Photos available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Rm8reO8VjQCNCK1HRRAPE6r6NEc8h3oy
Spokespeople available on request, contact press@reclaimthepower.org.uk
Trial commences at Leeds Magistrates Court (from 22nd September to 2nd October) after fifteen people plead not guilty to “going equipped to lock on”, after they were pre-emptively arrested to prevent a peaceful climate camp against Drax, the UK’s largest power station and largest single carbon emitter.
The 15 people being prosecuted were arrested in an operation that involved 1,070 officers from 39 forces of the 44 forces in Britain, and the seizing of accessible toilets, wheelchair trackway and tents [1]. This happened in the same week the police claimed their resources were too “stretched” to provide protection for asylum seekers being attacked in their accommodation by far-right rioters [2].
This policing operation stopped the planned climate camp from starting. Over 100 organisations, including Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, condemned Drax for “using the police as their own private security”[3].
Drax has been repeatedly accused of driving environmental racism and climate colonialism through their wood pellet production sites in the south-eastern United States. These sites are more than fifty percent more likely to be located in ‘environmental justice communities’ (above average poverty across all ages and more than 25% people of colour) than other communities. Drax’s US pellet mills were found to have broken US environmental regulations more than 11,000 times. This has exposed these communities to highly polluting pellet dust, which prevents some people from going outside and is linked to health problems including respiratory and pulmonary issues and cancer. [4]
Defendant Phil Ball said:
“It took the police nearly a year to bring in an ‘expert’ to say what of the items they seized could even be used to lock on with.
This is about the state using some very blunt instruments to shut down protest. Protest is a vital part of a functioning democracy and by attacking it they are attacking democracy itself. These new anti-protest laws were drafted by a right wing think tank (Policy Exchange), funded by fossil fuels.
This police operation cost £3.1 million and all it seems to have done is charge 15 people with doing something that none of them were going to do.
They are trying to send a message, that if you criticise the government or dare to speak the truth about dubious big businesses, they are going to use all the tools at their disposal to make things as difficult and unpleasant as possible.”
Defendant Laurie said:
“The fact I am facing charges for carrying wheelchair trackway to a climate camp is ridiculous, and shows the power Drax holds over the government, police and courts. Corporations like Drax can use the police as security and the state for billions in pocket money, all while our public services like schools and hospitals continue to crumble. We need to shut down Drax and take the power back from their shareholders.”
Reclaim the Power spokesperson Rosie Gloster said:
“This prosecution is part of a worrying pattern of repression of peaceful protest and freedom of assembly. This Labour government has been no different to the previous Conservative ones; existing restrictive anti-protest legislation has been retained, with new bills being introduced to continue the Tories’ legacy.
Since the Drax 15 were arrested, other supporters of Reclaim the Power have been raided and arrested for “burglary” over a peaceful office occupation, two dozen people have been held on remand, also since August 2024, for targetting an Israeli arms factory during a genocide, and the government has become obsessed with misusing counter-terror powers.
For years, Drax have been killing people by poisoning the air they breathe. We have seen human rights violation after violation. We have watched communities face the ongoing assaults on their lives from Drax’s toxic pollution and psychologically torturous noise.
The Labour government should focus on ending public subsidies for Drax’s harms, not repressing peaceful protest.”
Supporters of the Drax 15 will rally outside Leeds Magistrates Court at 9am on Monday 22nd September, before holding a demonstration outside outside Drax’s lobbying and public relations firm Grayling (LS10 1PZ) at noon. Supporters will maintain a presence outside the court throughout the week, and plan to rally again when the verdict is announced.
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Spokespeople available on request, contact press@reclaimthepower.org.uk
RtP / Reclaim the Power
Reclaim the Power is a UK based direct action network fighting for social, environmental and economic justice. We aim to build a broad based movement, working in solidarity with frontline communities to effectively confront environmentally destructive industries and the social and economic forces driving climate change.
Website: https://reclaimthepower.org.uk
Drax
Drax Power Station, located near Selby in Yorkshire, is the world’s biggest woody biomass power station and the UK’s single largest carbon emitter. Drax sources from around the world, primarily the US, Canada, and the Baltic States. Drax’s wood pellet production sites, predominantly located in environmental justice communities, emit large amounts of pollutants, such as PM10, PM2.5 and VOCs which are linked to respiratory and pulmonary health impacts. Woody biomass is counted as carbon neutral by the UK Government, allowing Drax to receive renewable energy subsidies (CfDs and ROCs).
More about Drax: https://axedrax.uk/about/drax
[1] https://novaramedia.com/2025/03/18/revealed-police-spent-3m-shutting-down-climate-protest/
[2] https://www.channel4.com/news/uk-police-resources-stretched-nationwide-amid-far-right-unrest
[3] https://reclaimthepower.org.uk/press-releases/statement-drax-camp-shutdown/