for five days, in a protest highlighting its environmental impact. But on the eve of the camp, police swooped, arresting 25 people and seizing tents, fire safety equipment and wheelchair accessible flooring, without which activists said they could not go ahead.

North Yorkshire police said they acted "swiftly and robustly to reduce the risk of unlawful activity". But environmental groups said they are outraged at the action, which came as the country was elsewhere gripped by violent anti-immigration riots.