Some PCAN supporters were at the Climate Camp in Kent this week. The contrast between the friendly, purposeful campers and the attitude of the police was amazing. Apparently 1400 police were drafted to Kingsnorth; we were searched twice on the way in and again on the way out. People I spoke to reported being pushed over and fearing being trampled on. Meetings and sleep were disrupted by helicopters and the police removed things like solar panels, walkways and even children's games. The intention was clearly to intimidate protesters.

MEP Caroline Lucas and MPs Norman Baker and Colin Challen wrote to the Kent police this week, pleading with assistant chief constable Gary Beautridge, in charge of the police operation, to resolve "an increasingly threatening confrontation".

"Climate change must be a wholly legitimate subject of protest and demonstration. But if it is met by an arbitrary, destructive and aggressive police response, the consequences will undoubtedly be a continued alienation between police and many decent, law abiding people, particularly the young", said the politicians.

For more about the Climate Camp