Police move in on Ffos-y-Fran occupation

Four police vans and cars arrived at around 10am in the morning.

The action highlights the failure of the authorities to shut down the mine which has been operating illegally without a licence since September.

This is the first action using ‘lock ons’ since the Public Order Act (2023) came into effect. Under the POA locking-on is now an offence which can result in 51 weeks in prision.

Two people are currently locked on to the boat and four are risking arrest.

Police are attempting to separate the arrestables from the non-arrestables who are also at the site supporting the action.

Arrests taking place for aggravated trespass.

It is not clear at whose request the police are acting.

People will non-violently resist.

Marcus Bailie, 68 who is locked on to the boat said: “We know there’s no room for coal in this climate emergency. The authorities could and should have issued an immediate stop notice back in October. Ordinary people have to step in when the authorities are missing in action. The authority with which the police are trying to move us is highly questionable from a legal perspective and completely insane in the middle of a climate emergency. It’s time the government just stopped all coal.”