THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE NICKLIN Approved Judgment
MBR Acres Ltd -v- Free the MBR Beagles
intelligence and information from which I then make the decision as to what the police attendance will be for the coming week. 21. Recently daily police attendance has not been required (unless an animal movement has recently taken place for reasons articulated above), with little police attendance at advertised weekend events and a proportionate policing presence at animal movement times. However, in the past the perceived risk of conflict has been higher making it proportionate for police officers to be present when MBR staff enter and leave the site. In addition, consistency is maintained through established protest liaison officers who conduct visits on average four times per week for 1-2 hours to maintain protester/police relationships whilst reassuring MBR.” 50. Regarding the engagement with and cooperation of the protestors, the officer added: “It should be emphasised that the protest group are a collection of individuals with their own independent thoughts and ideologies. It consists of a wide variety of people, young, old and all different backgrounds of society are represented. In my briefing to officers, I highlight ‘ we should not consider a crowd of protesters as one unit but instead as a group of individuals. Some will want to voice their views only whilst others will be prepared to take further action. ’ This is important as some individuals will co-operate fully with police guidance and injunction restrictions whereas other individuals will be less responsive. To emphasise this further I am aware that there are several different protest groups with different memberships that have varying viewpoints from each other. Therefore, whilst generally the group will state that they are a collection of people, there are individuals that will be more argumentative with officers or will want to deviate from what the group has agreed.” 51. Superintendent Sissons completed his statement with a section headed “ Activities where legislative powers are lacking ”, in which he stated the following: “23. The constabulary has been successful in being able to reach the correct balance of ensuring that protest activity occurs in such a way that it is peaceful whilst ensuring the rights of those engaged in a lawful business are not infringed. The policing style adopted is very much engagement first but if there are substantial criminal offences committed then positive action will be taken. The criminal justice system has a wide variety of offences that can be used by the constabulary and as can be evidenced in the crime data provided, we have used them to full effect when proportionate to do so. 24. In appreciation that it is not just the constabulary that hold legislative powers, there is a fortnightly multiagency meeting (chaired by the constabulary) where representatives from Cambridgeshire County Council (Highways), District Councils, blue light services and key stakeholders attend. This allows legislative powers beyond the constabulary to be considered in a co-ordinated way. I have not sought their views on whether there are any activities where legislative powers are lacking from their perspective currently. 25. Finally, I am aware of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles known commonly as drones. These are being used on a regular basis by the protest group to monitor the activities on the MBR site. The constabulary have received
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