Frack Free Greater Manchester has contacted Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd to ask if we can address the planned Independent Panel on policing at Barton Moss.
FFGM has criticised the GMP for the level of aggression displayed by officers towards the Protectors and for the misuse of the law in arresting campaigners and denying access to Barton Moss Lane.
FFGM plan to hold what is hoped will be the largest demonstration against fracking yet seen in the UK in Manchester on Sunday 9th March.
Martin Porter of FFGM said “We would welcome the chance to put our side of the story. This whole saga from last November onwards is one of misunderstanding and misinformation from GMP. First we were told that Barton Moss Lane was a public highway, and only after over a hundred people had been arrested did a judge agree with us that it was not. Then we were accused of firing a flare at a police helicopter, although no evidence was ever produced to back the police claims. Now we have the situation were Protectors are being arrested for Aggravated Trespass whilst on a Public Footpath and local people are prevented from using the lane as it is regularly sealed off as a ‘crime scene’. This cannot be right.
“All we want is the right to walk down the public footpath as a show of opposition to the presence of Igas, which we believe we have the right to do.”
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