Crime Bill makes fracking protests impossible – Yorkshire Post Letters

I AM shocked that Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake voted for changes in the law which would have made past peaceful protests against fracking in Ryedale impossible.

People from all walks of life turned out in thousands in Malton to demonstrate their opposition to fracking.

The effectiveness of this demonstration laid the foundation for the sustained campaign of opposition to fracking in Ryedale which hampered the development of fracking at the Kirby Misperton site, and ultimately led to the withdrawal of the developer.

Under Priti Patel’s new law, to go on a demonstration like this would risk a £2,500 fine and/or up to 10 years in prison because in being effective it was also both noisy and inconvenient.

This threat would have deterred most people and fracking would now be ongoing.

The Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill is a ‘rag bag’ of measures. It includes welcome increased protection to emergency service workers, but fails to address the issue of violence against women and girls. However, bundling erosion of freedom to protest with uncontroversial protections of individuals is devious and dishonest. Will Mr Hollinrake change his mind?

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