GETTING OFF SOOT FREE

Environmental campaigners escaped prison this week after the judge in the case of the Ratcliffe protesters (see SchNEWS 752) ruled out custodial sentences. Following one of the UK’s largest pre-emptive arrest operations last April (see SchNEWS 672), twenty activists received sentences ranging from 90 days conditional discharge to 90 hours community service for the charge of aggravated trespass. Two more are due to be sentenced later this month.

Good news also for two of the blockaders who targeted Sizewell nuclear power plant last February.

Their case was thrown out of court on Wednesday (5th) after the CPS failed to produce any evidence for the charge of ‘failing to leave land after an order had been given by a senior police officer’. Apparently a ‘computer error’ had lead to the wrong charge being entered against the two campaigners and after the judge refused to let the CPS change their mind mid-trial the two defendants walked free.