Activists walk free as undercover officer prompts collapse of case

The six environmental activists facing charges of conspiring to take over a power station spent less than 30 seconds in the defendants' box. No sooner had a court clerk ushered them into the dock at Nottingham crown court than he realised his mistake. Before the judge had even entered the room, the six campaigners, who were planning to deny conspiring to break into Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, were told they could occupy seats normally reserved for the jury instead.

What everyone in the courtroom knew – but no one had yet said – was that the remarkable story of PC Mark Kennedy, the undercover police officer accused of helping organise and pay for the protest, had prompted the collapse of the prosecution case.

Felicity Gerry, prosecuting, said only that the Crown Prosecution Service had conducted a "review" of the case and decided not to submit evidence. Judge John Milmo agreed to enter not guilty verdicts on all six defendants, who were among 114 activists arrested in April 2009 on the eve of a protest in which some planned to occupy the power station.

After a short discussion about costs, they walked free, and headed straight to the steps of the courthouse to give the assembled media a detailed account of the activities of Kennedy, who infiltrated their movement.

Calling for an inquiry, they said the undercover officer police officer played a central role in organising and paying for the invasion. "We're not talking about someone sitting at the back of the meeting taking notes," said Danny Chivers, one of the six defendants to accuse Kennedy of crossing the line from passive spy to agent provocateur. "He was in the thick of it."

"More embarrassing still for his police minders, Kennedy was described as so repentant that he was willing to betray his ex-employers and give evidence that would help the activists. According to their lawyer, Kennedy had apparently become convinced of their cause, and "gone native", offering to help their defence."

"He was part of an outfit controlled by ACPO, which is a private limited company. I'm confused as to why an essentially private intelligence is being given public money to conduct agent provocateur operations."

Plausible deninalability and no FOIA.

Although this is England, I wonder how many agent provocateurs there are in the Tea Party Movement - and how funny if some of those agents were elected to Congress.

I should probably expand my remarks on this matter. To close out debate, as the liberal/leftists are attempting to do, violence is always a mantra used by the left/leftists to strike down anyone who is anywhere near speaking the truth. Everyone is afraid, these days. Everyone who is within the Law Enforcement Community and who is honest, is afraid as well. I do not blame them. The terrible thing is, the uniform is a target. I do not like this,yet such is the time in which we live. I do not blame Law Enforcement, I choose instead to support them, yet some people due to their understand of anything said or typed, sometimes do read the intent of someone as being wrong or worse. This is not the fault of those who profile, for they are only practicing what they were taught. The trouble is (or problem)....most knowledge is eventually proved wrong or basically incorrect, given enough time.

Due to the fact, there is wrong and violent speech coupled with some who do act out and do violent acts, anyone saying anything is now a suspect. This is simply another way to stop Freedom of Speech. I have to pray, and hope I never fall for the mantra where I shall be quiet because of what I fear someone will think. While I also have to pray I will not be guilty of inciting anyone. To simply shut up and sit down will accomplish exactly what those who desire to discontinue the debate or writing of ones' thoughts is ultimately what the liberal/leftists want. Either way I choose (being quiet or speaking up) I will be damned in the mind and eyes of those who damn. I will not be the only one this will happen to, this happens to anyone who speaks up. Someone is always there to make certain one will be damned, if that someone is speaking in terms which is not understood, speaks of things none wish to hear, or those words typed or spoken when there are those who wish to hear or read them begin to gather. Yet the danger posed by voicing ones' opinion is fraught with danger to the speaker because of society not allowing the individual to be the responsible one. Thus one is damned if one does, and probably damned if one doesn't. Not a good choice, either way. I shall continue to attempt to type coherent thoughts. I shall fail more than I shall succeed, yet I shall continue to try to write and type with truth as my sword.

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