The Latest Scoop on the Swoop: Update @ 13.30
It’s Swoop o’clock and the fences are coming down around Ratcliffe! People are already through the fences and on the coal pile.
About 30 minutes ago a group of around 40 people pulled down fences on the East side of the power station, near to the coal pile and people started pouring through towards the coal.
At the same time, about 300 people have moved further down the fence, attempting to out-manoeuvre the police through sheer numbers and speed. According to latest rumours, at least three people have been arrested inside the fence.
The police are harrassing photogrpahers at East Midlands Train Station and trying to move the bike bloc and the Footsteps to the Future bloc into a ‘designated protest area’ also known as a kettle. People are refusing to move into the kettle, knowing that it could be hours before they are allowed to leave.
As I write this reports are coming in from the ground that at least two lots of police are getting their riot gear on and threatening to remove protestors with dogs.
It’s only 1.30pm and so the Swoop has only just begun. There is a lot to do, and it’s all to play for. Check our Climate Camp TV Live site to see history in the making as people take control of the causes of climate change.
We’ll update the blog as soon as we have more news. Keep watching!
There’s some great footage of some de-fencing courtesy of Amelia Gregory