Paul outside Downing Street. Photo: Courtesy of Paul Mobbs.
Anti-fracking Friend arrested in Downing Street
Paul Mobbs was arrested for blocking the entrance to Downing Street
Banbury Quaker Paul Mobbs was arrested on Thursday 5 March for blocking the entrance to Downing Street. He had hoped to make a citizen’s arrest of members of the government. Paul wanted to perform a citizen’s arrest because he believes that members of the government are guilty of misconduct in public office with reference to fracking.
He told the Friend that he acted because the government is soon to issue licenses for drilling across approximately forty per cent of the UK mainland.
He said: ‘If they do that, then it will be far harder to stop this process, because any future government, of whatever persuasion, would have to pay compensation, potentially tens of millions or more, to rescind those licenses’. The nonviolent protest began at 11.15am when Paul arrived at Downing Street with a small team of witnesses and documenters. He explained his intentions to the police, stressing that he had exhausted all other routes for taking action against fracking. He presented his documents to the police, including his final report on fracking. This has not yet been released.
The government is expected to issue fracking licenses before the House rises on 30 March for the general election. He said: ‘For that reason I refused to leave. I was then arrested under the Downing Street Anti-Terrorism Traffic Order – which, to quote the desk sergeant, is the equivalent of getting a parking fine.’ Paul was taken to Charing Cross police station. He was released the same day.
