Benedict writes:

Hoo is a small village in Kent. It’s community notice board warns of an increase in anti social behaviour and a new crackdown by police.

So the posting of 1400 drawn from forces across the UK should mean that property damage, drunken violence and graffiti would be a thing of the past. 

 However as the village closest to climate camp protesting the building of a new coal fired power station at nearby Kingsnorth Hoo can’t expect better policing.

Because those police appear to be embarked on a sinister and cynical attempt to use powers brought in to prevent serious crime to end any protest against the proposed plant. And yet this sinister intent is being rolled out in a way fitting of an Ealing film comedy from the 1950s.

As of this morning the whole of the Hoo peninsular is covered by Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. This act allows the police to stop and search anyone if a superintendent or above reasonably believes that incidents involving serious violence may occur.

Yesterday when Section 60 only covered the area around the camp I went to see for myself what it was like.

While walking down the lane to the camp I was directed by an officer to join what was a very orderly queue to be searched.  When asked why, I was told that she ‘didn’t know anything’. Inside, an officer searched me under section 60 of the Criminal Justice Act. The searching officer didn’t know who had authorised the searches. It was a ‘superintendent Hunt something’. Once I had been frisked and my bag and wallet had been searched I was free to go. So clutching my pink search receipt I carried on up the lane. I had to show my slip to a further three officers before finally climbing over the style into the camp. 

Overall the effect of the police presence is intimidating. The searches are more thorough than those being required to gain entrance into high risk public buildings and climate campers reported threats of strip searches.

Police are also using the searches to implement an unprecedented mass confiscation of materials including the downright ridiculous. Officers have taken soap because it was believed to be useful for making protestors slippery; a clown costume that might be used to cause a public nuisance, as well as a book about public order policing (that could help protestors carry out public order'). During my search the only media I saw within the police shelter was the reporter of the police in house magazine.

After a pleasant day of workshops and discussions with local residents I tried to leave, only to be searched again. The officer from West Yorkshire said he had grounds to search based on a document posted on the local police station wall. Presumably he had a map on how to get to the police station if he needed to refer to the document. Could that be why the section 60 area was extended?

Kent police famously declined to stop illegal raves because of ‘health and safety’ concerns so I hardly think they can be sending a message that illegal activity is cracked down on heavily in Kent.

I can only conclude therefore that the police are systematically using their powers in a blunt but disorganised attempt to inconvenience and criminalise the climate camp to discourage future protests.

I can’t help but wonder what those people being affected by climate change right now must think when they see the police in the UK going to such lengths to stop a protest against a global injustice. What they would do if they could afford to leave their struggle for day to day survival and come to Kent and how would the police respond?

In the meantime the message from the police is that if you are a hoodie in Hoo you can carry on. If you look like you are going to the climate camp you should leave your soap at home.

Editor's note: the pink slip pictured is not a description of Benedict.