The Great Climate Swoop

October 18, 2009 15:00 - Eyewitness on the ground confirms that the station is empty, the police helicopter is empty and action appears to be over. There is, however, a convoy of police vehicles (possibly from Leicestershire) moving towards the power station with their blue lights on, reason unknown.

October 18, 2009 13:00 - Notts Police release videos from Saturday's protests taken by the police helicopter.

(1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKrAeKACVAc
(2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu9RoeVnSPw

October 18, 2009 12:50 - Police report on Twitter that the A453 is closed again. On their website they claim this is because "Protestors are currently making further attempts to pull down fences and enter the site at Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station."

October 18, 2009 12:35 - Reports on Twitter suggest that 2 people (possibly from Leeds) have been snatched from a crowd and arrested for breach of the peace.

October 18, 2009 11:15 - Notts Police admit that 52 people were arrested yesterday, not 80 as previously claimed. (More: Indymedia UK)

October 17, 2009 20:20 - Reports that camp has been set up, food distributed and campfire burning.

October 17, 2009 19:52 - Some people have dissappered into the woods whilst others have camped at the main entrance.

October 17, 2009 19:40 - Reports from two witnesses of police dogs being used to attack protesters in the woods

October 17, 2009 19:33 - Reports arrive that, contrary to the Police's press release, the policeman who collapsed went dizzy from overheating, fell over and hit his head on somebody's knee on the way down. There was definitely no violence involved in that incident. The innuendo in the police press release is ridiculous.

October 17, 2009 19:10 - Several tweets suggest that campers are settling in for the night outside the main gate of the power station. It seems that police have formed a large cordon to prevent new arrivals. Some reports of people being allowed to leave.

October 17, 2009 18:52 - The police helicopter has been overhead for and hour in the area, with its spotlight on one small area which was cordoned off

October 17, 2009 18:02 - Injured protester's ambulance took about an hour, cop's took about 3mins.

October 17, 2009 17:02 - Including the ten arrest that happened first thing this morning,  there have been 30-odd arrests, pending confirmations and details of a handful more

October 17, 2009 16:57 - Receive confirmation that, after spending about 4 million on fences over the last six months, the fence is an electric fence, but it wasn't "live" today

October 17, 2009 16:53 - protest has now died down. people are getting refreshments

October 17, 2009 16:48 - There have been four or five attemts on the fence on the east side. Between fifty and sixty people have been seen trying to get in. They may still be there but they have not been seen since.

After those four or five attempts on the fence, someone noticed that the fence ran out by the woods so they just walked in

October 17, 2009 16:10 - Cops mov in with dogs to cut off young teenage girl on fence at i16

October 17, 2009 16:06 - Fitwatch report on twitter that collapsed policeman is recieving CPR - eyewitness report now suggests this was inacurate

October 17, 2009 16:00 - The collapsed of the injured policeman was witnessed up-close by an experienced IMCer. CPR was NOT given contrary to other reports. Photograph on Yahoo shows an action medic in attendance and ambulance crew giving oxygen

October 17, 2009 15:54 - Police medics finally arrived. We've stretchered down hill and now waiting for ambulance

October 17, 2009 15:50 - Three more arrests reported in last few minutes as police swarm in. Reports of fences coming down with cops pulling at people on fence.

October 17, 2009 15:48 - The Guardian's reports that three swoopers are up on fence on NE, and lots of dogs and cops are gathering.

October 17, 2009 15:45 - It seems confirmed that the reports are about two different persons:

(1) a swooper collapsed in the woods or near, police refused to help but the police medics eventually turned up, still waiting for ambulance.
(2) a policeman was knocked down during a push and shove and collapsed at perimeter, then everyone stopped to allow treatment. An action medic (i.e. from the "protesters' side) helped very quickly. After being tended by medics, he also had to wait for an ambulance.  Protestors have withdrawn to allow treatment.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//091017/ids_photos_wl/r2158937326.jpg/


The reasons are unknown and there's some confusion about exactly what happened afterwards.

There are reports that the collapsed policeman was airlifted to Queens Medical Centre with minor injuries.
The police formed a cordon around that and used hat cordon to clear the protest to the main road

October 17, 2009 15:40 - needs editing
200 people #swoop on the fences at H16, #footsteps have joined in solidarity!

