Merseyside Police Force
Merseyside Police Force is in charge of applying the rule of law in the county of Merseyside (approximately 1.5 million people). [1]
The constabulary boundaries of the Merseyside Police Force contain many blocks which the UK government has licensed for shale gas exploration. Fracking operators INEOS, IGAS, Cuadrilla, Egdon and Aurora are among the list of fracking firms hoping to exploit the shale gas reserves. [2]
Prevent Policy and anti-fracking protestors
It was reported in November 2016 that the Merseyside Police Force included ‘anti-fracking’ as a form of ‘domestic’ extremism in its latest Prevent presentation. The contentious presentation forms the basis of the Merseyside Police, Special Branch programme of presentations to schools, governors, colleges and childcare providers. One of its five divisions, the Sefton Council, has also used the document.
The controversial power point presentation rolled out by Merseyside’s ‘special branch’ includes slides labelling ‘Anti-fracking’ campaigners as ‘domestic’ extremists and is included on a list that includes the ‘extreme right wing’ groups the English Defence League (EDL) and North West Infidels, and 65 international groups who are considered ‘international’ extremists. [2]
References
- ↑ Merseyside Police Force Website, accessed 06 December 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Russell Scott, More police forces and councils labelling peaceful anti-fracking protestors as 'extremists' alongside ISIS and far right, SpinWatch, 02 December 2016. Accessed 6 December 2016.
