Meeting over climate camp clashes

Protesters want to halt plans for a coal-fired unit at Kingsnorth power station

Police and protesters from the Climate Camp in Kent have met to try to avoid a repeat of clashes which took place earlier this week.

Kent Police said they hoped the two-hour meeting between two officers and activists on Wednesday would help "move the relationship forward".

But some campaigners at the camp near the Kingsnorth power station said the force "said one thing and did another".

Officers said they went on site on Monday because of access concerns.

Demonstrators gathered at the camp on the Hoo peninsula want to halt plans by E.ON UK to demolish the plant and replace it with a coal-fired unit.

On the one hand they are very nice when talking to the liaison group but at the camp it is very different Bradley Day

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge said after the meeting: "We have worked hard to maintain dialogue with the organisers of the camp since they announced their intention to stage the event - and we'll keep talking.

"The community residents of the camp have told us how they would like us to police them.

"We are considering their views and we will respond accordingly to move relationships forward.

"I would hope that we can continue to work with the organisers to police the site in a way that satisfies both ourselves and the people attending."

Mr Beautridge added: "Our message remains very clear. We will police the event proportionately so that the people attending it can protest lawfully.

"We know the vast majority of those on the site are responsible and law abiding and we want to be able to provide a service to them."

Police said clashes followed concerns about safety access to the campsite

Bradley Day from the Climate Camp liaison said he was still waiting for a clear message from the force about what they wanted.

He said: "We are hoping to get a proposal tonight.

"They did not express an interest to come on the site for the first 24 hours and then they came on the site with violence, seizing essential health and safety items.

Mr Day added: "They have told us they are willing to accept that two officers can be on the site. They have not been able to guarantee that they will not raid the site again.

"On the one hand they are very nice when talking to the liaison group but at the camp it is very different. We feel pretty disempowered and used in the liaison group."

Shut down

On Tuesday Medway MP Bob Marshall-Andrews said he thought the use of riot gear was "inappropriate and a mistake".

But the force has defended its use of helmets and shields, saying officers needed to wear the equipment to protect themselves from missiles.

Kent Police said on Wednesday evening that there had been 16 arrests in total and nine people had been charged in connection with incidents at the Climate Camp.

About 1,000 activists have gathered on a field two miles from the power plant in a week-long protest against plans for a coal-fired unit.

Protesters are aiming to shut down Kingsnorth power station this weekend.

E.ON UK claims the coal-fired unit will be 20% cleaner.

Medway Council has approved the scheme and the final decision will be made by the government.

If approved, E.ON said the power station would be operational by 2012 and would provide energy for 1.5 million homes.