October 17, 2009 15:40 - still no ambulance. helicopter isn't landing to take to hospital

October 17, 2009 15:39 - One swooper in the woods has been reported to have collapsed then carried to east gate, possibly with a  heart attack, helicopter not helping grid reference on OS map 510302. action medics with them. 30 mins since happened. senior police officer ran towards casualty then carried on running to those at the fence

October 17, 2009 15:36 - Reported to be lots of police at L16 (a road?) and that the footsteps bloc is now joining

October 17, 2009 15:26 - Reports that "police medic have arrived and are about to stretcher him down". There are also several reports of arrests now

October 17, 2009 15:18 - A man is reported to be having a fitting or suffering heart attack (reports unclear on specifics)

October 17, 2009 15:16 - Evening Pest claims police line blocking hole in fence: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homenews/arrested-Ratcliffe-Soar-power-station/article-1429465-detail/article.html

October 17, 2009 15:14 - Another ninja de-fence by swoop cyclists

October 17, 2009 15:05 - Police medics finally arrived. FitWatch have stretchered down hill and are now waiting for an ambulance

October 17, 2009 15:04 - needs editing
Second swoop is on. Weak fences at G13 N15 and J17/18. We need to take down fences for the world to sit up and listen.

October 17, 2009 14:29 - 30 people are blocking train tracks and there is another block of people near the cooling towers.

October 17, 2009 14:10 - (approximate time)
Police response, reported to be !hardly proportional!, now include dog bites, concussion, arrests.

Still swoopers get inside.

Footsteps block commence their grand tour of Ratcliffe's perimeter. Falsesolution and Takepower blocks chip away at the fences.

October 17, 2009 14:00 - (approximate time)
Three more people are arrested — the first (of many?) to make it to the coal pile. Ninja-dressed bikers take down the fence on the South side.

October 17, 2009 13:42 - Police are getting tooled up and into riot gear. It is announced that dogs will be used to remove protestors too.

October 17, 2009 13:41 - http://twitpic.com/lv5gq #swoop
People rush another section of the fence. No one except E-ON security staff are on the coal pile

October 17, 2009 13:30 - http://www.climatecamp.org.uk report taht police are harrassing photogrpahers at East Midlands Train Station and trying to move the bike, the Footsteps and the Future blocs into a 'designated protest area' also known as a kettle. People are refusing to move into the kettle.
Reports are coming that at least two lots of police are getting their riot gear on and threatening to remove protestors with dogs.

October 17, 2009 13:20 - Lots of FIT (Forward Inelligence Teams by the Police). Police are attempting  to kettle swoopers. Veggies feed swoopers yummy vegan food.

October 17, 2009 13:17 - Apparently the fence has been breached in at least two places. People are attempting to bring it down again. Reports that three swoopers are inside.

October 17, 2009 13:10 - The police have chipped in on Twitter!: "Police advise that protesters should move away from the fences, they will not be allowed to enter site but are free to move away"

October 17, 2009 13:05 - People claim to have reached coal heap
climatecamp twitpic.com/lv29l. you can also check live.climatecamp.tv

October 17, 2009 12:56 - Apparently the fences on the east-side of the station are down.

http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/blog reports that around 40 people have 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.

October 17, 2009 12:54 - The A453 is definitely shut:
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homenews/arrested-Ratcliffe-Soar-power-station/article-1429465-detail/article.html

October 17, 2009 12:51 - People at the fence: http://twitpic.com/lv1tv

October 17, 2009 12:49 - It looks like the road passed Ratcliffe is shut. It is the main artery out of the city

October 17, 2009 12:45 - Apparently British Transport Police are hassling journalists (from now on, jorunos). On dirt bikes. Picture: http://twitpic.com/lv1dg

October 17, 2009 12:42 - A road has been blocked

October 17, 2009 12:33 - According to various tweets, police have started using section 1

October 17, 2009 12:02 - As well as hundreds of people in woods, there are 200 swoopers at East Midlands station. hundreds on bikes and hundreds more freestyling fences.

October 17, 2009 10:47 - Hundreds of swoopers are gathering near Gotham woods where they are being met by a large police presence with helicopters, etc.

Reports say that there are people out shooting grouse in the area as well, just to add to the chaos

October 17, 2009 07:00 - Reports are coming through of 10 people arrested for 'conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass' (BBC says aggravated burglary) at around 7.30am. Police are claiming the individuals were involved in the Climate Swoop on Ratcliffe-on-Soar.